Airport comments for the United States

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Former YFZ Ranch (FLDS)

This dirt airstrip serves ETG Ranch (aka Eldorado Training Grounds), a military and law enforcement training facility on the former YFZ (Yearning for Zion) Ranch owned and operated by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS) polygamist sect. This is newer aviation facility that did not exist during the YFZ era.

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Yeager Airport

West Virginia International Yeager Airport is a public airport 3 miles east of downtown Charleston, in unincorporated Kanawha County, West Virginia, United States. It is owned by the Central West Virginia Regional Airport Authority. The airport hosts McLaughlin Air National Guard Base, home to eight C-130 Hercules aircraft of the West Virginia Air National Guard's 130th Airlift Wing, an Air Mobility Command-gained unit of the West Virginia Air National Guard.

The airport sits on a hilltop over 300 feet above the valleys of the Elk and Kanawha Rivers, and the hill drops off sharply on all sides. Arriving passengers enjoy a view of downtown Charleston or the rolling hills north and east of the field.

Federal Aviation Administration records show 225,150 passenger enplanements in calendar year 2015, a decrease of 6.8% from the 241,566 enplanements in 2014. The Federal Aviation Administration National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2017–2021 categorized it as a non-hub primary commercial service facility.

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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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re: Airport?!

The clearing just north of that field looks like a more deliberate runway but appears fiercely overgrown. How odd.

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Great airport! Great people!

I’ve been based here for years. Scott, the airport manager, and his crew do a fantastic job. There are 2 full time a&p’s on site. Flight training , fuel, or service on your plane - they can take care of it.

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Converted to heliport.

Recent satellite imagery has the main runway 10/28 covered in prefab housing, as indicated in the current AirNav entry (closed indefinitely). The former apron has a heliport indicator and appears to remain in use.

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Nice place.

Brought out an elderly person for her Sibling Christmas 2.5 hrs by air beat a 7 hr road trip.

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Unsanctioned airfield

John Toole Jr., the owner of Toole's Training Center, used this horse race track as an airfield for a J5 Cub in 2015, which prompted the Davie city council to ban private airfields in the city. The pilot attempted a campaign for city council as a result. Toole ultimately lost his life in a 2020 crash near Orange Springs while trying to land an Aero Commander 100 Darter Commander on an unlit grass strip (FD02 Patch o Blue) at night.

http://www.kathrynsreport.com/2020_10_14_archive.html

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Amazing airport for spotting small planes and flying

Very friendly staff, free snacks and coffe

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Report from personal visit

I was able to access this field via ground transportation during a previous visit to Bastrop in 2017-2019; it's a pretty rudimentary and obviously private grass strip, little more than a mowed patch of grass beaten down by plane tires. But it's definitely there.

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EVB NDB decommissioned

There is no way for me as a user to delete NAVAIDs or mark them as decommissioned. Many NAVAIDs on the site are out of date as a result. Please open editing of NAVAID to the users, including access to delete or mark as decommisioned.

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Disused WW2 Facility

Built in 1940 as a training field, this was adjacent to the Japanese-American internment camp (whose remains are still visible on the map to the southwest across US-395). The airfield remained open until 1956, and in intermittent use until at least 1975.

http://www.airfields-freeman.com/CA/Airfields_CA_Inyo.htm#manzanar

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Reopened as a UAS strip 2022

In newer imagery, this is now marked as an active UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) airstrip.

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Closed 2022

This airport closed very recently. Wonder if they've gotten the skydiving King Air out of there since I last visited in February.

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re: Sad that this is now slated to be closed soon!

Reply to @shumphries: Seems like a tough time for Texas country airports. I saw this happen to Luling Carter Field last year.

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Don't land here yourself, multiple times

Ignore the spammer. This is very much a private airport, and this is a gentle reminder that inclusion on this website does not imply that any facility is open to public access or safe for landing. Please check with local authorities or the property owner (if applicable) before attempting to land anywhere that is not a known public airport.

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re: closed?

Reply to @feitidede: Still listed as Active on AirNav as of 10/20/2022, owner: State of Nevada Department of Energy.

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Confirmed per YouTube video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Mizs218XOQ

Private airstrip X marking visible at south end of grass runway in this 2018 YouTube video of N503AM taking off from here.

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LSA Fly-Ins

Attended the small light sport aircraft fly-in here in March 2022, their website lists this as twice a year, so keep your eyes peeled!

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re: This may be defunct

Reply to @AdventureAviator: It's pretty long since defunct and has been marked as closed.

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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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re: Frenchy's Cassette Tape - The Art of Flying

I still have the 8 track tape.

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Formerly Pendleton Airpark

Used to be Pendleton Airpark, 77NY. Note the unusual runway designation, E-W rather than 09-27.

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Great airpark!

Flew in today for an open house for a couple of the properties on the field. Nice place!

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re: Please fix

Reply to @emes: Done

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Please fix

@david could you please edit

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The best fish and chips!

I heard the rumors, it took me a while to venture down here, but the fish were phenomenal! I loved the theme of the restaurant (very similar to Randy's at Boeing (RIP).

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Not much left to land on!

Maybe for a helicopter, or for Scrappy or Draco (RIP), but most of the airfield was eroded away

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Coastal Airport (83J) is closed (Closed in 2014)

Coastal Airport was closed and is now an Escambia County school. It was a fun airport, my daughter sat in her first glider here. The gliders moved over to a nearby field in Alabama, just up the road a piece. The airfield closed sometime in 2014 and was not even on the 2017 sectional as a closed airfield. I was sad to learn that it was no longer there as it was a place that I enjoyed watching the glider at.

You can learn more here:

http://www.airfields-freeman.com/FL/Airfields_FL_Pensacola_NW.htm#coastal

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Fuel Stop on the way to KMKV

Fueled up here. Very friendly Operator and gave me a free water.

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Cherokee 6/300 lived here

I met a couple of gentlemen on a Cherokee 6/300 I was interested in. Sadly I came home empty.

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New Airport to me

Stopped in for Fuel on my way home from Louisiana to look at an airplane.

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Stopped over to deliver parts.

Nice airport. Nice courtesy car that they allowed us to reserve ahead of time.

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Out for a Cruse

Nutradrip parts delivery

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2022 Google Maps imagery

New airfield visible in 2022 GMaps.

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CLOSED

Per FAA airport is closed. I personally drove by while it was still listed as opened. I was shocked to discover how horrid it was. There was no maintenance going on. It was actually highly dangerous should a plane think it was safe to land here in an emergency. I contacted the FAA who investigated and determined it was indeed now closed. The owner had passed away and nobody notified the FAA that the airport was closed now so they were unaware. It is now listed as closed through the FAA as well. DO NOT LAND.

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This may be defunct

I live in the area and while Foreflight does also recognize this airport, the geolocation is on top of railroad tracks and it is behind a mass transit train station.

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Stopped for fuel

Nicely maintained airport nice fuel station

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Flew up here for an afternoon because Morris is closed

Nice little airport unfortunately no fuel

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(no subject)

Looks like a brand new fbo. Great service. As of mid 2022 it’s pricey but I write this with Jet A at $8 at most places

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My favorite small town airport

I have landed here dozens of times to visit the in-laws. The first time was at night! It's a local family that owns it and offers good fuel prices. Tie down near the road or ask if there's hangar space. The paved strip is narrow, but there's lots of grass around it to use if necessary.

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A wonderful airport for observing aircraft

I base my Grumman Tiger here. The FBO Journey's Aviation is very helpful. There is a place to sit to watch the many aircraft that land and takeoff, including gliders, singles, a few twins, both piston and small jets. There are even occasional parachute jumpers! The fenced in area in front of parking has a mock runway. EAA Chapter 1627 provides Young Eagle flights on spring and summer Saturdays, but sign up in advance at https://www.eaa.org/eaa/youth/free-ye-flights/become-a-young-eagle .

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AOE

It is an AOE but you need to obtain an Overflight Permission to use it as an AOE

Took us about 20 minutes to clear custom

Very friendly

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Beautiful Facility and Quick Service

The FBO was fast and efficient

Good Fuel prices and great pilot lounge