Charlevoix Municipal Airport

Charlevoix Municipal Airport is a public airport located in Charlevoix County, Michigan, serving the city of Charlevoix, Michigan and surrounding areas, including Petoskey, Michigan, Boyne City, Michigan, and East Jordan, Michigan. The airport is owned and operated by the City of Charlevoix, Michigan, with support from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT). As a vital transportation hub, Charlevoix Municipal Airport connects passengers to major airports like Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport and Gerald R. Ford International Airport, with flights operated by Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and United Airlines.

● Overview

Charlevoix Municipal Airport offers a range of services, including general aviation facilities, air charter services, and flight training programs, catering to the needs of private pilots, business travelers, and tourists visiting popular destinations like Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Mackinac Island, and Traverse City, Michigan. The airport's proximity to Lake Michigan and the Charlevoix Chain of Lakes makes it an ideal location for seaplane operations and waterborne aircraft services, with companies like Kenmore Air and Northwest Seaplanes offering scenic flights and charter services. Additionally, the airport is home to several fixed-base operators (FBOs), including Charlevoix Aviation and Northwest Michigan Aviation, which provide fueling, maintenance, and other support services to aircraft operators.

● Location

Charlevoix Municipal Airport is situated in Charlevoix County, Michigan, approximately 2 miles southwest of the city of Charlevoix, Michigan, and about 60 miles northeast of Traverse City, Michigan. The airport is accessible via US Highway 31 and M-66 (Michigan highway), with nearby attractions including Charlevoix South Pier Light, Fisherman's Island State Park, and the Charlevoix Historical Society Museum. The airport's location also provides easy access to popular ski resorts like Boyne Mountain Resort and Nub's Nob Ski Resort, as well as Golf courses in Michigan, such as Belvedere Golf Club and Dunmaglas Golf Course.

● Facilities

The airport features a single asphalt runway, designated as Runway 22/04, which is 4,550 feet long and 75 feet wide, with a precision approach path indicator (PAPI) system and a medium intensity runway lighting system. The airport's facilities include a terminal building with a passenger lounge, flight planning room, and pilot's lounge, as well as a fuel farm with avgas and jet fuel storage tanks, operated by Phillips 66 and Chevron Corporation. The airport is also equipped with a weather observation system and an automated weather observing system (AWOS), providing critical weather information to pilots and air traffic controllers.

● Aviation

Charlevoix Municipal Airport is a popular destination for general aviation pilots, with a range of services and amenities available, including aircraft maintenance and repair services, avionics installation and repair, and flight instruction programs, offered by flight schools like Charlevoix Flight School and Northwest Michigan Flight School. The airport is also home to several aircraft manufacturers, including Cessna Aircraft Company and Piper Aircraft, which offer sales and service support to aircraft owners and operators. Additionally, the airport hosts various aviation events throughout the year, such as the Charlevoix Air Show and the Michigan Aviation Conference, which attract visitors from across the region, including Lansing, Michigan, Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Marquette, Michigan.

● History

Charlevoix Municipal Airport has a rich history, dating back to the 1940s, when it was established as a World War II training base for the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF), with support from the War Department and the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA). After the war, the airport was transferred to the City of Charlevoix, Michigan, which has since operated and maintained the facility, with funding support from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT). Over the years, the airport has undergone several expansions and improvements, including the construction of a new terminal building and the installation of a precision approach path indicator (PAPI) system, with assistance from consulting engineers like Jacobs Engineering and CH2M Hill.

● Statistics

Charlevoix Municipal Airport serves a significant number of passengers and aircraft operations each year, with over 10,000 aircraft operations annually, including general aviation flights, air taxi services, and cargo flights, operated by FedEx Express and UPS Airlines. The airport's economic impact on the local community is substantial, with an estimated annual contribution of over $10 million to the local economy of Michigan, supporting businesses like Charlevoix Area Hospital and Charlevoix Public Schools. According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) data, the airport is classified as a general aviation airport, with a airport category of B-1, and is served by several airlines, including Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and United Airlines, which offer connections to major hubs like Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport and Chicago O'Hare International Airport.

Category:Airports in Michigan