Virgil I Grissom Municipal (KBFR), Indiana
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
Virgil I Grissom Municipal Airport (KBFR) serves Bedford, Indiana with two paved concrete runways, the longer at 4,501 feet and the shorter at 3,089 feet, and remains unattended outside its published hours. The field is not towered, and pilots operating here work through CTAF for lighting activation and traffic coordination. Business aviation activity places KBFR in the moderate-traffic tier among Skystar-tracked fields, with fuel available in 100LL and Jet A grades. Customs clearance is not offered onsite; the nearest facility sits at Louisville (KSDF), roughly 52 nautical miles away.
Runways
Virgil I Grissom Municipal has two paved runways. The longest, 13/31, is 4,501 ft long and 100 ft wide, with a concrete surface.
Runway geometry from published threshold coordinates. Not for navigation.
Runways are listed longest first.
Source: FAA Form 5010.
Fuel and airfield services
Virgil I Grissom Municipal has Jet A+ and 100LL available on the field. The airport has no control tower.
Source: FAA Form 5010 / NASR.
Customs
Virgil I Grissom Municipal does not clear customs. The nearest port of entry is Louisville Muhammad Ali International (KSDF), 52 NM away.
Source: CBP list of ports of entry.
Business aviation traffic
Virgil I Grissom Municipal recorded 75 business aviation movements in 2025. Traffic peaks in July and September. Business aviation activity at KBFR concentrates in the mid-year months, peaking in July and September with 11 operations each, while December and March show minimal to no bizav traffic.
Business jet movements, FAA TFMSC count. Peak month July, 11 movements in 2025.
Source: FAA TFMSC, business jet movements, 2025.
Climate
Virgil I Grissom Municipal averages 1.5 snow days in February.
Weather station is 3.6 NM from the field. Some values are estimated by the agency. 1991–2020 climate normals.
Source: NOAA NCEI.
Operating constraints
Virgil I Grissom Municipal has published operating constraints in four categories: access, runway notes, environmental and other notes.
For clearance delivery, contact Louisville Approach.
Runway edge identifier lights on Runway 13 and Runway 31 are pilot-activated, along with medium intensity runway lights on Runway 06/24 and Runway 13/31, all via CTAF. Medium intensity runway lights preset to low intensity can be increased via CTAF.
Brush and trees line both sides of the runway centerline, 200 feet left and right, along the entire length of the runway.
A 47-foot tree line stands 0 to 200 feet from the runway end, 190 feet right of centerline.
The approach slope is 26:1 at the threshold.
A controlling obstruction exceeds a 45-degree slope.
Runway 24 has an 18:1 approach slope at the threshold.
Deer are present on and in the vicinity of the airport.
Line of sight is restricted to visibility.
Source: FAA Chart Supplement.
Nearby airfields
Virgil I Grissom Municipal has five airfields within 36 NM. The closest is Monroe County (KBMG), 20.04 NM northwest.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at KBFR
We arrange catering, fuel and trip support here. Supplier prices reach you unchanged; our coordination fee sits on its own line.
The same order, priced two ways.
$1,200.00 catering order at KBFR.
Unchanged.
What the kitchen invoices us is what your quote reads.
One line, fixed.
It does not move with the size of the order.
At cost.
Passed on at the exact amount the processor took.
Market practice figures are industry averages, not a specific competitor.
Frequently asked questions
Is fuel available at KBFR?
Yes, Virgil I Grissom Municipal Airport stocks both 100LL and Jet A fuel, listed in the data as A+. This makes KBFR usable for a mix of piston and turbine traffic. The field is not towered, so fuel and lighting coordination for arriving aircraft runs through CTAF rather than a control tower.
What are the runway options at Virgil I Grissom Municipal?
Virgil I Grissom Municipal offers two paved concrete runways: 13/31 at 4,501 feet by 100 feet, and 06/24 at 3,089 feet by 70 feet. Both surfaces are concrete, and 13/31 is the longer of the two, setting the field's maximum paved runway length. Pilots should note that Runway 24 carries an 18:1 approach slope at the threshold according to airport remarks.
Does KBFR have customs clearance onsite?
No, customs clearance is not available onsite at KBFR. The nearest customs facility is Louisville International (KSDF), approximately 52 nautical miles away. Flights requiring customs processing near Bedford, Indiana should plan to route through KSDF rather than expecting service at Virgil I Grissom Municipal Airport itself.
Are there approach obstacles to know about at Virgil I Grissom Municipal?
Yes, several obstruction remarks apply at Virgil I Grissom Municipal. Brush and trees line both sides of the runway centerline for the entire runway length, and a 47-foot tree line sits near one runway end. The approach slope is 26:1 at one threshold and 18:1 on Runway 24, and a controlling obstruction exceeds a 45-degree slope, so pilots should review these factors before arrival.