Ford Airport (Iron Mountain)

{{Infobox airport

| name = Ford Airport

| image =

| IATA = IMT

| ICAO = KIMT

| FAA = IMT

| type = Public

| owner = Dickinson County

| operator =

| city-served = Iron Mountain / Kingsford, Michigan

| location =

| opened = {{start date|1940|04|}}

| hub = CSA Air

| elevation-f = 1,182

| website = [http://www.fordairport.org/ fordairport.org]

| coordinates = {{coord|45|49|06|N|088|06|52|W|region:US-MI|display=inline,title}}

| pushpin_map = USA Michigan#USA

| pushpin_relief = yes

| pushpin_map_caption = Location of airport in Michigan

| pushpin_label = IMT

| pushpin_label_position = right

| r1-number = 1/19

| r1-length-f = 6,502

| r1-surface = Asphalt

| r2-number = 13/31

| r2-length-f = 3,810

| r2-surface = Asphalt

| stat-year = 12 months ending December 2024 ^{except where noted}

| stat1-header = Passenger volume

| stat1-data = 38,940

| stat2-header = Departing passengers

| stat2-data = 19,480

| stat3-header = Scheduled flights

| stat3-data = 983

| stat4-header = Cargo (lb.)

| stat4-data = 327k

| stat5-header = Aircraft operations (2022)

| stat5-data = 6,966

| stat6-header = Based aircraft (2023)

| stat6-data = 36

| footnotes = Sources: Ford Airport,[http://www.fordairport.org/ Ford Airport], official website FAA,{{FAA-airport|ID=IMT|use=PU|own=PU|site=09962.*A}}. Federal Aviation Administration. effective December 26, 2024. RITA[http://www.transtats.bts.gov/airports.asp?pn=1&Airport=IMT&Airport_Name=Iron Iron Mountain/Kingsfd, MI: Ford]

}}

Ford Airport {{airport codes|IMT|KIMT|IMT}} is a county-owned public-use airport in Dickinson County, Michigan, United States. It is located three miles west of the central business district of Iron Mountain, in the central Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The airport offers scheduled passenger service by one commercial airline, SkyWest Airlines, an affiliate of Delta Connection, which is subsidized by the Essential Air Service program. It is also a hub for FedEx Feeder operator CSA Air.

Ford Airport serves the greater Dickinson County area, which includes the cities of Iron Mountain, Kingsford and Norway in Michigan and the bordering Wisconsin communities of Aurora, Florence and Niagara. Its service area also includes portions of Iron and Menominee counties in Michigan and Florence and Marinette counties in Wisconsin.

It is included in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2021–2025, in which it is categorized as a non-hub primary commercial service facility.{{cite web|title=List of NPIAS Airports|url=https://www.faa.gov/airports/planning_capacity/npias/reports/media/NPIAS-Report-2017-2021-Appendix-A.pdf|website=FAA.gov|publisher=Federal Aviation Administration|access-date=14 November 2016|date=21 October 2016}}

The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) hosts events for community members, most notably Ford Airport Days. They often feature restored warbirds like B-25 Mitchell bombers and A-26 Invaders. The event also gives people the opportunity to fly drones, hosts tributes to veterans, and develops interest in aviation among youth.{{Cite web |title=Ford Airport Day: 'Silver Dragon,' B-25 among highlights|url=https://www.ironmountaindailynews.com/news/local-news/2022/09/ford-airport-day-silver-dragon-b-25-among-highlights/|access-date=2022-11-11 | website=Iron Mountain Daily News}}{{Cite web |title=World War II-era planes on display for veterans at Ford Airport|url=https://www.uppermichiganssource.com/2022/09/23/world-war-ii-era-planes-display-veterans-ford-airport/|access-date=2022-11-11 | website=NBC TV 6 Upper Michigan's Source|date=23 September 2022 }}

The airport received $1,000,000 from the US Department of Transportation in 2020 as part of the CARES Act to help it mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web |title=USDOT announces nearly $23M for Upper Michigan airports in response to COVID-19 |url=https://www.uppermichiganssource.com/content/news/USDOT-announces-nearly-23M-for-Upper-Michigan-airports-in-response-to-COVID-19-569630731.html |access-date=2023-02-11 |website=Upper Michigan's Source |date=14 April 2020 |language=en}}

Facilities and aircraft

Ford Airport covers an area of 720 acres (291 ha) at an elevation of 1,182 feet (360 m). It has two asphalt paved runways: 1/19 is 6,502 by 150 feet and 13/31 is 3,810 by 75 feet. Runway 1/19

has approved ILS, GPS and LOC/DME approaches. In addition, the Iron Mountain VOR/DME (IMT) navigational facility is located at the field.{{Cite web|url=http://www.airnav.com/airports/kimt|title=AirNav: Airport Information|website=www.airnav.com|access-date=2024-12-30}}

In 2022, Dickinson County started considering a renovation of the terminal at Ford in hopes to hosting larger aircraft. A consultant was hired to help the airport plan.{{Cite web |title=Dickinson eyes Ford Airport renovation

|url=https://www.ironmountaindailynews.com/news/local-news/2022/05/dickinson-eyes-ford-airport-renovation/|access-date=2022-11-11 | website=Iron Mountain Daily News}}

For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2022, the airport had 6,966 aircraft operations, an average of 19 per day: 62% air taxi, 21% commercial service and 17% general aviation. In November 2023, there were 36 aircraft based at this airport: 22 single-engine, 8 multi-engine, 5 jet and 1 helicopter.

Both based and transient general aviation aircraft are supported by the fixed-base operator (FBO) Kubick Aviation Services, which offers aviation fuel, aircraft parking and hangars, aircraft rental, courtesy cars, pilot lounges, snooze rooms, and more.{{Cite web |title=Kubick Aviation Services|url=https://airnav.com/airport/KIMT/KUBICK|access-date=2022-11-11 | website=AirNav.com}}

Ford Airport enhances regional air travel safety by maintaining an Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) 'Index A' trained team and related equipment.

Airline and destinations

=Passenger=

{{Airport destination list

| Delta Connection | Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul

}}

class="collapsible collapsed" style="border:1px #aaa solid; width:50em; margin:0.2em auto"
Destinations map
{{Location map+ \|United_States \|width=1000 \|float=center \|caption=Destinations from Ford Airport {{font color \| red \| Red}} = Year-round destination {{font color \| green \| Green }} = Seasonal destination {{font color \| blue \| Blue }} = Future destination \|places= {{Location map~ \|United_States \|lat=45.818333\|long=-88.114444\|position=right\|label=Iron Mountain\|caption=\|mark=Airplane_silhouette.svg\|marksize=15 }} {{Location map~ \|United_States \|lat=42.2125\|long=-83.353333\|position=bottom\|label=Detroit\|label_size=90 \|marksize=7 }} {{Location map~ \|United_States \|lat=44.881944\|long=-93.221667\|position=left\|label=Minneapolis/St. Paul\|label_size=90 \|marksize=7 }} }}

class="collapsible collapsed" style="border:1px #aaa solid; width:50em; margin:0.2em auto"

Destinations map

{{Location map+ |United_States |width=1000 |float=center

|caption=Destinations from Ford Airport
{{font color | red | Red}} = Year-round destination
{{font color | green | Green }} = Seasonal destination
{{font color | blue | Blue }} = Future destination

|places=

{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=45.818333|long=-88.114444|position=right|label=Iron Mountain|caption=|mark=Airplane_silhouette.svg|marksize=15 }}

{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=42.2125|long=-83.353333|position=bottom|label=Detroit|label_size=90 |marksize=7 }}

{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=44.881944|long=-93.221667|position=left|label=Minneapolis/St. Paul|label_size=90 |marksize=7 }}

}}

=Top destinations=

class="wikitable sortable"

|+ Busiest routes out of IMT
(January 2024 - December 2024)

! Rank

! City

! Passengers

! Carrier

| Detroit, Michigan

| 10,700

| Delta Connection

| Minneapolis/St Paul, Minnesota

| 8,780

| Delta Connection

Cargo operations

File:Cessna 208B Caravan 'N876FE' FedEx (13006463414).jpg]]

{{Airport destination list

| Ameriflight | Ironwood, Milwaukee

| FedEx Feeder | Escanaba, Houghton, Milwaukee

| PACC Air | Blaine, Green Bay

| Suburban Air Freight | Lansing

}}

Accidents and incidents

On July 27, 1965, a Beechcraft 65 Queen Air crashed while attempting to land at Iron Mountain. The crew voluntarily shut down one engine to simulate a failure, but the aircraft had insufficient speed to maintain flight and crashed short of the runway. Both occupants received minor injuries.{{Cite web |title=CRASH OF A BEECHCRAFT QUEEN AIR 65 IN IRON MOUNTAIN|url=https://www.baaa-acro.com/crash/crash-beechcraft-queen-air-65-iron-mountain|access-date=2022-11-11 | website=Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives}}
On July 3, 1974, a Beechcraft Model 18 crashed on approach to Iron Mountain. The pilot encountered poor visibility on approach and descended to look for the runway when he struck a bank. Factors contributing to the crash were a failure to initiate a go-around, an incorrect altimeter setting, runway misalignment, and weather worse than forecasted.{{Cite web |title=CRASH OF A BEECHCRAFT H18 IN IRON MOUNTAIN: 1 KILLED

|url=https://www.baaa-acro.com/crash/crash-beechcraft-h18-iron-mountain-1-killed|access-date=2022-11-11 | website=Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives}}

On October 17, 1974, a Beechcraft Model 18 impacted terrain short of the runway while attempting to land. The pilot descended below the Minimum Descent Altitude on an instrument approach. The sole pilot on board was killed. The aircraft was operated by the same company as the Model 18 that crashed earlier in the year.{{Cite web |title=CRASH OF A BEECHCRAFT H18 IN IRON MOUNTAIN: 1 KILLED|url=https://www.baaa-acro.com/crash/crash-beechcraft-h18-iron-mountain-1-killed-0|access-date=2022-11-11 | website=Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives}}
On January 6, 2000, a Beechcraft Travel Air en route to Ford crashed south of the airport. The airplane was reported on the airport's ILS when the pilot reported moderate rime icing to air traffic controllers. The pilot received fatal injuries. The accident's probable cause was found to be the pilot's failure to maintain proper glidepath and obstacle clearance. Contributing factors were found to be dark nighttime conditions, airframe icing, flight into adverse weather, and conditions conducive to pilot fatigue.
On August 3, 2021, a Cessna 172 Skyhawk was substantially damaged by the jet blast of a Bombardier CRJ-200 parked nearby. The Skyhawk passed 200 feet behind the jet while mechanics increased engine power for a maintenance test. The blast from the jet lifted the 172's tail, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing and strut.{{Cite web |title=Cessna 172, N6778A: Accident occurred August 03, 2021 at Ford Airport (IMT), Iron Mountain, Dickinson County, Michigan|url=http://www.kathrynsreport.com/2021/12/cessna-172-n6778a-accident-occurred.html|access-date=2022-11-11| website=Kathryn's Report}}
On December 25, 2021, a Lancair IV-P crashed after taking off from Ford. The pilot, who, along with one passenger, received minor injuries, said there was a starter generator failure annunciator on climbout. The pilot troubleshot the issue, but the engine eventually lost all power, and the pilot was forced to land off-airport. The accident is under investigation.{{Cite web |title=Lancair IV-P, N994PT: Accident occurred December 25, 2021 at Ford Airport (KIMT), Iron Mountain, Michigan

|url=http://www.kathrynsreport.com/2021/12/lancair-iv-p-n994pt-accident-occurred.html|access-date=2022-11-11 | website=Kathryn's Report}}

References

Other sources

Essential Air Service documents ([http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=DOT-OST-1999-5175 Docket Number OST-1999-5175]) from the U.S. Department of Transportation:
[http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=DOT-OST-1999-5175-0046 2005-5-14 Order Selecting Carrier and Setting Final Subsidy Rate]
[http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=DOT-OST-1999-5175-0059 Order 2007-3-21 Selecting Carrier and Setting Final Subsidy Rates]
[http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=DOT-OST-1999-5175-0070 2008-1-13 Order Selecting Carrier, Setting Final Subsidy Rates and Requesting Proposals]
[http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=DOT-OST-1999-5175-0088 2008-8-14 Order Reselecting Carrier and Setting Final Subsidy Rates]
[http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=DOT-OST-1999-5175-0101 2010-6-4 Order Re-Selecting Carrier, Setting Final Subsidy Rates and Requesting Proposals]
[http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=DOT-OST-1999-5175-0116 2011-11-30 Order Selecting Carrier]

External links

{{cite web|url= http://www.michigan.gov/documents/IMT_18458_7.pdf |title=Ford Airport }} {{small|(39.8 KiB)}} from Michigan Airport Directory
{{cite web |url= http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/travel/air/docs/airports/iron-mountain-mi.pdf |title= Ford Airport |access-date= 2006-04-19 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060221223959/http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/travel/air/docs/airports/iron-mountain-mi.pdf |archive-date= 2006-02-21 |url-status= dead }} {{small|(135 KiB)}} from Wisconsin Airport Directory
[http://www.superioraviation.com/ Superior Aviation]
{{FAA-diagram|05347}}
{{FAA-procedures|IMT}}

Category:Airports in Michigan

Category:Essential Air Service

Category:Buildings and structures in Dickinson County, Michigan

Category:Transportation in Dickinson County, Michigan

Category:Airports in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan