Mackinac Island Airport (IATA: MCD, ICAO: KMCD, FAA LID: MCD) is a public airport located in Mackinac County, Michigan, United States. It is situated one nautical mile (1.9 kilometers) northwest of downtown Mackinac Island, in the center of the island. The airport is owned by the Mackinac Island State Park Commission. It is part of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2017–2021, where it is classified as a basic general aviation facility.

History

Mackinac Island Airport began as a grass runway in 1934. It received a paved runway in 1963 and a terminal building in 1969. In 2011–2012, a $4.6 million project moved the runway sixty-five feet east to a flatter area.

In 2020, the airport received $30,000 from the U.S. Department of Transportation through the CARES Act to help reduce the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fresh Air Aviation provides regular passenger and cargo flights to the airport. Great Lakes Air, which also operated flights there, stopped operating in 2022.

Facilities and aircraft

Mackinac Island Airport spans 125 acres (51 hectares) and is located 739 feet (225 meters) above sea level. The airport has one runway numbered 8/26, which is made of concrete and measures 3,501 feet by 75 feet (1,067 meters by 23 meters).

From December 31, 2017, to December 31, 2018, the airport recorded 11,100 aircraft operations, averaging 30 per day. Of these, 68% involved general aviation flights, and 32% were air taxi operations. During this time, only one aircraft, a multi-engine plane, was based at the airport.

The airport has a fixed-base operator that provides a crew lounge, but no fuel is available for sale.

• The airport is staffed from September to May, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and from June to August, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• No fuel is available at Mackinac Island Airport. The nearest fuel service locations are in St. Ignace, Cheboygan, and Pellston.
• Camping is not allowed on Mackinac Island. However, nearby Bois Blanc Island has an airstrip and permits camping at the field.
• Pilot Controlled Lighting operates on frequency 122.8, and UNICOM is on frequency 122.7.
• The airport is equipped with MIRL lights and PAPI lights for both directions of the runway.

• The airport is reachable by road from Annex Road and is near M-185, Michigan’s only highway that does not allow vehicles. Only city emergency vehicles, city service vehicles, and snowmobiles in winter are permitted on Mackinac Island. Travel on the island is done on foot, by bicycle, horse, or horse-drawn carriage.
• Walking: The airport is approximately 1.6 miles from Market Street and the downtown area by paved road.
• Taxi: The Mackinac Island Taxi Service (operated by Carriage Tours) provides horse-drawn taxi carriages 24 hours daily from May to October, with limited hours from November to April.
• Bicycles: Bicycle rentals are not available at the airport, but several rental businesses exist downtown. Some private bikes can be stored in racks outside the airport terminal.

Incidents and accidents

• On August 9, 2001, a Cessna P210 Centurion crashed while landing near Mackinac Island. The pilot said there was turbulence during the landing pattern. The stall horn sounded, so the pilot increased engine power, but the plane could not stay clear of the trees near the airport. A witness said the pilot’s second landing attempt was very low, and the plane made unusual turns during the landing pattern. The main reason for the crash was the pilot not keeping the plane on the correct path during the landing approach, which led to the plane hitting the trees.

• On December 3, 2011, a Great Lakes Air Piper PA-32-260, with registration N33315, crashed during a flight from St. Ignace. Both passengers on board died in the accident.

• In July and August 2013, a Cessna 172 and an ERCO Ercoupe had problems with weather conditions on the runway, which caused serious damage to both planes.

• On February 26, 2018, a Piper PA 28 operated by Great Lakes Air was seriously damaged during a landing at Mackinac Island. The pilot reported hearing a loud noise during the approach and noticed the plane landed lower than normal. The pilot thought there might be a problem with the landing gear or a flat tire and continued the landing. The plane settled further than usual, and the right wing hit the ground. The pilot kept the plane moving in the correct direction using the rudder. Later, it was discovered that the right main landing gear had come loose because it was not installed correctly by maintenance workers. The main reason for the accident was the improper reinstallation of the landing gear, which caused it to separate during landing.

• On July 1, 2018, a Beech 58 aircraft left the runway while trying to stop a takeoff. The airspeed indicator did not work because the pitot tube cover was not removed during the preflight check. The main reason for the accident was the pilot not removing the pitot tube cover, which caused a delay in deciding to stop the takeoff, leaving not enough runway to safely stop the plane.