The Bend Municipal Airport is on the march. It is moving up to an airport with a control tower that could be up to 115 feet in height.

The most important thing to know is likely what this does not mean: It does not mean that Bend airport is going to become another regional airport like Redmond Airport. Bend airport is going to stay a municipal airport. Redmond Airport will continue to be the main regional airport for the area.

This week, Deschutes County Commissioners are scheduled to make a decision that would allow construction to proceed.

Is a tower absolutely necessary at Bend airport? We can’t answer that. It seems like it is needed. It met a federal threshold.

The Bend airport is unique in a couple of ways. It is the third busiest airport in Oregon in takeoffs and landings.

It has a high number of helicopter operations and many of those pilots are in flight training. And it all happens on one runway.

Central Oregon airports are in a kind of a bad spot for radar coverage. The long-range radars in Portland and Seattle can’t see what’s going on below 4,000 feet. Redmond Airport does have a radar, but that information is displayed only in Seattle.

A tall tower would give an excellent view of what’s going on at the airport and could improve safety.

The Bend City Council has already approved a construction contract. The cost of construction, perhaps $1.6 million, is expected to be covered by a federal grant.

There are many things in this world that may cause you anxiety, tension, worry and stress. Adding a tower to Bend Municipal Airport should not be one of them.