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. It is included in the Federal Aviation Administration National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2017–2021, in which it is categorized as a local reliever airport facility.
Although most U.S. airports use the same three-letter location identifier for the FAA and IATA, Grosse Ile Municipal Airport is assigned ONZ by the FAA but has no designation from the IATA.

History

In 1929, the airport opened as Naval Reserve Air Base Ile, consisting of a training school, seaplane base and dirigible hangar. In 1930, Thomas Towle used the hangars to build his Towle TA-3 diesel powered amphibian. Renamed as Naval Air Station Grosse Ile during World War II, the installation operated until 1969, when it was closed and turned over to the Township in 1971 for operation as a general aviation airport. A memorial garden sits directly behind Township Hall, the former Hangar One, to honor all the men and women who served in the armed forces at the Naval Air Station Grosse Ile.
The airport taxiways are now going through a major renovation that should be completed next year.
On the evening of September 25, 2018, an EF1 tornado, one of a three tornado outbreak in the area, traversed the airfield at about 9:00 PM local time.

Facilities and aircraft

Grosse Ile Municipal Airport covers an area of which contains two concrete paved runways: 4/22 measuring 4,846 x 100 ft and 17/35 measuring 4,425 x 75 ft. For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2006, the airport had 52,820 general aviation aircraft operations, an average of 144 per day.
The airport is accessible by taking Jefferson Street to the Grosse Ile Parkway and turning right onto Meridian Road. Continue on Meridian Road and turn right onto Groh Road. Watch for the Township Hall sign on the left, which marks the entrance drive to the parking lot. The airport offices are on the second floor.