Airport Overview
Friedman Memorial Airport (KSUN/SUN) is the primary commercial and general aviation airport serving the Sun Valley resort area, sitting in the Wood River Valley at Hailey, Idaho, roughly 12 miles south of Ketchum and Sun Valley. Owned and run by the Friedman Memorial Airport Authority, it combines scheduled airline service with a steady stream of private and charter traffic, particularly during ski season and the annual Allen & Co. conference in July. A single runway and a single FBO keep operations compact but busy.
Runway Capability
The airport's lone runway, 13/31, is 7,550 feet of grooved asphalt at 5,318 feet elevation. That length supports light, midsize and super-midsize jets routinely, and many large-cabin aircraft with appropriate performance planning. The key variable is density altitude: summer temperatures can push the effective altitude past 7,000 feet, so heavy or long-range departures must verify runway-length and climb numbers for the day's conditions rather than assume sea-level performance.
Charter Considerations
KSUN is the most convenient access point to Sun Valley, eliminating the long mountain drive from Boise (about 2.5 hours) or Twin Falls. Atlantic Aviation is the only FBO and handles all private arrivals, fuel, parking and ground coordination. During the December-March ski season and the July Allen & Co. media conference, ramp space and hangar availability tighten sharply, and slot pressure rises; early coordination through The Jet Finder secures parking and handling before peak demand.
Safety & Planning
Mountain terrain defines operations here. KSUN functions as a one-way-in (Runway 31), one-way-out (Runway 13) field, with high ground to the north limiting circling and missed-approach options. Crews unfamiliar with the airport should review the terrain, the RNAV (GPS) LPV approach to Runway 31, and departure procedures in advance. Hailey Tower is open 0700-2300 local; outside those hours the field is non-towered and pilots self-announce on 125.6.
Seasonal & Operational Factors
Winter valley clouds historically forced diversions to Twin Falls (KTWF), about 75 miles south. The addition of LPV approach minimums to Runway 31 has lifted cold-weather reliability dramatically, but low ceilings, snow and crosswinds can still send flights to KTWF or delay departures. Summer brings afternoon convective buildups and the highest density altitudes of the year. Morning departures generally offer the most predictable conditions in both seasons.
Regional Context
Idaho's Wood River Valley is ringed by some of the most demanding terrain in the lower 48, and KSUN is the gateway through it. For travelers, the airport's 12-mile proximity to Ketchum and Sun Valley is a decisive advantage over alternatives. There is no on-field CBP, so international itineraries clear customs at a port of entry such as Boise (KBOI) before continuing to Hailey. The Jet Finder coordinates that routing, fuel planning, and ground logistics end to end.