BEND MUNICIPAL AIRPORT
The Bend Municipal Airport is located 8 miles from downtown Bend Oregon. The Airport has been in existence since the late 1930’s and is currently the third busiest General Aviation Airport in Oregon. Bend is world famous for both its outdoor pursuits and pristine beauty.
Voluntary Noise Abatement
- Fixed wing to remain west of runway using right-hand pattern Runway 16 and left-hand pattern Runway 34
- Rotor wing to remain east of runway and use right-hand pattern Runway 34 and left-hand pattern Runway 16
- Runway 16 is preferred when calm wind, weather, and traffic permit
- Fixed-wing aircraft – no turns before the end of the runway
- For departures, use the best rate of climb whenever possible
- Overfly major roadways and non-residential areas whenever possible
- Nighttime flight training operations between 10 pm and 6 am are discouraged
- Avoid noise-sensitive areas depicted on the vicinity map and areas within a 2-mile radius of Alfalfa, 7 miles southeast of the airport, whenever possible
- Request propeller-driven aircraft use AOPA “Noise Awareness Steps.”
Runway Information
- Runway 16-34
- Runway Length (feet) | 5,201
- Runway Width (feet) | 75
- Runway Surface Material | Asphalt | Grooved
- Calm Wind Runway: Runway 16
Communications
- CTAF/Unicom: 123.0
Clearance Delivery: (253) 351-3694 - AWOS 134.425
Traffic Patterns
- Fixed-Wing: 1,000′ AGL (4,456 MSL); Left Hand Traffic Runway 34; Right Hand Traffic Runway 16.
- Helicopters: 500′ AGL (3,956 MSL); Close-In Right Hand Traffic for Runway 34; Close-In Left Hand Traffic for Runway 16.
Approach
- RNAV GPS RWY 34
- RNAV GPS Y RWY 16
- RNAV GPS Z RWY 16
- VOR RWY 16
KBDN
The Bend Arrival: A Pilot’s Kind of Destination
Flying into Bend in a small airplane is one of those experiences that reminds you why you fly. The approach alone sets the tone, high desert stretching out beneath you, the Cascade peaks standing tall to the west, and a sense that you’re arriving somewhere that was made for adventure-minded aviators.
Bend is a true pilot destination: approachable, rewarding, and packed with things to do once the engine shuts down. Touch down, tie down, and within minutes, you can be on your way to world-class food, craft breweries, fly fishing, skiing, mountain biking, hiking, or simply soaking up one of the most vibrant outdoor towns in the West. This is a place where pilots don’t just visit, they linger.
Why Pilots Love Bend
Bend has built its reputation on an unbeatable blend of outdoor culture, food, and authenticity. It’s not a resort town in the sterile sense; it’s active, creative, and unapologetically fun. Summer days are long and dry, winters bring snow and ski days that feel tailor-made for a morning flight in and an afternoon on the mountain, and the shoulder seasons are some of the best flying weather you’ll find anywhere.
From the cockpit, Bend feels remote enough to be special, but once you’re on the ground, everything you want is close and accessible. It’s a rare combination, and it’s why pilots keep putting Bend on their “return often” list.
What to Expect at the Airport
Bend is a busy, dynamic general aviation environment, and that’s part of the charm, but it does require your full attention.
You’ll encounter:
A high volume of training traffic from multiple flight schools
A wide mix of aircraft types, from light trainers to turboprops and business jets
Frequent arrivals and departures, especially during good weather and peak seasons
A control tower is currently under construction, but for now, operations remain non-towered, which means situational awareness, clear radio calls, and disciplined pattern work are essential. Expect full patterns, extended downwinds, and pilots at varying experience levels. This is not a place to rush; plan ahead, brief thoroughly, and fly deliberately.