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Howard Nixon Memorial Airport

Picture
Small airport for single aircraft.  Airport activities include a Fly In and a Dawn Patrol and Pancake Breakfast on the second Sunday of July.

The Chesaning Airport was established in 1945-46 when land was purchased from a local farmer by private individuals and local industry.  This land was turned over to the Village of Chesaning with the understanding that it would remain an airport for the village. In 1946, the Chesaning Aero Club was formed and incorporated with the State of Michigan.  It
  still exists today and is believed to be the second oldest flying club in Michigan. 

In 1963, more land  was purchased by local people for the expansion of the airport.  It was felt  that perhaps state and federal funds could be
obtained for improvements, this  however, did not materialize.  In the late '70's local flyers decided to see if  the airport could be updated.  A local
businessman donated a building that is  now being used as an airport office.  A wind tee was built and runway cones were  installed in 1979.

In 1980, the Chesaning Airport Development Corporation  was formed for the purpose of developing the airport.  State and local funding  was secured to tile and light the north/south runway.  Work on the east/west  runway has begun.  Future plans for the airport include clearing the woods on  the east/west runway, tiling, lighting, and perhaps someday hardtop the runway  surface.  Overall effective length of the east/west runway will be finally  development with a N.S. culvert at the county drain.  The village owns adequate  land at the present airport site to meet the needs for expansion in the  future.

Since the prevailing business atmosphere has become depressed in  the area, it stands to reason that currently that airport is adequate for  present needs.  It's development should keep pace with village growth. The airport board does have a master plan for the airport.  A report was  written in 1992, which analyzed the current and projected future of aviation  operations of the Howard Nixon Memorial Airport.  These findings were then  Incorporated into a plan of development.  This report contained an airport  inventory, forecast for aviation activity, facility requirements, 7 alternatives  for expansion of the airport, environment overview and recommendations for  development.  The alternative selected recommended a paved 3800 feet east/west  runway be constructed as a primary runway for the airport.  This runway would be  just south of the industrial park that is accessible from M-57 and north of the  industrial park accessible from Fourth Street and Peet Road.  Also, it was  suggested that a terminal area be planned property that was originally  designated for the industrial park.  A terminal, more T-hangers, corporate  hangers were also planned.  The total estimated cost of this expansion and  improvement to the airport was $2,183,200 in 1992.  

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Chesaning Chamber of Commerce, 218 North Front Street - Suite B, Chesaning, Michigan, 48616 Phone: (989)845-3055