The Story of Bend Municipal's Air Traffic Control Tower

With more than 140,000 annual takeoffs and landings and home to nearly 300 based aircraft, Bend  Municipal Airport is the third busiest airport of Oregon’s 97 public-use  airports based on activity. That makes  the need for an air traffic control tower critical and signals an investment in the safety and efficiency of this growing airport for years to come.

The addition of an air traffic control tower (ATCT) represents a critical safety and efficiency enhancement and supports  the continued growth of the region’s aviation economy. Bend Municipal Airport is a vital aviation hub for Central Oregon and a significant contributor to the regional economy, supporting general aviation, flight training and business aviation.

Employers at the airport play a vital role in the region’s continued economic growth and diversification. From aircraft manufacturing and design to flight training  and charter operations, companies employ  nearly 600 people and contribute more than $25 million in payroll annually.

As early as 2008, airport stakeholders began advocating for an ATCT due to increasing congestion in Central Oregon airspace. In 2026, Bend Municipal Airport becomes Oregon’s ninth airport with an operating control tower.

The Long Road to the Tower
It was a long road to get to this point. 

It started in 2019, when community and airport leaders agreed that an  ATCT was essential for the airport’s
future. In 2020, that vision gained traction with a successful benefit cost study and acceptance into the FAA’s
Federal Contract Tower Program. The following years were about clearing the path — securing land-use approvals (2022) and completing site selection and environmental work (2023). Design wrapped up in 2024, construction moved quickly through 2025 and, in 2026, the project comes full circle as we activate the tower and top it all off with a ribbon cutting to celebrate.

A big part of getting to this point was  securing the funding to make the tower a  reality. That required trips to Washington, D.C., and collaborating with our legislators to secure funding. In the end, we were able to secure about $18 million in grant funds for the project, including $4.9 million from Connect Oregon, a  program established by the 2005 Oregon legislature to invest in non highway modes of transportation, for
design and construction; $6 million from congressionally directed Community Project Funding for construction;
and $4 million from the FAA’s Airport Improvement Program (AIP) discretionary grant for construction.

Standing Tall

The new tower is a game changer.  Standing at 115 feet, the structure  supports the rotating beacon, antennas,
lightning protection and has 360-degree  unobstructed cab views. Not to mention the new tower is now the tallest building in Bend.

It includes an elevator, fire pump room and telecommunications rooms. Inside the tower, there are four air
traffic control workstations, an air traffic controller break room, backup generator, pressurized stairwell and complete electrical information technology and mechanical  systems. This state-of-the-art tower meets
all FAA requirements and is classified as an essential facility, meaning it’s designed to remain operational following earthquakes, wildfires or severe storms.

Lessons Learned

The development of the ATCT provided valuable lessons, particularly with delivering a project on a federally
mandated timeline. One of the most significant challenges was schedule compression. Although the project was
initially granted a five-year delivery window, much of that time elapsed before  construction authorization, underscoring the importance of building schedule  contingencies early and advocating for realistic timelines tied to the complexity of the project.

There were lots of bumps along the road and lessons learned but ultimately  consistency and coordination proved to  deliver the results we set out to achieve.

Future of the Airport
The future of Bend Municipal is taking shape as a powerful catalyst for regional growth, safety and opportunity.
As Central Oregon continues to thrive, the airport supports that momentum — connecting people, strengthening the economy and enhancing quality of life for the entire community.

At the heart of this progress is the new ATCT. More than a piece of  infrastructure, the tower represents a
major investment in safety, efficiency  and reliability. With dedicated air traffic  control services, pilots benefit from improved situational awareness, more  efficient ground and air operations  and safer separation of diverse aircraft  — from commercial flights to wildfire response and medical response.

These improvements help ensure the airport can safely accommodate  increasing activity while remaining a
trusted community asset. With the tower now in place and a clear vision for the future, Bend  Municipal is well positioned to serve Central Oregon for decades to come — safely and responsibly.