Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport covers an area of 2,597 acres (1,051 ha) at an elevation of 1,232 feet (376 m) above mean sea level. It has two active runways with concrete surfaces: 16/34 is 7,100 by 150 feet (2,164 x 46 m) and 5/23 is 6,512 by 150 feet (1,984 x 46 m). The airport also has one helipad designated H1 which measures 60 by 60 feet (18 x 18 m).[2]
For the 12-month period ending June 15, 2022, the airport had 37,900 aircraft operations, an average of 104 per day: 87% general aviation, 8% scheduled commercial, 4% air taxi and 1% military. In June 2022, there were 78 aircraft based at this airport: 59 single-engine, 3 multi-engine, 4 jet and 12 helicopter.[2]
On January 9, 1983, Republic Airlines Flight 927, a Convair 580, skidded off the runway during a nonprecision approach in sleet and snow showers. The aircraft skidded off the right side of the runway and the right propeller struck a snowbank and the propeller penetrated the cabin, killing one passenger and seriously injuring another. The aircraft was later repaired and placed back into service.[9]
^"2011–2015 NPIAS Report, Appendix A"(PDF). National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems. Federal Aviation Administration. October 4, 2010. Archived from the original(PDF, 2.03 MB) on September 27, 2012.
Order 2011-11-30 (November 23, 2011): selecting Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd., to provide essential air service (EAS) at six communities at the following annual subsidy rates: Brainerd, Minnesota, $959,865; Fort Dodge, $1,798,693; Iron Mountain, $1,707,841; Mason City, $1,174,468; Thief River Falls, Minnesota, $1,881,815; and Watertown, $1,710,324, for the two-year period beginning when Great Lakes inaugurates full EAS at all six communities.
Order 2012-6-3 (June 6, 2012): extending the Essential Air Service obligation of the two wholly owned subsidiaries of Pinnacle Airlines Corporation—Mesaba Aviation, Inc. and Pinnacle Airlines, d/b/a Delta Connection at the eight communities listed below (Muscle Shoals, AL; Alpena, MI; Iron Mountain/Kingsford, MI; Brainerd, MN; International Falls, MN; Greenville, MS; Laurel/Hattiesburg, MS; Tupelo, MS) for 30 days, through, July 9, 2012.