REDMOND, OR -- The Redmond Airport plans to create more space for commercial planes to park. "Currently, our ramp holds nine aircraft, which are mostly full at night," Airport Director Zach Bass tells KBND News, "So, we’re adding actually two larger aircraft parking spots for future mainline expansion." He says that could lead to the ability to hold as many as 12 planes, depending on their size.

The "apron" expansion project is expected to cost nearly $8 million. "Basically, when you fly in and out of here, when you get off or on the plane you’re going to be walking over the concrete out there; that is the pad, and we’re just going to expand it," says Bass. The bulk of the project, nearly 94%, would be paid for by a grant from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Bass says the project was already approved by the FAA, as part of the five-year capital improvement plan the airport submitted to the agency. The other 6% of the work would be paid for by the city of Redmond or, Bass says, the airport could apply for an ODOT grant to cover the remainder.