Union County Airport in La Grande Offers Full-Service Fueling, Instrument Approaches

La Grande’s Union County Airport (KLGD) provides full-service 100LL and Jet A fueling and published instrument approaches, strengthening general aviation access for the city and surrounding communities. The public, county-owned field supports flight training, maintenance, and business travel while serving as a base for emergency and medical flights.

The airport sits about four miles southeast of La Grande at an elevation of roughly 2,717.6 feet. Its primary runway, 12/30, is 6,261 feet long and 100 feet wide with asphalt surface, medium intensity edge lights, and visual aids including PAPI on runway 17 and REIL on runways 17 and 35. A secondary runway, 17/35, measures 3,400 by 75 feet. Declared distances and weight-bearing capacities are documented on FAA procedure plates and should be consulted by operators planning operations with heavier or performance-limited aircraft.

Instrument access includes RNAV (GPS) approaches to runway 17, NDB approaches, and other FAA approach plates, enabling operations in reduced visibility and winter weather. Pilots can use CTAF/UNICOM on 122.8 and monitor the AWOS-3 system for local weather updates; the airport listing also includes the AWOS phone number. NOTAMs and the latest FAA charts remain essential preflight checks.

Beyond fueling, the airport’s fixed base operator offers hangar and tiedown parking, major airframe and powerplant services, flight training, rental cars delivered to the field, courtesy transportation, and a pilots’ lounge. Those services make KLGD useful not only for recreational pilots but for business visitors, aerial survey operations, and aircraft maintenance that supports the regional fleet.

From an economic perspective, full-service Jet A availability matters for Union County because it broadens the range of turbine aircraft that can operate into La Grande, which supports corporate and charter flights. Fuel sales provide a local revenue stream and influence operating costs for long-haul agricultural, medical, and business flights. The airport’s instrument procedures reduce weather-related cancellations, improving reliability for businesses that depend on predictable air access.

Operationally, the airport’s elevation and the Blue Mountains setting mean pilots must account for density altitude when calculating takeoff and landing performance. County ownership of the field places infrastructure decisions in local hands, giving Union County policymakers direct control over investments in lighting, pavement, and approach maintenance that affect regional connectivity.

For residents and local planners, the airport represents both an economic asset and a public safety resource. Pilots and visitors should consult FAA charts, AirNav listings, and NOTAMs for current operational details and fuel prices, and contact airport management (Manager: Doug Wright) through the FAA record for specific inquiries. Continued upkeep and targeted investment will determine how much more the field can contribute to La Grande’s economic resilience and year-round connectivity.