Laurence G Hanscom Field
BED · KBED · Bedford, Massachusetts · Middlesex County · map
Laurence G Hanscom Field is a public-use airport owned by Mass Port Authority in Bedford, Massachusetts, 132 feet above sea level. It has 2 runways; the longest, 11/29, is 7,011 feet of asphalt. It has a control tower, fuel (100LL avgas, Jet A) and about 222 general-aviation aircraft based on the field by the FAA's count. The receiver network heard 10 different aircraft arrive or depart here in the last seven days. The FAA counts about 121,381 takeoffs and landings a year. About 18,163 passengers boarded flights here in the FAA's fiscal year 2024.
Quick answers answers refresh every morning
What is the airport code for Laurence G Hanscom Field?
Its FAA code is BED, and its ICAO code is KBED.
Where is Laurence G Hanscom Field?
It is in Bedford, Massachusetts, 132 feet above sea level.
How long is the longest runway at Laurence G Hanscom Field?
The longest of its 2 runways, 11/29, is 7,011 feet long.
Does Laurence G Hanscom Field have a control tower?
Yes, it has a control tower.
What fuel can you buy at Laurence G Hanscom Field?
The FAA's airport file lists 100LL avgas, Jet A.
Where can you fly nonstop from Laurence G Hanscom Field?
Airline flights go to 8 airports, the busiest of them Nantucket Memorial, Martha'S Vineyard, Alexandria International, Teterboro, Indianapolis International. Every route
Are there flight schools at Laurence G Hanscom Field?
9 flight schools, flying clubs or college flight programmes are based within about 15 miles of it, including Hanscom Aero Club and Hanscom Afb Aero Club. Compare them
Where are the nearest FAA examiners to Laurence G Hanscom Field?
9 pilot examiners and 29 aviation medical examiners work within 50 nautical miles. See them by name
Weather and planning now, the forecast, warnings, pilot reports, winds aloft, restrictions
Fetching the weather now, the forecast, the warnings in force, pilot reports and the winds aloft for Laurence G Hanscom Field…
Wind map live wind over the area, from Windy.com
Colours show wind speed, the moving lines its direction; drag the time bar for the coming days. Map and forecast by Windy.com.
The airport facts, runways, radio, fuel and services, the FAA's remarks
The airport
- Codes
- FAA BED · ICAO KBED
- Kind
- Airport · open to the public · publicly owned
- Owner
- Mass Port Authority
- Elevation
- 132 feet above sea level
- Control tower
- A control tower · 7:00 am to 11:00 pm
- Attended
- around the clock
- Lights
- runway lights see the remarks below; beacon sunset to sunrise
- Fuel and services
- 100LL avgas, Jet A; the services card below
- Notes
- landing fee · certified for airline service (Part 139)
- On the chart
- New York sectional
- Magnetic variation
- 16W
- In the FAA's files since
- April 1943
Runways 2
For understanding the field, not for navigation.
| Runway | Length × width | Surface | Lights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11/29 | 7,011 × 150 ft | Asphalt, good | High-intensity lights |
| 05/23 | 5,107 × 150 ft | Asphalt, good | Medium-intensity lights |
- Runway 11: ILS with DME, PAPI, four lights on the left, medium-intensity approach lights with runway alignment lights (MALSR), hill 120 ft high 1,050 ft from the end
- Runway 29: ILS with DME, PAPI, four lights on the right, medium-intensity approach lights with runway alignment lights (MALSR)
- Runway 05: PAPI, four lights on the left
- Runway 23: PAPI, four lights on the right
Radio frequencies
| Common traffic advisory (CTAF) · Tower | 118.5 | Hanscom |
| UNICOM | 122.95 | |
| ATIS (recorded airport information) · Bed and automated weather (ASOS) | 124.6 | Hanscom |
| Clearance delivery | 121.85 | Hanscom |
| Ground | 121.7 | Hanscom |
| Approach and departure · Dreem and star · Zelka and star | 124.4 | Hanscom |
| Emergency | 121.5 | Hanscom |
| Bed and vot | 110.0 | |
| Dreem and star | 119.0 | Hanscom |
Automated weather (ASOS), by phone 781-372-5512.
Fuel and services as reported to the FAA
- Fuel
- 100LL avgas, Jet A
- Repairs
- airframe and engine: major repairs
- Parking
- hangars, tie-downs
- Oxygen
- bottled oxygen (high- and low-pressure), bulk oxygen (high- and low-pressure)
- Also here
- air freight, air ambulance, avionics, charter flights, flight instruction, aircraft rental, aircraft sales
- Notes
- landing fee charged
Other fields with jet fuel nearby: General Edward Lawrence Logan International (14 nm southeast), Lawrence Municipal (17 nm northeast), Norwood Memorial (18 nm south).
The FAA's file records what is sold and done at the field, as the airport manager reports it, not who sells it or the price; fuel sellers (FBOs) are not named in any public file. Airports selling jet fuel in Massachusetts · avgas.
The FAA's remarks as written in the airport file, spelled out
- Activate approach lights (MALSR) runway 11 and 29; runway end identifier lights runway 05 and 23; high-intensity runway lights runway 11/29; medium-intensity runway lights runway 05/23; taxiway lights - 118.5.
- Surcharge for each landing and departure 11:00 pm to 7:00 am. Commercial and transient landing fee.
- 1000 feet above ground level fixed wing; 1500 feet above ground level turbojet; 1800 feet above ground level heavy jet aircraft.
- No plas/tgls for aircraft 12500 pounds and ovr.
- Noise abatement procedures in effect - helicopters operg WI cntld asp are required to mntn hist psbl altitude.
- Birds and wildlife on and in the vicinity of airport.
- Be alert for small aircraft parked on ramps.
- (A23) runway 29 right traffic aircraft ovr 12500 pounds.
- Taxiway C, F, J, north, R, south, T, taxiway M south of taxiway east and taxiway G between runway 11/29 and runway 05/23 closed to aircraft gtr than 118 feet wingspan. Taxiway R closed to air carrier OPS-GA use only.
- No plas/tgls for aircraft under 12500 pounds between 11:00 pm to 7:00 am.
- SVC-TRAN alert: operates 1200-0400Z++ wkd; 1400-2200Z++ Sunday; prior permission required OT and holidays dsn 845-5589/5592. DE-ICING available FR vendor.
- AF: comd post dsn 845-6960/6961, C781-225-6960/6961.
Flights and activity in the air now, the airlines, based aircraft, takeoffs and landings
Activity now checking the volunteer receiver network…
Within ten miles
- Looking…
Arrivals and departures, last hour
- Looking…
From the volunteer receiver network, a few minutes behind at most; aircraft whose owners asked the FAA not to be displayed are left out; no person is named. Open the live map here.
Scheduled and charter flights from here the DOT's airline reports · August 2025 to July 2026
Airlines reported 933 departures from BED in those twelve months, carrying 20,331 passengers in 55,149 seats (37% filled), to 190 destinations (54 abroad) on 39 airlines.
All 190 destinations, the airlines and the aircraft, month by month
From the Bureau of Transportation Statistics' T-100 table: every segment an airline reported flying, three months in arrears. Private, business and training flights are not in it; the live picture is in the activity card.
Based aircraft as counted for the FAA, fiscal year 2024
Based aircraft, as a table
| aircraft | |
|---|---|
| single-engine | 121 |
| multi-engine | 22 |
| jets | 68 |
| helicopters | 11 |
The FAA's count is the general-aviation aircraft kept on the field (singles, twins, business jets, helicopters) from its Terminal Area Forecast, the latest year with an actual count; airline fleets are never counted as based anywhere, so a big airline airport shows a small number. The aircraft heard arriving or departing are the site's own record from the volunteer receiver network, airliners included; aircraft whose owners asked the FAA not to be displayed are left out. The register section below shows how many aircraft are registered to owners in town, a different measure again.
Takeoffs and landings a year about 121,381, the FAA's fiscal year 2024 (October 2023 to September 2024)
Takeoffs and landings, as a table
| a year | |
|---|---|
| airline | 636 |
| air taxi and commuter | 28,838 |
| general aviation, travelling | 53,840 |
| general aviation, local | 37,603 |
| military | 464 |
Local flights stay in the traffic pattern or nearby, often practice; travelling flights arrive from or leave for somewhere else. Counts at airports without a tower are the FAA's estimates. How this compares nationally: Airports by the numbers.
Who flies and works here aircraft registered in town, the companies, the examiners nearby
Aircraft registered in Bedford from the FAA register
26 aircraft are registered to owners in Bedford, Massachusetts: 9 business jets, 8 piston singles, 7 helicopters, 1 piston twin, 1 drone. Not every one of them is based at this airport; the based-aircraft count above is the FAA's figure for this airport alone.
Companies and organisations in town with two or more aircraft:
Individuals are counted, not named (the site's policy at this time). All aircraft registered in Massachusetts.
Who works here from the FAA's certificate lists and the register
Flight schools, flying clubs and college flight programmes based within about 15 miles:
- Hanscom Aero Club 1 aircraft · Hanscom Afb, 1 mile away Hanscom Aero Club is a USAF Aero Club based at Hanscom Air Force Base in Bedford, Massachusetts, near Boston.
- Hanscom Afb Aero Club 1 aircraft · Hanscom Afb, 1 mile away Hanscom Aero Club is a USAF Aero Club based at Hanscom Air Force Base in Bedford, Massachusetts, near Boston.
- Red Bird Flyers LLC 1 aircraft · Acton, 8 miles away Redbird Flight Simulations designs and manufactures FAA and EASA certified flight training devices and software, including full-motion Advanced Aviation Training Devices, Basic Aviation Training Devices, and desktop simulators for flight sc
- Go Flyers LLC 1 aircraft · Sudbury, 9 miles away
- Queen City Aero Club INC 1 aircraft · Chelmsford, 9 miles away
- Aeronauts Flying Club INC 1 aircraft · Newton, 10 miles away North Shore Aero Club is a not-for-profit flying club based at Beverly Regional Airport on the North Shore of Boston.
- Fi Fi Flyers LLC 1 aircraft · Littleton, 11 miles away
- Doolley Flyers LLC 1 aircraft · Harvard, 14 miles away
- Boston Center Flying Club INC 1 aircraft · Dracut, 15 miles away
Charter operators and airlines based in Bedford:
- New England Life Flight INC 7 aircraft on the certificate
Repair stations in Bedford:
Companies in the same town as this airport, and schools within about 15 miles of it (each placed at the main public airport of its town, or at the town's centre); not every one of them works from this field. All operators · all repair stations · all flight schools · all FBOs.
Examiners and inspectors nearby designated by the FAA · within 50 nautical miles
9 pilot examiners (the FAA's designated pilot examiners, who give the practical tests for pilot certificates) are based within 50 nautical miles: 9 for private pilot, 8 for commercial and instrument, 3 for airline transport pilot, 5 for flight instructor, 2 for sport pilot; 7 for airplanes, 2 for multi-engine airplanes, 2 for helicopters. Also nearby: 29 aviation medical examiners, 6 mechanic examiners, 2 airworthiness representatives (maintenance), 1 airworthiness representative (manufacturing), 3 engineering representatives, 4 training center examiners.
- Sean Anthony Brodeur private pilot, commercial and instrument, instructor renewals; airplanes · Mike Goulian Aviation · Bedford, MA (0 nm) · (413) 330-0058 · [email protected]
- Michael Rhodes private pilot, commercial and instrument, airline transport pilot, flight instructor, instrument instructor, commercial pilot; helicopters · Nashua, NH (21 nm) · (603) 759-8300 · [email protected]
- Christopher Allen Thresher private pilot, commercial and instrument, commercial pilot, military competency, foreign pilot certificates; helicopters · Manchester, NH (29 nm) · (603) 203-0486 · [email protected]
- Jared Patrick Curtis private pilot, commercial and instrument, flight instructor, instrument instructor, sport pilot, instructor renewals, military competency, ground instructor, foreign pilot certificates; airplanes · North Hampton, NH (37 nm) · (202) 280-3592 · [email protected]
- Stephen Oakman private pilot, commercial and instrument, flight instructor; airplanes · Middleborough, MA (40 nm) · (617) 755-4863 · [email protected]
- Alexander Crosett private pilot, commercial and instrument, sport pilot, instructor renewals, military competency, ground instructor, foreign pilot certificates; airplanes · Plymouth, MA (42 nm) · (978) 807-7553 · [email protected]
- Derek Gerard Sunnerberg private pilot, commercial and instrument, airline transport pilot, flight instructor; airplanes, multi-engine airplanes · Plymouth, MA (42 nm) · (508) 209-4715 · [email protected]
- Gregory Stuart Livernois private pilot, commercial and instrument, airline transport pilot, flight instructor, instrument instructor, instructor renewals, military competency, ground instructor, foreign pilot certificates; airplanes, multi-engine airplanes · Concord Aviation Services · Concord, NH (45 nm) · (386) 243-5944 · [email protected]
All 54 nearby, by kind, with contact details
What each kind does
- DPE: Designated Pilot Examiner: gives the practical tests (checkrides) for pilot certificates and ratings.
- AME: Aviation Medical Examiner: a doctor who issues the medical certificates pilots must hold.
- DME: Designated Mechanic Examiner: tests candidates for the mechanic certificate (airframe and powerplant).
- DAR-T: Designated Airworthiness Representative, maintenance: issues airworthiness certificates and approvals for aircraft in service.
- DAR-F: Designated Airworthiness Representative, manufacturing: issues airworthiness certificates for newly built aircraft and parts.
- DER-T: Designated Engineering Representative: approves engineering data for repairs and alterations on the FAA's behalf.
- DCTO-E: Designee at a certificated training organisation.
Designees are listed with the name and contact details the FAA publishes for them on its designee locator (read October 10, 2026): the FAA lists them so that pilots, mechanics and companies can find them. Private individuals are not named, the site's policy at this time. A designee who would rather not appear here can ask us through the contact address on the About page. Each designee is placed at the main public airport of the town the FAA lists (or the nearest one to its zip code), so "nearby" means the town, not an exact address. All examiners by state.
Safety record the NTSB's cases at or near this airport
Accidents and incidents at or near this airport NTSB records · 24 since 1982, 5 fatal
Cases the NTSB recorded with this as the nearest airport, newest first. Each opens the full report in plain English. The country as a whole: Where accidents happen.
Nearby within 30 nautical miles
Connections how this airport links to the rest of the register
- Aircraft registered in Bedford 26 aircraft · 9 business jets, 8 piston singles, 7 helicopters
- New England Life Flight INC DBA 6 aircraft in town
- United States Air Force 3 aircraft in town
- Liberty Mutual Insurance CO 3 aircraft in town
- United States Government 2 aircraft in town
- New England Life Flight INC 7 aircraft on the certificate · charter operator
- Hanscom Aero Club 1 aircraft · flying club
- Hanscom Afb Aero Club 1 aircraft · flying club
- Red Bird Flyers LLC 1 aircraft · flight school
- East Coast Aero Club · repair station
- Mit Lincoln Laboratory Flight Facility · repair station
- Nantucket Memorial (ACK) 160 flights in twelve months · Tradewind Aviation, ACM AIR CHARTER GmbH
- Martha'S Vineyard (MVY) 89 flights in twelve months · Tradewind Aviation
- Alexandria International (AEX) 63 flights in twelve months · Eastern Air Express, LLC (EAX), Air Wisconsin Airlines Corp
- Teterboro (TEB) 50 flights in twelve months · Tradewind Aviation, Jet Aviation Flight Services, Inc.
- Indianapolis International (IND) 39 flights in twelve months · Eastern Air Express, LLC (EAX), Delta Air Lines Inc.
- Westchester County (HPN) 35 flights in twelve months · Tradewind Aviation, Global Crossing Airlines, Inc.
- Buffalo Niagara International (BUF) 24 flights in twelve months · Global Crossing Airlines, Inc., Eastern Air Express, LLC (EAX)
- Toronto (YYZ) 24 flights in twelve months · Chartright Air Inc., Delta Air Lines Inc.
- NTSB accidents and incidents at or near this airport 24 since 1982 · 5 fatal
- Accidents and incidents in Massachusetts 987 since 1982 · 91 in the last ten years
- Nearby landing places within 30 nautical miles 8 airports, heliports and seaplane bases
- Public-use airports in Massachusetts 38 landing places
- Massachusetts 2,649 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/airport/BED.json.
Facts from the FAA's airport file effective October 1, 2026, written out in plain English; weather from the National Weather Service's aviation weather service; registered aircraft from the FAA register as of October 26, 2026; accidents from the NTSB's public database. Owners are shown only when they are an organisation; no person is named. Check the official sources before a flight: this page is for understanding an airport, not for planning one.