Part of the Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF), it shares a 2,990-meter (9,810 ft) runway with Bergen Airport, Flesland.

Construction began in 1952 and the following year the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) issued grants for a long runway.

Its role was intended as a forward operating base for the United States Air Force (USAF) in case the Cold War turned hot.

From about 1966 Flesland became a forward storage facility for nuclear warheads, which could be moved to the air station in case of war.

A further NOK 4 million was presumed financed by the municipalities of Bergen and Fana to build a terminal, expropriation and a road.

The terminal building cost NOK 200,000 and was located next to a parking lot with place for seventy cars.

[11] The first aircraft to land at the airport was a de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter of the air force on 18 June 1954.

[14] The 338 Squadron was temporarily moved to Flesland for the summer of 1958, while the runway at Ørland Main Air Station was upgraded.

[15] A contentious issue arose in the late 1950s concerning the storage of American nuclear warheads in Norway.

[16] By 1959 the plans were changed and instead Flesland was selected as a Norwegian site along with Bodø Main Air Station for Class C warheads, to be used with attack aircraft.

[23] The Norwegian High Command and the United States Air Force agreed on 29 May 1974 that there would be established nine collocated operating bases (COB) in Norway, including Flesland.

This involved establishing nine air stations which in case of crisis and war could act as forward operating bases for about six hundred US aircraft.

In addition to ground support for the aircraft and crew, it involved the stationing of spare parts, ammunition and fuel.

[24] In early 1981 the United States Air Force's 4th Tactical Fighter Squadron visited Flesland.

[26] With the ending of the Cold War following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the military activity at Flesland diminished.

[27] Planning of the downgrading of the air station had started in 1988, and from 1995 only personnel necessary for maintaining infrastructure was left, reducing the crew to 33.

The daily operation of the air station was transferred to the Royal Norwegian Navy, who have six employees at the base.

The RNoAF retains ownership of most of the aerodrome, including the squadron area, a buffer zone around it, as well as the runway and the parallel taxiway.

[31] Both directions have full category I instrument landing system, including precision approach path indicator.

[27] The Norwegian Defence Estates Agency, the owner of the facility, stated in 2011 that they may in the future sell the property.

This is part of a national coordination project where Avinor and the military have agreed to allow the primary user of each joint aerodrome to become the owner of the facility.

Due to requirements of it being at least 1,035 meters (3,396 ft) from the existing runway, the only suitable site is at the squadron area of the air station.