Chart Wise: Sunriver, Oregon (S21) RNAV (GPS) Rwy 18

Here is how to manage the terrain and execute an approach to this winter wonderland.

Jason Blair

Wednesday, April 15, 2026 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

A privately owned, public-use airport is just a quick shuttle ride from the Sunriver Resort near Bend, Oregon, and provides a way for many out-of-state visitors and part-time homeowners to get to the year-round destination. [Credit: Sunriver Airport]

Key Takeaways:

Pilots can optimize their entry for Sunriver Airport's RNAV GPS Runway 18 approach by utilizing the DSD VOR as an Initial Approach Fix (IAF) to bypass a course reversal hold, though certain airway arrivals may necessitate starting at TUPSE.
The approach demands strict adherence to precise altitude and course guidance due to significant surrounding terrain, featuring critical descent waypoints and a Visual Descent Point (VDP) 1.5 nm from the runway for a stabilized visual segment.
A distinctive feature of the missed approach procedure is the omission of a specified course to the SSTRS waypoint, with the exact track being dependent on the aircraft's climb performance prior to initiating the required turn.

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Not far south of Bend, Oregon, a pilot just might find themselves flying into the airport at Sunriver, Oregon, to access nearby biking, hiking, stargazing at a nearby observatory, or snow riding at nearby Mount Bachelor in the winter. With only one approach to choose from, the RNAV GPS-based approach to Runway 18 is the way to get in when the weather is less than VFR.

This Article First Appeared in FLYING Magazine

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