Badging
Every Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport (BLRA) employee, vendor, or tenant entering restricted areas of the terminal or the fenced area outside the airport must obtain a BRD-issued badge. Depending on status or employment, you will need either a Secured Area/Security Identification Display Area (SIDA) or Air Operations Area (AOA) badge. The following information will guide you through the badging process, but please reach out to the BLRA Badging Office if you have additional questions.

Badging Process
1. Complete the BRD Access Application
Complete the BRD Access Application and have it signed by your company’s authorized signatory. If you’re a hangar tenant, the airport will be your authorized signatory and will sign off on your badge application at your first appointment. A link to this application can be found below under “Resources.”
2. Book an Appointment
To book an appointment, call Airport Administration at (218) 825-2166 or email info@brainerdairport.com.
3. Background Check Appointment
Bring two original forms of unexpired government-issued identification — one to establish identity and another to establish employment authorization. Examples include:
- Driver’s license and U.S. passport; or
- Driver’s license and certified birth certificate; or
- Driver’s license and Social Security card
If you’re driving within the fence, a driver’s license is a required document to bring to your background check appointment.
A list of acceptable I-9 documents can be found below under “Resources.”
Your information will be sent to the Transportation Security Clearinghouse to be approved for any airport-issued badge. Secured Area/SIDA badge applicants must also complete and pass the Criminal History Records Check (CHRC), conducted through fingerprinting. It may take one week or longer for review.
4. Security Training Appointment
After successful completion of required background checks, applicants will go through required security training.
After successful completion of all training requirements, applicants will have their photo taken and badge issued. After an applicant has passed their background checks, the Transportation Security Clearinghouse allows up to 30 days for an applicant to become active within the system. Therefore, an applicant that does not complete their security training within 30 days will be required to re-apply for a badge and will result in additional fees to run new background checks.
Fees
List of Fees
The Airport Administration will invoice fees at the end of the month or with the tenant’s next hangar lease invoice.
- Initial Secured Area/SIDA – $60 (fingerprints)
- Initial AOA – $25 (no fingerprints)
- Lost Secured Area/SIDA – $60
- A 50% refund will be given if badge is returned prior to the badge’s expiration date
- Lost AOA – $25
- A 50% refund will be given if badge is returned prior to the badge’s expiration date
- Secured Area/SIDA Badge Renewal after 24 calendar months – $10
- AOA Badge Renewal after 24 calendar months – $5
- Lost key fee – Varies
- Keys to a Secured Area/SIDA or AOA access point must be 100% accounted for at all times. Entities that lose airport-issued keys will be responsible for the cost to rekey all associated door hardware and issuance of new keys to all applicable personnel.
Badging Office
The badging office is located next to the conference room inside the main terminal at 16384 Airport Road. Hours are 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday – Friday by appointment only. Free public parking is available in Lot A across from the terminal.