Cheboygan County Airport

Cheboygan County Airport is a public airport located in Cheboygan County, Michigan, approximately 3 miles northwest of the city of Cheboygan, Michigan, and near the shores of Lake Huron and Mullett Lake. The airport serves the surrounding areas, including Mackinaw City, Michigan, Petoskey, Michigan, and Gaylord, Michigan, with connections to major hubs like Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport and Gerald R. Ford International Airport. It is also close to popular tourist destinations such as Mackinac Island, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

Overview

The airport is owned and operated by the Cheboygan County Board of Commissioners and is a vital transportation link for the region, providing access to Northern Michigan University, Northwestern Michigan College, and Alpena Community College. It is classified as a general aviation airport by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and is eligible for funding under the Airport and Airway Improvement Act of 1982, which was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan. The airport's operations are also influenced by the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978, which was signed into law by President Jimmy Carter and aimed to increase competition and reduce regulatory barriers in the aviation industry. Additionally, the airport is subject to the regulations of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which is responsible for ensuring the security of the nation's transportation systems, including those at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, and John F. Kennedy International Airport.

Location

The airport is situated in a rural area, near the intersection of US Highway 23 and M-27 (Michigan highway), and is accessible from Interstate 75 (I-75) and US Highway 31. The surrounding landscape is characterized by rolling hills, forests, and lakes, including Burt Lake, Mullett Lake, and Long Lake (Michigan). The airport is also close to several state and national parks, such as P.H. Hoeft State Park, Onaway State Park, and Tahquamenon Falls State Park, which offer opportunities for outdoor recreation, including hiking, camping, and fishing, similar to those found at Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park, and Grand Canyon National Park. The region is also home to several Native American reservations, including the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, which have their own Tribal colleges and Cultural centers, such as the National Museum of the American Indian.

Facilities

The airport has one runway, designated as Runway 13/31, which is 4,005 feet long and 75 feet wide, and is equipped with a Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) and a Runway end identifier lights (REIL) system. The airport also has a Fixed-base operator (FBO) that provides fuel, maintenance, and other services to aircraft, including those from Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and United Airlines. The FBO is owned and operated by the Cheboygan County Airport Authority, which is responsible for managing the airport's facilities and operations, including the Airport terminal, Hangars, and Ramp areas. The airport is also equipped with a Weather station and an Automated weather observing system (AWOS), which provide pilots with critical weather information, similar to those used at Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, and Denver International Airport.

History

The airport was established in the 1940s, during World War II, as a training base for the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF), and was later used as a General aviation airport. Over the years, the airport has undergone several improvements, including the construction of a new Airport terminal and the extension of the runway, which was funded in part by grants from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), and the United States Department of Transportation (DOT). The airport has also been the site of several notable events, including visits by Air Force One, the presidential aircraft, and NASA's Space Shuttle program, which has also been associated with Kennedy Space Center, Johnson Space Center, and Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Operations

The airport is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and is staffed by a team of professionals, including Air traffic controllers, Flight instructors, and Maintenance personnel, who are trained and certified by organizations such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The airport offers a range of services, including Flight training, Aircraft maintenance, and Charter flights, which are operated by companies such as NetJets, Flexjet, and Wheels Up, and are similar to those offered at Teterboro Airport, Van Nuys Airport, and Scottsdale Airport. The airport is also a popular destination for Recreational flying and Aerial tourism, with many visitors coming to enjoy the scenic views of the surrounding countryside, including the Tahquamenon River, the Pigeon River Country State Forest, and the Les Cheneaux Islands, which are similar to those found at Acadia National Park, Olympic National Park, and Zion National Park.