How Will the Master Plan Benefit the Reno-Stead Community?

Reno-Stead Airport (RTS), a 5,000-acre general aviation facility located 15 miles north of Reno and owned and operated by the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority, has been an important contributor to the community since its beginnings as a military airport in the 1940s. Since that time, RTS has remained relevant in serving the Reno region—including through the Reno Air Races, which have relocated to a new home—and is now the focus of local, state, and federal leaders for continued service into the future.

A comprehensive master planning process, launched in 2025, will guide RTS’s land use and development over the next two decades. RTS has a responsibility to the community to ensure the airport is being utilized to the best and highest degree possible. The RTS Master Plan allows airport leaders to take the time to explore the possibilities of how the Reno-Stead Airport can be of the greatest value to its community. Learn more about the RTS Master Plan here.

RTS Today

Locals and visitors alike appreciate RTS for being a vital general aviation facility. Approximately 200 aircraft are based at RTS; the airport’s Freedom Flight Terminal delivers a modern experience for passengers, pilots, tenants, and the community; and the well-sized airfield with two runways—Runway 14/32 is the longest at 9,000 feet—contribute to RTS’s safe and efficient operation.

RTS serves as a tanker base for aerial firefighting operations that is activated during fire season. The airport is also a Federal Aviation Administration–designated test site for unmanned aerial systems (UAS), which is widely considered to be the future of aviation.

The airport is also a key contributor to the local economy through creating jobs, generating sales tax revenues, and contributing to local tourism.

RTS Tomorrow

RTS’s location in Northern Nevada, an emerging hub for population and business investment, positions the airport to support continued economic development.

The Master Plan Working Group includes RTS staff, airport contracting partners, and community members. This group will help host public meetings, analyze data, deliver feedback, and help determine the final outcome of the new RTS Master Plan.

The group will explore a variety of opportunities, such as on-airport education programs to include university extensions and flight schools to address the national pilot shortage; ongoing investment in UAS and drone technologies to keep the Reno-Tahoe area on the leading edge; and RTS’s continued support as a home base for public safety and emergency support agencies and military operations.

Follow Along and Get Involved

Community members are invited to get involved as the Master Plan Working Group collaborates on a 20-year roadmap to shape the future, address development, and ensure RTS continues as a strong and vibrant airport.

Ways to get involved include attending an upcoming public meeting, providing feedback on a comment form, and staying up to date on progress. With your help, the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority will create a vision for RTS’s future that supports jobs, encourages innovation, and ensures the airport remains a good neighbor. For more details on how to participate, visit RTS’s Get Involved page.