| Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| IATA: AZO – ICAO: KAZO – FAA LID: AZO | |||
| Summary | |||
| Airport type | Public | ||
| Owner | Kalamazoo County | ||
| Serves | Kalamazoo / Battle Creek, Michigan | ||
| Elevation AMSL | 874 ft / 266 m | ||
| Coordinates | |||
| Website | |||
| Map | |||
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AZO
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| Runways | |||
| Direction | Length | Surface | |
| ft | m | ||
| 17/35 | 6,502 | 1,981 | Asphalt |
| 5/23 | 3,438 | 1,047 | Asphalt |
| 9/27 | 2,800 | 853 | Asphalt |
| Statistics (2010) | |||
| Total passengers | 276,276 0.2% | ||
| Total enplanements | 131,051 2.7% | ||
| Aircraft operations (2008) | 60,414 | ||
| Based aircraft (2008) | 143 | ||
| Source: FAA,[1] Michigan DOT[2] | |||
Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport (IATA: AZO, ICAO: KAZO, FAA LID: AZO) is a county-owned public-use airport located three nautical miles (6 km) southeast of the central business district of Kalamazoo, a city in Kalamazoo County, Michigan, United States.[1] The airport is also near the city of Battle Creek
The airport has an air traffic control tower and TRACON.[1][3] It has one passenger terminal and 5 gates. Two major airlines operate flights, as well as a public charter, Direct Air, operating some days of the week.[4]
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The plans for an airport in Kalamazoo began in 1925. In May 1926, the City of Kalamazoo purchased 383 acres (1.55 km2) of land near Portage and Kilgore roads, and an airport opened. Shortly thereafter, the first regular air mail service started in July 1928. In February 1929, the field was licensed as the first municipal airport in Michigan.[5] It was named Lindbergh Field in honor of famous aviator Charles Lindbergh.
Airline service came to Kalamazoo in May 1944. Two commuter airlines, Francis Airways and Northern Skyways, provided service to other Michigan cities, then ceased after two years. From 1946 and 1955, several small airlines offered commuter flights to nearby cities.[5]
In May 1955, North Central Airlines began daily service to Detroit, and Chicago. North Central eventually became Republic Airlines, which became Northwest Airlines, and finally merged with Delta Air Lines - which serves the airport today.[5]
In 1961, an air traffic control tower was built and the main runway was extended from 3,900 feet to 5,300. In 1963, an instrument landing system was installed to help during poor weather. In 1977, the runway was further lengthened to 6,500 feet.[5]
In 1975, the regional air traffic control facility was moved from Battle Creek to Kalamazoo, and in 1978, a radar facility was installed. The airport eventually won an award for the safest and most efficient air traffic control system in the Great Lakes region.[5]
In 1982, the Core Council decided that the City of Kalamazoo should no longer bear the full cost of operating the airport, and in 1984, the City transferred ownership to the County of Kalamazoo. In 1989, the name was changed from Kalamazoo County Airport to Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International to stimulate economic growth in the Battle Creek area. That year, the County also renovated the terminal, doubling its size and expanding the ramp. Over the next four years, annual passenger traffic grew from 200,000 to more than 500,000.[6]
As of 2011, the Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport is served by two major airlines who fly passengers to major hubs with worldwide connections. There is also a public charter airline operating twice weekly from Kalamazoo to locations in Florida.[7]
In the 1970s, there were discussions between airline and local city officials about building a new airport to serve both the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo. Since the two airports are extremely close, it was not economical for the airlines to fully serve both of the airports. North Central airlines proposed a "Major Jetport" in the Kalamazoo area, which might have become the third-busiest commuter airport in the nation. No location could be agreed upon, and no planning was ever completed beyond the preliminary proposals and meetings. Soon after the concept failed, most airline service was shifted to Kalamazoo, as the Kalamazoo airport had higher passenger counts and more demand for flights.[8]
Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport covers an area of 832 acres (337 ha) at an elevation of 874 feet (266 m) above mean sea level. It has three asphalt paved runways: 17/35 measuring 6,500 x 150 ft (1,981 x 46 m), 5/23 measuring 3,436 x 100 ft (1,047 x 30 m) and 9/27 measuring 2,800 x 60 ft (853 x 18 m).[1]
In its early days, the airport had many different runway configurations. For example, present-day taxiways delta and alpha were originally runways.[9]
In 2008, the airport had 60,414 aircraft operations (down from 89,502 in 2006), an average of 165 per day: 78% general aviation, 19% air taxi, 2% scheduled commercial and < 1% military. At that time, there were 143 aircraft based at this airport: 91% single-engine, 8% multi-engine and 1% jet.[1]
In 2007, the threshold of runway 17/35 was moved 400 feet to the south, and taxiway B was closed north of taxiway C. South of runway 9/27, taxiway B was removed and rebuilt 100 feet to the west.[10]
Kalamazoo Airport is used by transient and local private pilots flying for personal reasons, business, or recreation. Many local pilots keep their aircraft in the south tee hangar complex.
In 1955, the Kalamazoo-based Upjohn pharmaceutical company began operating aircraft for its executives from the airport.
This continued after the firm was acquired by Pfizer. In 1997, after Pharmacia & Upjohn moved its North American sales office from Michigan to New Jersey, the company made daily service to New Jersey available to all employees on a 10-seat jet. Pfizer expanded the service after acquiring Pharmacia Corp. in 2003, and based two 36-passenger jets at the airport. But in June 2008, the aviation unit was closed after 53 years to save money. The move axed 27 jobs; the aircraft were moved to Trenton, N.J. As of April 2009, the hangar and property at the Kalamazoo Airport were up for sale.
General aviation aircraft are served by many fixed base operators (FBOs).
Kalamazoo is home to Duncan Aviation, a full service FBO. Maintenance is available through Kalamazoo Aircraft, and self-serve fuel is available through Kalamazoo Pilots Association.
As of 2011, flight training is offered through Great Lakes Aviation Service.
The Western Michigan University College of Aviation, founded in 1939, used the Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport as a base for its flight school until 1997. In the early 1990s, the flight school began to outgrow the facilities, and in 1997, the college moved to Battle Creek's W. K. Kellogg Regional Airport, where all operations are presently housed.[11] The WMU aviation unit at Kalamazoo has been used from time to time by the college, but not since May 2006.
In the 1970s, private flight training operations were restricted to two local FBOs: Kal Aero, and Lakala Aviation. The county government received many complaints about unauthorized lessons from private parties. Upon these reports, the county government added to the flight training ordinance that violators could be fined $500, or jailed for 90 days if found guilty of offering flight lessons illegally.[12] This restriction has since been lifted, and flight lessons can be offered by any party who wishes to do so.
As of 2011, the Kalamazoo TRACON handles aircraft for the Kalamazoo airspace only. Upon completion of the new control tower in 2013, a consolidated TRACON at Kalamazoo will handle approach and departure control for Grand Rapids, Muskegon, Kalamazoo and Lansing.
The airport is served by two commercial airlines and a public charter service which offer flights to six destinations. Three destinations are connection hubs, and three are leisure destinations.
| Airlines | Destinations |
|---|---|
| American Eagle | Chicago-O'Hare |
| AmericanConnection operated by Chautauqua Airlines | Chicago-O'Hare |
| Delta Connection operated by Comair | Detroit Seasonal: Minneapolis/St. Paul |
| Delta Connection operated by Mesaba Airlines | Seasonal: Minneapolis/St. Paul |
| Delta Connection operated by Pinnacle Airlines | Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul |
| Direct Air operated by various carriers | Fort Myers/Punta Gorda, Orlando-Sanford |
The airport competes with larger nearby airports, such as Grand Rapids Gerald R. Ford International Airport, and South Bend Regional Airport, which offer flights to many of the same destinations, but often at lower prices. Kalamazoo has received grants from the federal government under the Small Community Air Service Development Program to bring lower fares to Kalamazoo, and more flights. Delta's Atlanta flight was established with this funding, but Delta ceased to offer this flight on December 8, 2007.[13]
The original Kalamazoo terminal was a small building made with scrap materials left over from other local projects. In 1958, a new terminal was constructed to replace the 1920s terminal. The growth led to a terminal expansion in 1979 and the building increased from 12,000 to 30,000 square feet (2,800 m2). The terminal was completely renovated in 1989, with the addition of a new concourse, an enlarged boarding area, and a new baggage claim area.
The Kalamazoo Airport's 1958 terminal had two jetways and housed the air traffic control tower. Commissioned in 1969, the air traffic control tower is open from 6:00-23:00 local time. The airport has FAA Class "D" airspace with a terminal radar service area (TRSA), meaning it offers services such as clearance delivery, and approach and departure control. The Terminal Control Center (TRACON) facility was not established until 1975, and radar was not installed until 1978.
Recently the current control tower has been deemed inadequate, and funding has been secured to construct a replacement.[14][15]
In 2009 construction on a new terminal began next to the existing facility. The new terminal opened in April 2011, and accommodates additional passenger gates, security lanes, and baggage carousels.[7][16][17]
Commonly referred to as the "Air Zoo", the museum offers many historic aircraft, simulators, restaurants, and one of the regions only 4-D theaters. The museum is housed in two buildings, and is located on the south section of the field. It is an attraction for the public, and for pilots. The museum also has a fly in ramp, making it an attraction for many visiting pilots.[18][19]
Several accidents and incidents have occurred at Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport. These incidents are responded to by the onsite CFR team.
On 27 October 2009, a single-engine Beechcraft crashed. The aircraft landed north of the airport, but not on the runway. It skidded through the fence and came to rest in the parking lot of Great Lakes Aviation, just outside the airfield. The aircraft was reported to be en route to Muskoka, Ontario when it experienced some mechanical problem and then crash landed at the north end of the runway. The pilot, who was also the only occupant, died in the accident.
On 4 April 2004, a Cessna 172 crashed. The airplane, operated by a university aviation training program, was blown off of the runway by high winds. No injuries were reported.
On 26 June 1999, a Boeing PT-17 crashed. The airplane ground looped while landing.
On 28 May 1999, a Cessna 172 crashed. The aircraft overran the departure end of runway 27, and struck an airport boundary fence and an automobile on Portage Road, which runs perpendicular to the runway.
On 19 April 1998, a Piper PA-28 Series Aircraft crashed. Witnesses reported seeing the airplane liftoff runway 5 past the runway 17/35 intersection located approximately 3,108 feet (947 m) from the approach end of runway 5. Runway 5 was 3,999 feet (1,219 m) long at the time of the accident. Witnesses reported the airplane climbed to 250 to 300 feet (91 m) when the airplane rolled left and went straight down. The airplane burst into flames and the cockpit and fuselage were consumed by fire. All passengers died.[20]
On 21 November 1983, a Republic Airlines DC-9 headed for Kalamazoo from Detroit was hijacked. The hijacker was overthrown.[21]
On July 25, 1978, a North Central Convair 580 hit a female sparrow hawk (not male, according to the NTSB report) shortly after takeoff, then crash-landed in a nearby cornfield. There were no fatalities, but several on board were seriously injured.[22]