Mackinac Island Airport facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mackinac Island Airport
Aerial view of Mackinac Island Airport as of May, 2007
IATA: MCD ICAO: KMCD FAA LID: MCD
Summary
Airport type	Public
Owner	Mackinac Island State Park Commission
Serves	Mackinac Island, Michigan
Elevation AMSL	739 ft / 225 m
Coordinates	45°51′54″N 084°38′14″W / 45.86500°N 84.63722°W / 45.86500; -84.63722
Map
MCD Location in Michigan Show map of Michigan MCD Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Runway
Runway Length Surface ft m 8/26 3,501 1,067 Concrete
Statistics
Aircraft operations (2015) 11,100 Based aircraft (2017) 0
Source: Federal Aviation Administration
Mackinac Island Airport
U.S. National Historic Landmark District Contributing Property
Part of	Mackinac Island (ID66000397)
Added to NRHP	October 9, 1960

Mackinac Island Airport (MCD) is a public airport located in Mackinac County, Michigan, United States. It is about 1 mile (1.6 km) northwest of downtown Mackinac Island, Michigan, right in the middle of the island. The airport is owned by the Mackinac Island State Park Commission. It is an important part of the Federal Aviation Administration's plan for airports. It is known as a basic airport for general aviation, which means it handles smaller, private planes.

Airport History

The Mackinac Island Airport began as a simple grass strip in 1934. This was where planes first started landing on the island. In 1963, the airport got a paved runway, making it much easier for planes to take off and land. A building for passengers, called a terminal, was added in 1969.

A big project happened between 2011 and 2012. The runway was moved 65 feet (about 20 meters) to the east. This $4.6 million project helped make the runway flatter and safer.

What's at the Airport?

Mackinac Island Airport covers an area of 125 acres (51 ha). It sits 739 feet (225 meters) above sea level. The airport has one main runway called 8/26. This runway is made of concrete and is 3,501 feet (1,067 meters) long and 75 feet (23 meters) wide.

Airport Activity

In 2015, the airport had 11,100 aircraft operations. This means about 30 planes took off or landed each day. About 32% of these flights were air taxis, which are like small charter planes. The other 68% were general aviation flights, usually private planes. As of 2017, no aircraft were permanently based at this airport.

Important Information for Pilots

• The airport is open from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM from September to May. During June, July, and August, it is open from 8 AM to 5 PM.
• There is no fuel available for planes at Mackinac Island Airport. Pilots need to get fuel at nearby airports like those in St. Ignace, Cheboygan, or Pellston.
• You cannot camp on Mackinac Island. However, a nearby island called Bois Blanc allows camping at its airstrip.
• Pilots can control the runway lights using their radio on frequency 122.8. The airport's general communication frequency (UNICOM) is 122.7.

How to Get Around Mackinac Island

Mackinac Island is very special because it does not allow most motorized vehicles. This means you won't see cars, trucks, or motorcycles here! The only exceptions are emergency vehicles and snowmobiles in winter. People on the island get around by walking, riding horses, using horse-drawn carriages, or riding bicycles.

Getting to and from the Airport

• Walking: The airport is about 1.6 miles (2.6 km) from Market Street and the downtown area. It's a nice walk on a paved road.
• Taxi: The Mackinac Island Taxi Service offers horse-drawn taxi carriages. They run 24 hours a day from May to October. They have more limited hours from November to April.
• Bicycles: You cannot rent bicycles at the airport itself. However, there are many bicycle rental shops downtown. You can store your private bike at the racks outside the airport terminal building.

Where You Can Fly From Here