Custer Airport
Encyclopedia
Custer Airport , sometimes referred to as Monroe Custer Airport, is a city-owned public airport
located in the city of Monroe
in Monroe County
, Michigan
. The airport opened in November 1946 and was named for George Armstrong Custer
, who spent much of his early life in Monroe.
Custer Airport is owned by the city of Monroe and is financially supported through hangar rentals, landing fees, and fuel sales. It is located on North Custer Road (formerly designated as M-130
) about two miles (3.2 km) northwest of Monroe's downtown area. The airport property itself — occupying 158 acres (63 ha) — is an exclave of the city limits
and is separated by a one-quarter mile (0.4 km) wide undeveloped residential area belonging to Frenchtown Charter Township
. Since the city owns the airport, the area it occupies was incorporated into the city limits. Munson Park, the largest public recreation park
in Monroe, occupies the land immediately east of the airport. The River Raisin
is just south of the airport, and farmland
surrounds the airport to the west and north.
runway (3-21) with a full length taxiway. Both are illuminated with high intensity lighting, runway 21 has runway end identifiers (REILS) and both runways have visual approach slope indicators (VASI). The airport has no regularly scheduled flights or arrivals. As a general aviation airport, it is mainly used by private pilots for personal and business use, as well as a variety of chartered aircraft bringing people in to do business in Monroe County. Custer Airport is able to accommodate a large variety of aircraft, including single engine aircraft, twin engine aircraft, and business jets such as the Cessna Citation
and Learjet. The airport has personal hangar
s that house approximately 45 airplanes and a large hangar that houses several corporate aircraft as well as the Monroe Aviation School of Flight and Monroe Aviation Aircraft Maintenance. In addition, a Michigan Civil Air Patrol
aircraft is stationed at the airport. The Monroe County Sheriff Department maintains hangars for its helicopter operations. The airport has 100LL fuel available 24 hours through self-serve as well as full-service Jet-A fuel. In 2007, there was an average of 65 flights per day for a yearly total of 11,389.
The airport operates continuously and is staffed from 8:00 AM–5:00 PM with after-hours services available through prior arrangement. Custer Airport has no control tower
, and instrument traffic is handled by the Cleveland Air Route Traffic Control Center
(ZOB) in coordination with the Detroit Approach and Departure Control. The nearest neighboring airports that can accommodate flights from Custer Airport are Lenawee County Airport
to the west, Toledo Suburban Airport
to the southwest, and Grosse Ile Municipal Airport
to the north. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
and Toledo Express Airport
are within close proximity and are used regularly by pilots departing Monroe for both business and training purposes.
Following the September 11 attacks in 2001, local concerns were raised that Custer Airport could be shut down by government intervention because of the airport's close proximity to a nuclear power
plant. Custer Airport is located approximately 9½ miles (15.3 km) from the Enrico Fermi Nuclear Generating Station
in nearby Frenchtown Charter Township
. It was suggested that airports within 10 miles of a nuclear power plant be shut down until tighter security policies and government mandates could be enacted by both the airports and nuclear power plants. Custer Airport was not affected, because security was deemed more than adequate.
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
located in the city of Monroe
Monroe, Michigan
Monroe is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 20,733 at the 2010 census. It is the largest city and county seat of Monroe County. The city is bordered on the south by Monroe Charter Township, but both are politically independent. The city is located approximately 14 miles ...
in Monroe County
Monroe County, Michigan
Monroe County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the 2010 population is 152,021. The largest city and county seat is Monroe. The U.S. Census Bureau defines all of Monroe County as conterminous with the Monroe Metropolitan Area...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. The airport opened in November 1946 and was named for George Armstrong Custer
George Armstrong Custer
George Armstrong Custer was a United States Army officer and cavalry commander in the American Civil War and the Indian Wars. Raised in Michigan and Ohio, Custer was admitted to West Point in 1858, where he graduated last in his class...
, who spent much of his early life in Monroe.
Custer Airport is owned by the city of Monroe and is financially supported through hangar rentals, landing fees, and fuel sales. It is located on North Custer Road (formerly designated as M-130
M-130 (Michigan highway)
M-130 was the designation of a former state trunkline route in the extreme southeast corner of the US state of Michigan. It ran from Monroe westerly along current day North Custer Road on the northern side of River Raisin...
) about two miles (3.2 km) northwest of Monroe's downtown area. The airport property itself — occupying 158 acres (63 ha) — is an exclave of the city limits
City limits
The terms city limits and city boundary refer to the defined boundary or border of a city. The area within the city limits is sometimes called the city proper. The terms town limits/boundary and village limits/boundary mean the same as city limits/boundary, but apply to towns and villages...
and is separated by a one-quarter mile (0.4 km) wide undeveloped residential area belonging to Frenchtown Charter Township
Frenchtown Charter Township, Michigan
Frenchtown Charter Township is a charter township of Monroe County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 20,777 at the 2000 census. Frenchtown is the second most populated township in Monroe County after Bedford Township...
. Since the city owns the airport, the area it occupies was incorporated into the city limits. Munson Park, the largest public recreation park
Park
A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...
in Monroe, occupies the land immediately east of the airport. The River Raisin
River Raisin
The River Raisin is a river in southeastern Michigan, United States that flows through glacial sediments into Lake Erie. The area today is an agricultural and industrial center of Michigan. The river flows for almost , draining an area of in the Michigan counties of Lenawee, Monroe, Washtenaw,...
is just south of the airport, and farmland
Farm
A farm is an area of land, or, for aquaculture, lake, river or sea, including various structures, devoted primarily to the practice of producing and managing food , fibres and, increasingly, fuel. It is the basic production facility in food production. Farms may be owned and operated by a single...
surrounds the airport to the west and north.
Facilities
The airport has one 4997 × 100 feet (1523 × 30 m) asphaltAsphalt
Asphalt or , also known as bitumen, is a sticky, black and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid that is present in most crude petroleums and in some natural deposits, it is a substance classed as a pitch...
runway (3-21) with a full length taxiway. Both are illuminated with high intensity lighting, runway 21 has runway end identifiers (REILS) and both runways have visual approach slope indicators (VASI). The airport has no regularly scheduled flights or arrivals. As a general aviation airport, it is mainly used by private pilots for personal and business use, as well as a variety of chartered aircraft bringing people in to do business in Monroe County. Custer Airport is able to accommodate a large variety of aircraft, including single engine aircraft, twin engine aircraft, and business jets such as the Cessna Citation
Cessna Citation
The Cessna Citation is a marketing name used by Cessna for its line of business jets. Rather than one particular model of aircraft, the name applies to several "families" of turbofan-powered aircraft that have been produced over the years...
and Learjet. The airport has personal hangar
Hangar
A hangar is a closed structure to hold aircraft or spacecraft in protective storage. Most hangars are built of metal, but other materials such as wood and concrete are also sometimes used...
s that house approximately 45 airplanes and a large hangar that houses several corporate aircraft as well as the Monroe Aviation School of Flight and Monroe Aviation Aircraft Maintenance. In addition, a Michigan Civil Air Patrol
Civil Air Patrol
Civil Air Patrol is a Congressionally chartered, federally supported, non-profit corporation that serves as the official civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force . CAP is a volunteer organization with an aviation-minded membership that includes people from all backgrounds, lifestyles, and...
aircraft is stationed at the airport. The Monroe County Sheriff Department maintains hangars for its helicopter operations. The airport has 100LL fuel available 24 hours through self-serve as well as full-service Jet-A fuel. In 2007, there was an average of 65 flights per day for a yearly total of 11,389.
The airport operates continuously and is staffed from 8:00 AM–5:00 PM with after-hours services available through prior arrangement. Custer Airport has no control tower
Control tower
A control tower, or more specifically an Air Traffic Control Tower , is the name of the airport building from which the air traffic control unit controls the movement of aircraft on and around the airport. Control towers are also used to control the traffic for other forms of transportation such...
, and instrument traffic is handled by the Cleveland Air Route Traffic Control Center
Cleveland Air Route Traffic Control Center
Cleveland Air Route Traffic Control Center is located at 326 East Lorain Street, Oberlin, Ohio, United States, near the city of Cleveland. The Cleveland ARTCC is the busiest of the 22 Air Route Traffic Control Centers in the United States...
(ZOB) in coordination with the Detroit Approach and Departure Control. The nearest neighboring airports that can accommodate flights from Custer Airport are Lenawee County Airport
Lenawee County Airport
Lenawee County Airport is a county-owned public-use airport located three miles southwest of the central business district of Adrian, a city in Lenawee County, Michigan, United States...
to the west, Toledo Suburban Airport
Toledo Suburban Airport
Toledo Suburban Airport is a public use airport located two nautical miles southwest of the central business district of Lambertville, a city in Monroe County, Michigan, United States. It is located just north of Michigan's border with Ohio and northeast of the city of Toledo, Ohio...
to the southwest, and Grosse Ile Municipal Airport
Grosse Ile Municipal Airport
Grosse Ile Municipal Airport is a public airport located two miles south of the central business district of Grosse Ile, in Wayne County, Michigan, United States. It is owned by the Township of Grosse Ile.Although most U.S...
to the north. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport , usually called Detroit Metro Airport, Metro Airport locally, or simply DTW, is a major international airport covering in Romulus, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. It is Michigan's busiest airport....
and Toledo Express Airport
Toledo Express Airport
Toledo Express Airport is a passenger and cargo airport located 10 miles west of the city of Toledo in the extreme Western portion of Lucas County, Ohio, United States, near the border with Fulton County, in the townships of Swanton and Monclova. It is also a base for the Ohio Air National...
are within close proximity and are used regularly by pilots departing Monroe for both business and training purposes.
Following the September 11 attacks in 2001, local concerns were raised that Custer Airport could be shut down by government intervention because of the airport's close proximity to a nuclear power
Nuclear power
Nuclear power is the use of sustained nuclear fission to generate heat and electricity. Nuclear power plants provide about 6% of the world's energy and 13–14% of the world's electricity, with the U.S., France, and Japan together accounting for about 50% of nuclear generated electricity...
plant. Custer Airport is located approximately 9½ miles (15.3 km) from the Enrico Fermi Nuclear Generating Station
Enrico Fermi Nuclear Generating Station
The Enrico Fermi Nuclear Generating Station is a nuclear power plant on the shore of Lake Erie near Monroe, in Frenchtown Charter Township, Michigan. It is approximately halfway between Detroit, Michigan, and Toledo, Ohio. It is also visible from parts of Amherstburg, Ontario. Two units have been...
in nearby Frenchtown Charter Township
Frenchtown Charter Township, Michigan
Frenchtown Charter Township is a charter township of Monroe County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 20,777 at the 2000 census. Frenchtown is the second most populated township in Monroe County after Bedford Township...
. It was suggested that airports within 10 miles of a nuclear power plant be shut down until tighter security policies and government mandates could be enacted by both the airports and nuclear power plants. Custer Airport was not affected, because security was deemed more than adequate.
Accidents
- At around 3:45 in the afternoon of March 29, 2011, a Piper MalibuPiper MalibuThe Piper PA-46 is a family of light aircraft manufactured by Piper Aircraft of the United States. The aircraft is powered by a single engine and has the capacity for one pilot and five passengers...
airplane carrying three male passengers crashed into a soccer field in neighboring Munson Park. The plane departed from Toledo Suburban AirportToledo Suburban AirportToledo Suburban Airport is a public use airport located two nautical miles southwest of the central business district of Lambertville, a city in Monroe County, Michigan, United States. It is located just north of Michigan's border with Ohio and northeast of the city of Toledo, Ohio...
(located about 15 miles south of Custer Airport in Whiteford TownshipWhiteford Township, MichiganWhiteford Township is a civil township of Monroe County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,420 at the 2000 census.-Communities:...
) earlier that morning and traveled about 300 miles (482 km) southeast to Bedford County AirportBedford County AirportBedford County Airport is a public use airport in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is owned by the Bedford County Airport Authority and is located four nautical miles north of the central business district of the borough of Bedford, Pennsylvania. It opened in 1994.Although most U.S...
in PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaThe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. The plane soon departed back to Michigan to land at Custer Airport. However, as it approached the airport, witnesses, primarily the St. Mary Catholic Central High School tennis team practicing in the courts 100 yards (91 meters) from the crash site, say the plane circled low and was encountering problems. The plane exploded upon impact with the ground. All three passengers were killed. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.