Airport comments for Michigan, United States

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Willow Run Airport

Willow Run Airport is an airport in Van Buren Charter Township and Ypsilanti Township, near Ypsilanti, Michigan, United States, that serves freight, corporate, and general aviation. Due to its very close proximity to Detroit Metropolitan Airport, no major airlines schedule passenger flights to or from Willow Run.

It is included in the Federal Aviation Administration National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2017–2021, in which it is categorized as a national reliever airport facility.

Opened in 1942, "Willow Run" was synonymous with the American industrial effort that contributed so much to Allied victory in World War II. Operated by the Ford Motor Company, the Willow Run manufacturing plant produced a total of 8,685 B-24 Liberator heavy bombers, completed and in kit form, before closure in April 1945; Willow Run produced more Liberators than either plant owned by the plane's designer, Consolidated Aircraft.

Today the Yankee Air Museum, located in one of the airport's hangars, has a large collection of vintage aircraft.

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Detroit Metropolitan Airport

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport is a major international airport in the United States covering 4,850 acres in Romulus, Michigan. It is the primary international airport serving Detroit and is Michigan's busiest airport. The Federal Aviation Administration National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2017–2021 categorized it as a large hub primary commercial service facility.

The airport is a major hub for Delta Air Lines and is also a base for Spirit Airlines. Detroit serves as Delta's main gateway to Asia for the Eastern United States. The airport has service to 30 international destinations and service to 39 states across the United States. Operated by the Wayne County Airport Authority, the airport has six runways, two terminals, and 129 in-service gates. Detroit Metropolitan Airport has maintenance facilities capable of servicing and repairing aircraft as large as the Boeing 747-400.

Metro Airport serves the Metropolitan Detroit area; the Toledo, Ohio area about 40 miles south; the Ann Arbor area to the west; Windsor, Ontario; and Southwestern Ontario in Canada. The airport serves over 140 destinations and was named the best large U.S. airport in customer satisfaction by J.D. Power & Associates in 2010 and 2019.

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Coleman A. Young International Airport

Coleman A. Young International Airport is six miles northeast of downtown Detroit, in Wayne County, Michigan. It is owned by the City of Detroit. The Federal Aviation Administration National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2017–2021 categorized it as a regional general aviation facility. In 2003, it was given its current name in honor of the late former mayor of Detroit.

From July 1988 through September 1993, Southwest Airlines served the airport with 10 to 13 daily flights. Chautauqua Airlines served the airport but ceased service less than a year later. Spirit Airlines planned to fly McDonnell-Douglas DC-9s to DET in 1995, but never began service. Pro Air, a scheduled passenger airline, was based at the airport and grounded by the FAA due to poor maintenance performance after less than a year. The airport now has no scheduled passenger airline service.

The airport's passenger terminal also houses facilities for Customs and Border Protection, which serves private and cargo airplanes.

The 53,000-square-foot passenger terminal includes space for restaurants, retail concessions, car rental facilities, airline offices, baggage pick-up and claim areas, boarding areas and passenger lounges. The airport has three 1,000 space parking lots.

The city of Detroit says that the facility has staff and is operational. It is listed as an asset of the city, but its future plans are in doubt.

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Berz-Macomb Airport

Berz Macomb Airport eventually succumbed to the pressures that have become increasingly common to privately-owned airports surrounded by increasingly dense suburban development. An article by Mary Owen in the 12/26/02 issue of the Detroit Free Press was entitled "Berz Macomb Airport hangs in there". "While developers, courts & planners settle the details of a proposed luxury subdivision on his land, Milton Berz Jr. is doing business as usual at the Berz Macomb Airport in Macomb Township. Business is slower now because some customers assume the airport is preparing to close. For the first time in years, there are empty hangars, and people have been flying elsewhere. But flying lessons & aircraft hangar space are still available, and the small office looking onto the runway is full of activity. Despite plans for 495 luxury homes on the airport's site, members of the Berz family contend that they're not closing their business any time soon." "Until the check is in our hands, we're going to be doing business as usual", said 3rd-generation pilot Jeff Berz.

The article continued, "For 4 years, Farmington Hills-based developer Grand Sakwa has had an option on the family's 330 acres, which are between 22 Mile & 23 Mile & Hayes & Romeo Plank. That means Grand Sakwa has the first option to buy the land. In exchange, Grand Sakwa pays a yearly fee & pays the airport's property taxes." The township assessed the land at about $9 million. The Berz family said Grand Sakwa offered more than that."

"It's one of those situations where property values have increased to the levels where it doesn't make any sense to run an airport," said Milton Berz Jr. "To see something you worked at for 30 years ultimately destroyed is not going to be easy."

The article continued, "A court battle between Macomb Township & Grand Sakwa began in 1999 after the township denied the developer's request to rezone the area from industrial to residential. The township contends that a residential development on the site of the airport goes against its 30-year-old master plan, even though there's a subdivision opposite the entrance to the airport. Two years ago, a judge ruled in favor of the developer's request for rezoning. However, the courts haven't determined whether Grand Sakwa is entitled to several million dollars in damages as a result of the delay in the project. Grand Sakwa plans a 190-acre development that would have about 2.6 lots per acre." "When - and if - the airport does close, it will leave only 2 Macomb County airports: Romeo State Airport & Macomb Airport in New Haven. Berz had about 68,200 take-offs & landings in 2001. Among Berz customers is the Warren Police Department, which stations 2 helicopters there. Company executives & celebrities such as Bill Cosby & Cindy Crawford have used the airport when flying into the Detroit area on private jets. Medical teams transporting organs from St. Joseph's Mercy of Macomb in Clinton Township also have taken advantage of the nearby facility." "I think the county is really going to miss this airport," said Jeff Berz. "They don't realize what they have here."

The article continued, "Jeff Berz, whose wife is working on her pilot's license, said that after the airport is sold, it will stay open for an additional 90 days to help customers find space elsewhere. He said people taking flying lessons can transfer their hours. With a hint of regret, Jeff Berz, who had planned to take over the family business, says he wishes that the family had developed the land around the airport with restaurants, homes or a golf course. He said the added revenue could have subsidized the airport." "I grew up out here," he said. "My father flew me out here when they were bulldozing for the runway."

In 2003, their last year, the Berz Macomb Airport web site described their operation as such: "Berz Flying Service operates as a full service FBO, offering flight training, storage, fuel sales, and the maintenance of Piper Airplanes. The flight department, operating Piper Cherokees, has a unique curriculum, offering one-to-one training for both ground & flight training." "Berz-Macomb Airport has a 4,200' paved & lighted runway. There are both VOR, NDB and GPS instrument approaches, the NDB utilizing a radio beacon on the airport. There are available most of the amenities to assist you when coming to the Macomb County area. These include transient hangars & tiedowns, heater service, rental cars, waiting rooms, nearby restaurants & motels, and both 100 octane & jet A fuel."

Fred Kaluza reported in 2003, "The Berz Macomb Airport was just sold for a reported $15 million because it lies smack in the middle of southeast Michigan's fastest sprawling area. The number one cash crop among area farmers is 'subdivisions'. It's getting to the point that flying over southeast Michigan is just as hazardous as if you were over the middle of the Pacific. There's nowhere left to land if you have trouble!" Russ Shreve recalled, "I took my private check ride with Milt Berz Jr, and I bought Milt Berz Sr's house when he retired to Florida. Their flight operation has now moved to Oakland Troy airport, which oddly enough, formerly was the original Berz Airport the family sold to Rockwell."

A 2005 aerial view showed that sadly, all signs of this well-built modern airport had been erased, replaced by streets for a new housing development.

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airpark?

looked like a really nice airpark community has been recently built here

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stunning approach

great views over the water and of the canal when landing 18

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re: Pilot

Reply to @Glastar1995: that's awesome!

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ROUGH pavement

There are so many weeds growing through the cracks this might as well be a grass strip

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More cell phone charging ports

Please add many more charging ports/ electrical outlets, throughout the airport. Access to charging stations is very scarce, and then makes passengers agitated and argumentative with eachother. This is very important to update access to charging stations.

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Wrong name

MI26 should be Cloud 9 East airport, not Hynes Field

https://community.windy.com/topic/6407/airport-database-very-outdated

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Wrong name

46MI should be Cloud 9 West airport

MI26 should be Cloud 9 East airport, not Hynes Field

https://community.windy.com/topic/6407/airport-database-very-outdated

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NDB GL 375 BANGU LOM not listed here for GLR

GL 375 BANGU LOM 45 00 53 N, 084 48 30W 1385ft for Rwy 09.

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(no subject)

The trees are taller than they appear. Know your short field performance and maybe don't take off at gross weight if its close. Bonanza V35 at gross was too close for comfort on takeoff.

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Watch out for the Ships!

Great airport to visit! You can watch giant lake freighters said across the grass (at least that's how it looks from the ramp). Ask for a ride into the fish place. Great food!

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(no subject)

This has to be the best airport that I almost flew out of as a passenger. During the late 1980's, I had worked a week in Ironwood and our team was scheduled to leave at about noon for Detroit. Airport was closed, we drove to Marquette, flew to Green Bay, remainder of flight to Chicago was cancelled due to mechanical problems, rerouted to St. Paul, finally to Detroit about 14 hours later.

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Hometown airport

I grew up five miles from this airport and always fly into PTK when returning home for a visit. Lots of FBOs on the field mean that fuel prices are competitive.

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Well worth the visit

Imagine stepping from your airplane to a horse-drawn taxi into town. Aircraft are the only motorized vehicles allowed on the island (with a few minor exceptions). Fly the pattern offshore to minimize your noise footprint. The wind is almost always variable and/or gusty here, stay alert. The island is a state park and there is a parking fee. Though parts of the island are rather touristy, the fort is worth the tour for history buffs (site of the first land battle in the War of 1812).

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The Nest

I learned to fly here from 2001 - 2002, so Three Rivers will always be home for me. John Conrad provides trustworthy maintenance at Conrad Aero. The last time I visited, the field condition here was not what I remembered. There were a lot of cracks in the runways with weeds growing up through.

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NDB JZJ 223 kHz Decommisioned

ex-DM Rwy27R 12Dec16

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NDB DM 223 Renamed JZJ

Rwy27R 28Sep14.

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well-kept airport and friendly personnel.

When we arrived, they were in the middle of a community work day, maintaining the grounds. Since they had extra food, they offered to share with us. Didn't have time, but the offer was quite generous!

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Fuddruckers on C concourse

Supposed to be open until 11 PM, but stopped serving food at 8:30!

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re: Made it to Lansing 2015

Reply to @Cpfau182:

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Made it to Lancing 2015

Visited Daniel

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Pilot

Day

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Pilot

Day/Night

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Pilot

Day/Night

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Pilot

Day/Night

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Pilot

Day

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Pilot

First Solo XC

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Pilot

Day/Night

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Pilot

Day/Night

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Pilot

Day/Night

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WMU

Instrument check ride SR20.

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Home 2

First Hangar 11-7

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Home

First Solo C172 N757MK. PPL check ride C172 N73455. DA-40 check out.

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YIP

Flew out on one of the last Eastern Airlines flights to use Willow Run. Returning to Mich. two weeks later we landed at Detroit Metro. Spring of 1966.

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GRR

Terrible

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Berz airport

Some people seem confused. There were actually two Berz Airports. The first was at Crooks Rd and Maple (16 mile) in Troy, that was sold to Rockwell in 1967 or 8. Then the new one was started at 22 mile and Hayes in Macomb Twp.

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famil

I am first grandchild of Milton Berz Sr. He and my grandmother , Dorothy loved their grandbabies. It was not until I was older that I realized what an awesome family I come from. I miss my aunt and uncle-Milton and maryjane. We lost uncle George when he was in an awful plane crash. Uncle Ted just passed recently. My mom, Julia Berz, Logan is here in Fl. My Aunt Emily Berz Siwula is in Michigan. There are a boat load of kids, grandkids, and a few great-grands.

Cynthia Sortor-Galatro cyndigal@centurylink.net

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Gone but not forgoten

Took my flying lessons out of Berz in 1957 with a trainer named J erryGray in a Cessna 175 and a 180. We would make sales calls into small towns in Mich. Chicago for lunch, Drummond Island for Fishing. It was a great little port, easy in easy out.

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Gone but not forgoten

Took my flying lessons out of Berz in 1957 with a trainer named Gray in a Cessna 175 and a 180. We would make sales calls into small towns in Mich. Chicago for lunch, Drummond Island for Fishing. It was a great little port, easy in easy out.

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Customs

Can customs/immigration clearance be available for an incoming flight from Canada?

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mismatch fixed

Airport longitude: -82.890198

Runway longitude: -83.8925 \\ -83.8879 => -82.8925 \\ -82.8879

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US Customs Stop

Stop here for US Customs if heading West to Oshkosh. Friendly and flexible with the ETA.

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Overnight Stop

Spent the night here, camped on the infield. The airport manager offered to let me sleep inside the terminal, but there was no traffic and it was more comfortable to tie the aircraft down on the grass, pitch the tent and sleep beside the aeroplane.

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re: Harbour Air Services

Agreed! We just visited Harbour Air over the weekend. The FBO arranged for a rental car at a terrific rate. We had great service and help with a soft tire prior to departure. Thanks, Harbour Air!