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MBS International Airport

Coordinates: 43°31′58″N 084°04′47″W / 43.53278°N 84.07972°W / 43.53278; -84.07972
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MBS International Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerBay County, Michigan,
Midland, Michigan,
Saginaw, Michigan
ServesSaginaw, Michigan
Midland, Michigan
Bay City, Michigan
LocationFreeland, MI, United States
Elevation AMSL668 ft / 204 m
Coordinates43°31′58″N 084°04′47″W / 43.53278°N 84.07972°W / 43.53278; -84.07972
Websitewww.mbsairport.org
Map
MBS is located in Michigan
MBS
MBS
Location of airport in Michigan
MBS is located in the United States
MBS
MBS
MBS (the United States)
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
5/23 8,002 2,439 Asphalt
14/32 6,400 1,951 Asphalt
Statistics
Total passengers (2016)241,748
Aircraft operations (2014)22,291
Based aircraft (2016)27
MBS Airport New Terminal.JPG
MBS Airport's new terminal

MBS International Airport (IATA: MBS, ICAO: KMBS, FAA LID: MBS), located in Freeland, Michigan, is a commercial and general aviation airport serving the nearby cities of Midland, Bay City, and Saginaw.[1] It is included in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2017–2021, in which it is categorized as a non-hub primary commercial service facility.[3]

MBS was formerly named Tri-City Airport or Freeland Tri-City Airport, reflecting the “Tri-Cities” nickname of the region. The airport was renamed MBS International Airport in 1994 (representative of its IATA airport code) to prevent confusion with other airports named "Tri-City Airport" across the United States. While owned by three municipalities, the IATA and FAA city name associated with the airport is Saginaw,[4] i.e. the control tower is known to pilots as "Saginaw Tower".

The commercial airport is a special municipal body owned by Bay County and the cities of Midland and Saginaw. The airport's name is an initialism formed from the names of these three communities and it is governed by a nine-member commission made up of three members from each of them.

In October 2012, MBS opened a new $55 million six-gate terminal to replace the old three-gate terminal, which was built in 1965.[5] The construction on this project was completed nearly a year ahead of schedule.

The old terminal, which sat empty since October 2012, was demolished in 2017.[6]

MBS International Airport enjoyed a robust 2018 with passenger numbers up 13 percent, and the airport was poised to embark on a major rehabilitation of its main runway to ring in the New Year.[7]

In 2022, a credential authentication technology (CAT) unit was installed at MBS' TSA checkpoint. Passengers insert their ID into the machine themselves, reducing a touchpoint during the security process.[8]

The airport is a sponsor of the Great Lakes Loons, a minor league baseball team affiliated with the Los Angeles Dodgers.[9]

History

[edit]
Current terminal boarding concourse

During World War II, the federal government bought land and began construction of the Tri-City Airport to be used for various air training projects. Helping maintain the field were German prisoners of war, who lived in barracks at the facility. After the war, the airport was turned over to the local governments. Civilian control of the airport resumed in the mid-1940s.[10]

The current terminal on the north side of the air field opened on October 31, 2012. The 75,000 sq ft (7,000 m2) terminal, which replaced an older terminal on the west side of the air field, was designed by RS&H and cost $55 million.[11] The Airport Commission approved plans for the construction of the state-of-the-art passenger terminal in 2006, with construction beginning in 2008. Airport officials hope the terminal will bring more airlines and more competition to MBS.[12]

Air Force One landed at the airport twice during the 2004 United States presidential election for nearby rallies in support of George W. Bush. It landed again on September 10, 2020 for a campaign speech by then President Donald Trump,[13] and most recently on March 14, 2024 for a campaign visit by President Joe Biden.[14] Air Force One also visited the airport in 1974 when then President Richard M. Nixon made a speech at the airport and arrived to give endorsement to James Sparling, a Congressional candidate.[15] Air Force Two also made an appearance in 1992 when Vice President Dan Quayle spoke from a hangar the day before the 1992 presidential election.[16]

Facilities and aircraft

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MBS International Airport covers 3,200 acres (13 km2) and has two runways:[1]

  • Runway 5/23: 8,002 ft × 150 ft (2,439 m × 46 m), surface: asphalt
  • Runway 14/32: 6,400 ft × 150 ft (1,951 m × 46 m), surface: asphalt

For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2017, the airport had 20,358 aircraft operations, an average of 77 per day. For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2021, the airport had 13,500 aircraft operations per day, or 37/day. This 2021 figure includes 67% general aviation, 25% air taxi, 8% commercial, and 1% military.[17]

In December 2017, there were 23 aircraft based at this airport: 11 jet, 7 multi-engine and 5 single-engine airplanes, and 1 helicopter. In 2021, there were 19 aircraft based at the field: 8 jet aircraft, 6 multi-engine and 4 single-engine airplanes, and 1 helicopter.[1][17]

The airport has an FBO operated by AvFlight. Besides fuel, it offers general maintenance, oxygen, courtesy and rental cars, conference rooms, crew lounges, snooze rooms, and showers.[18]

Former airline service

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Ticketing area of the former terminal

The 1980s and 1990s saw a lot of growth at MBS. During this time, airline service expanded and many airlines began serving MBS.

Current operations

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SkyWest Airlines runs ground services for United Express. United Express flies to Chicago O’Hare using mostly CRJ-200 aircraft. The CRJ-200 aircraft features 4 Economy Plus seats and 46 Economy seats.

DAL Global Services operates ground handling duties for Delta Connection at MBS, which features both CRJ7 and CRJ9 aircraft. CRJ7 aircraft have 9 First Class, 16 Delta Comfort+, and 44 Main Cabin seats. CRJ9 aircraft have 12 First Class, 20 Delta Comfort+, and 38 Main Cabin seats. Flights are operated by Endeavor Air and occasionally SkyWest.

Airlines and destinations

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Passenger

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AirlinesDestinations
Delta Connection Detroit
United Express Chicago–O'Hare

Top destinations

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Busiest routes from MBS (September 2023 - August 2024)[24]
Rank Airport Passengers Carriers
1 Detroit Metropolitan 60,000 Delta
2 Chicago–O'Hare 42,000 United

Accidents and incidents

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  • On April 6, 1958, Vickers Viscount N7437, operating Capital Airlines Flight 67, stalled and crashed on approach. All 47 on board were killed. The cause was attributed to ice accretion on the horizontal stabilizer.[25]
  • On August 16, 1987, a Northwest Airlines MD-80, Northwest Airlines Flight 255, originated at MBS. After departing MBS, the flight dropped off and picked up passengers at Detroit Metropolitan Airport before crashing on takeoff en route to Phoenix, Arizona, killing 148 passengers and six crew members. There was only one survivor.
  • On May 30, 2016, a Cessna 170 was substantially damaged on landing at MBS International. The pilot reported that after a long straight-in final approach, as he reduced power for the landing flare, the airplane dropped "flat" and bounced hard on the runway. The pilot further reported that he added power to cushion the touchdown after the bounce, but the right main landing gear had collapsed after the initial impact. Subsequently, the airplane veered off the runway to the left and nosed over. The probable cause was found to be the pilot's exceedance of the critical angle of attack during the landing flare, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall, hard landing, right main landing gear collapse, runway excursion, and nose over.[26]
  • On September 8, 2023, emergency crews first learned of issues on a twin engine Cessna 310 around 1 p.m. The airplane could not return to MBS, where it took off, for an unknown reason. The plane flew toward Harry Browne Airport in Saginaw and then to the Tuscola Area Airport in Caro airport, before making an emergency landing at Flint's Bishop International Airport.[27]
  • On September 21, 2023, a single-engine propeller aircraft was having issues with its landing gear. Upon landing on the runway, the landing gear collapsed. There were three passengers on board the plane, but no injuries were reported and the aircraft was announced to be stable.[28]
  • On April 20, 2024, a Cirrus SR22T single-engine propeller aircraft was in route from Bellaire to Pontiac when the pilot reported that they were experiencing mechanical issues. The flight diverted to MBS International Airport, where emergency crews responded and reported that the aircraft had landed safe.

Transportation

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Rental car services are provided by Hertz Rent A Car, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Avis Car Rental, National Car Rental, and Budget Rent a Car. Various taxi and limousine services are available to passengers as well.[29]

Expansion

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In July 2019, the FAA announced that MBS airport would receive $4.65 million for taxiway construction. This included $1.3 million in entitlement funding and $3.3 million in discretionary funding. The project added a second connection in and out of the terminal ramp, and was projected to improve efficiency.[30]

In July 2023, the MBS Airport Commission announced that Jacksonville-based RS&H would serve as construction administrator for a major runway rehabilitation project. The Runway 14/32 project was expected to take just three months to complete, at a price point of $530,000.[31]

See also

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Historical photographs

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  • Construction started on Tri-City Airport
    Construction started on Tri-City Airport
  • Responders search the wreckage of Capital Airlines Flight 67.
    Responders search the wreckage of Capital Airlines Flight 67.
  • MBS former terminal building
    MBS former terminal building
  • Air Force One landing at MBS (2004)
    Air Force One landing at MBS (2004)
  • A first responder removes debris from the wreckage of Capital Airlines Flight 67.
    A first responder removes debris from the wreckage of Capital Airlines Flight 67.
  • Plane parked at former terminal
    Plane parked at former terminal
  • United Airlines flight taking off from MBS
    United Airlines flight taking off from MBS

References

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Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

  1. ^ a b c d FAA Airport Form 5010 for MBS PDF, effective Nov 10, 2016.
  2. ^ "Measures of Michigan Air Carrier Demand". Michigan.gov. Michigan Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on January 29, 2013. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
  3. ^ "List of NPIAS Airports" (PDF). FAA.gov. Federal Aviation Administration. October 21, 2016. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
  4. ^ IATA Codes. "IATA Airport Codes - M".
  5. ^ Lynch-Morin, Kathryn (October 27, 2012). "Visitors to the new MBS International Airport terminal like the bright, open design". mlive.com. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  6. ^ Simpson-Mersha, Isis (May 4, 2017). "MBS set to demolish old terminal building". mlive.com. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  7. ^ Becker, Jon (December 24, 2018). "MBS enjoys robust 2018 as passenger numbers soar". Midland Daily News. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  8. ^ "TSA checkpoint at MBS International Airport gets new credential authentication technology unit". Transportation Security Administration. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  9. ^ "MBS Airport inks sponsorship deal with Great Lakes Loons". Midland Daily News. October 21, 2022. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  10. ^ Younkman, Tim (August 2, 2015). "Bay City at 150: World War II drove high employment in Bay City". MLive. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  11. ^ Lynch-Morin, Kathryn (October 26, 2012). "By the numbers: New MBS International Airport passenger terminal". The Saginaw News – via MLive.
  12. ^ Stanton, Ryan J. Plans reach high with federal funds Archived May 18, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, The Bay City Times via MLive, December 26, 2007
  13. ^ "Trump Michigan rally crowd nearly twice what was expected -- up to 10,000, airport manager says". September 11, 2020.
  14. ^ "President Biden lands at MBS International Airport in Saginaw". March 14, 2024.
  15. ^ Apple Jr, R. W. (April 11, 1974). "NIXON CAMPAIGNS IN RURAL MICHIGAN". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  16. ^ "In Final Day, Quayle Praises Bush's Record : Campaign: He lauds the President's role in Desert Storm and says the Administration has brought the economy to the beginning of recovery. - Los Angeles Times". Los Angeles Times. November 3, 1992.
  17. ^ a b "KMBS – MBS International Airport". AirNav.com. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  18. ^ "Avflight Saginaw". FlightAware. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  19. ^ Lynch-Morin, Kathryn (July 25, 2012). "Allegiant Air to end direct service from MBS International Airport to Orlando-Sanford". MLive. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  20. ^ Fonger, Ron (February 26, 2022). "It's official. Flint becomes a home base for Allegiant Air". MLive. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  21. ^ "Comair Route Map". Departed Flights. March 1, 1995. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  22. ^ Payne, Amy L. (November 21, 2008). "Non-stop flights from MBS to New York begin in February". MLive.com. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  23. ^ "MBS to LGA 2018: Saginaw to New York Flights". www.flights.com. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  24. ^ "RITA | Transtats".
  25. ^ "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Flight Safety Foundation. Retrieved September 7, 2009.
  26. ^ "Cessna 170 crash in Michigan (N1441D)". planecrashmap.com. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  27. ^ Jeltema, Ryan (September 8, 2023). "MBS airport manager explains response to aircraft emergency". ABC12 News. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  28. ^ Mose, Hannah (September 21, 2023). "Landing gear of aircraft collapses at MBS International Airport". WNEM TV5. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  29. ^ "Transportation". mbsairport.org. MBS International Airport. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  30. ^ "MBS International Airport gets $4.65 million for taxiway construction". mlive. July 10, 2019. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  31. ^ Becker, Jon (July 27, 2023). "MBS International Airport $530,000 runway rehab project moves forward". Midland Daily News. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
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