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:

The RNAV GPS approach to Sunriver's Runway 18 offers Initial Approach Fix (IAF) options, where using the DSD VOR can help pilots avoid a course reversal hold, though DSD is restricted for arrivals on certain airway radials.
Pilots must meticulously adhere to precise altitude step-downs and maintain course guidance due to significantly higher terrain surrounding the approach path to the east and west.
Key navigational points include intermediate waypoints from enroute charts, a Visual Descent Point (VDP) at 1.5 nm to the runway, and a unique missed approach procedure where the exact course to the waypoint is not explicitly listed, dependent on climb performance.

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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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