Mason Jewett Field

Mason mayor Arthur W. Jewett believed that the popularity of aviation during World War II, and the return of veterans to the area, would make an airport an increasingly important asset to the community. Further, the airport could promote industrial development around Mason. On December 16, 1943, Jewett purchased the {{convert|180|acre|ha|sigfig=2}} Elsworth Farm southeast of Mason.Smith, p. 3

In early 1944, runway 9/27 was constructed at {{convert|2800|ft|m|sigfig=3}} with a turf surface. An existing hip roof barn at the west end of the airfield was converted into an airplane hangar capable of holding three or four planes. A hangar with room for six planes, was built at the northwest end of the airport. A Civil Air Patrol Squadron plane from Lansing was the first to land on the new runway. In October 1944, Stanley Keck became the first operator of the new Jewett Flying School. A {{convert|2500|ft|m|sigfig=3}} north–south runway was completed at the east end of the existing runway.

An increase of privately owned aircraft based at the airport prompted the construction of five tee hangars along Eden Road in mid-1946. The Sycamore Valley Flyers flying club operated at the airport from 1946 to 1966. In 1948, Laylin Jewett established an aircraft maintenance facility at Jewett Field. In the fall of 1949, lights were installed on runway 9/27.Smith, p. 4 A model airplane hobby shop opened at the airport in the winter of 1949.Smith, p. 5

By 1950, there were more than 30 planes based at the airport. In September 1950, the airport owner, Arthur Jewett, decided to close the airport. By the mid-1950s, Jewett reopened the airport with Bartlett Smith as Assistant Airport Manager. Harold Manville operated a flight training and aircraft rental business at the airport from 1968 to 1974.

Image:Mason Jewett Field USGS 2007-Apr.jpg aerial photograph
of Mason Jewett Field [http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/?p=default&b=base2&x=-9397954.876173273&y=5245919.666276269&l=16&v= USGS TNM 2.0 Viewer] from USGS The National Map, viewer.nationalmap.gov, Retrieved July 26, 2010]]

In October 1973, a two-year disagreement over a lease on the airport was settled between Arthur Jewett and the airport's operator, Harold Manville. In November, the Michigan Aeronautics Commission granted a license to Arthur Jewett, allowing the facility to remain in operation.Caesar, pp. 253-254 By 1973, Jewett reported losing $150,000 in operating the airport.Morris, p. 107

In March 1977, the Capital Region Airport Authority purchased the {{convert|180|acre|ha|sigfig=2}} of airport property from Arthur Jewett as a reliever airfield for Capital City Airport (now Capital Region International Airport) in Lansing. The existing buildings at the airport were removed and a new {{convert|3000|ft|m|sigfig=3}} asphalt runway 9/27 was constructed. The north–south runway was decommissioned and a new terminal was built on its location. During the next decade, the Capital Region Airport Authority purchased approximately {{convert|100|acre|ha|sigfig=2}} of adjoining property, allowing the runway to be lengthened to {{convert|4000|ft|m|sigfig=3}}. A lighted parallel taxiway was also constructed.

The Experimental Aircraft Association, Chapter 55, moved to Jewett Field in 1984. The Association built the airport's Chapter Hangar in 1985, which provides space for members' aircraft, a workshop, and a meeting room.[http://www.eaa55.org/history.html EAA Chapter 55 History] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705031316/http://www.eaa55.org/history.html |date=2008-07-05 }}, Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 55, eaa55.org, Retrieved September 15, 2009

In 1998, Jewett Field operator AeroGenesis Aviation built a maintenance hangar and office building at the airport.

In June 2009, Lansing Community College signed a five-year lease for a hangar at Jewett Field to house the college's aviation mechanics program. The program is based out of nearby Capital Region International Airport, with potential displacement due to that airport's expansion plans.Miller, Matthew. [http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009909010326 LCC airport lease raises red flag for union]{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, Lansing State Journal, lsj.com, September 1, 2009, Retrieved September 15, 2009 By February 2010, the June 2009 lease was under litigation.Miller, Matthew. [http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20103280407 LCC countersues in Jewett hangar case]{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, Lansing State Journal, lsj.com, March 26, 2010, Retrieved April 21, 2010 In February 2011, the hangar was purchased by Lansing Community College.Miller, Matthew. [http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011103030329 LCC buys hangar in Mason to settle suit]{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, Lansing State Journal, lsj.com, March 3, 2011, Retrieved March 24, 2011 In May, the college announced that it would move its aviation mechanics program from Capital Region International Airport to the Jewett Field hangar.Miller, Matthew. [http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011105170327 Some Lansing Community College programs spared cuts]{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, Lansing State Journal, lsj.com, May 17, 2011, Retrieved May 25, 2011

Aviation Days is an annual event at Jewett Field that showcases vintage aircraft, including homemade planes, antique passenger planes, and World War II-era military aircraft. The event is organized by the Experimental Aircraft Association, Chapter 55, in Mason.Miller, Matthew. [http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20090816/NEWS01/908160616 Mason Aviation Days draws aficionados, amateurs alike]{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, Lansing State Journal, lsj.com, August 16, 2009, Retrieved September 15, 2009

Mason Jewett Field covers an area of {{convert|275|acre|ha|sigfig=3}} at an elevation of {{convert|920|ft|m|sigfig=3}} above mean sea level. It has one runway designated 10/28 with an asphalt surface measuring 4,004 by 75 feet (1,220 x 23 m). The airport is staffed Monday through Friday from 7AM until 4PM. Currently Jewett Field has hangar space for more than 80 airplanes.

The aircraft has a fixed-base operator that offers jet fuel and avgas.{{Cite web |title=Mason Jewett Airport FBO Info & Fuel Prices at Mason Jewett Fld (KTEW) |url=http://flightaware.com/resources/airport/KTEW/services/FBO/Mason_Jewett_Airport |access-date=2023-02-06 |website=FlightAware |language=en}}

For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2020, the airport had 6500 aircraft operations, an average of 125 per week, all general aviation. This is a decrease from roughly 10,000 operations in 2010; 17,822 in 2009; and 20,960 in 2008. In 2020, there were 83 aircraft based at this airport (an increase from 64 aircraft in 2009): 71 single-engine and 8 multi-engine airplanes, 2 helicopters, 1 jet airplane, and 1 ultralight.{{Cite web |title=AirNav: KTEW - Mason Jewett Field Airport |url=http://www.airnav.com/airport/ktew |access-date=2023-02-06 |website=www.airnav.com}}{{Cite web |title=TEW - Mason Jewett Field Airport {{!}} SkyVector |url=https://skyvector.com/airport/TEW/Mason-Jewett-Field-Airport |access-date=2023-02-06 |website=skyvector.com}}

• The closest freeway is US-127, which is approximately {{convert|0.75|mi|km|sigfig=2}} west of Jewett Field. The airport is accessible by road by taking US-127 exit 64 (Kipp Road) east to Eden Road. State highway M-36 is approximately {{convert|0.5|mi|km|sigfig=1}} north of the airport.
• The Capital Area Transportation Authority (CATA) provides bus service from Lansing to Mason. Route 46 runs weekdays from downtown Lansing to the southside of Mason, near the airport. The Mason Connector runs weekdays and Saturday from south Lansing to Mason.[http://www.cata.org/Schedules/RouteInformation/Route46/tabid/253/Default.aspx CATA Route 46 Mason, Limited], CATA.org, Retrieved July 6, 2012

• On July 26, 2006, a Beechcraft A36 Bonanza crashed during climbout from Mason Field. The pilot reported preflight and takeoff were normal, but the airplane hesitated and stopped climbing 150 feet above the ground. The plane climbed slowly for a moment then started a descent. Airspeed dropped, the stall horn sounded, and the airplane buffeted; the pilot lowered the nose to gain airspeed and banked to avoid obstacles, but the wing impacted an antenna and the landing gear impacted two cars and a parking lot. The plane came to rest and the occupants escaped before the aircraft was consumed by fire. The probable cause was found to be the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed which resulted in a stall/mush on takeoff.{{Cite web |title=Accident Beechcraft A36 N9205Q, 26 Jul 2006 |url=https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/292010 |access-date=2023-02-06 |website=aviation-safety.net}}
• On May 8, 2007, an Aeronca 7AC ground looped upon landing at Mason County. The pilot stated that the landing was good, but when he reached to turn off the carb heat, the airplane turned to the left. He over-controlled with right rudder and attempted to abort the landing by adding power. He became airborne, stalled, and clipped a tree, causing the airplane to impact terrain. The probable cause was found to be the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll and failure to maintain sufficient airspeed during the aborted landing attempt, leading to an inadvertent stall.{{Cite web |title=Aeronca 7AC crash in Michigan (N83228) {{!}} PlaneCrashMap.com |url=https://planecrashmap.com/plane/mi/N83228/ |access-date=2023-02-06 |website=planecrashmap.com}}
• On September 17, 2010, a Tecnam P2004 Bravo single-engine plane lost power and crashed in a field north of the airport shortly after takeoff, crushing the nose of the plane. The pilot was hospitalized.Vela, Susan. [http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2010309190002 FAA begins investigation of Mason plane accident]{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, Lansing State Journal, lsj.com, September 19, 2010, Retrieved September 19, 2010
• On September 1, 2022, a Dassault Falcon business jet (N123RA) diverted from Capital Region International Airport (KLAN) due to engine issues and ran off the end of the runway into the grass.{{Cite web |date=2022-09-02 |title=Plane makes emergency landing at Mason Jewett Airport Thursday, no injuries |url=https://www.fox47news.com/neighborhoods/mason-leslie/plane-makes-emergency-landing-at-mason-jewett-airport-thursday-no-injuries |access-date=2023-02-06 |website=FOX 47 News Lansing - Jackson (WSYM) |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Mason area airport runway damaged after plane makes emergency landing |url=https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/2022/09/02/plane-makes-emergency-landing-at-mason-jewett-airport-after-engine-failure/65469945007/ |access-date=2023-02-06 |website=Lansing State Journal |language=en-US}}

Image:Mason_Jewett_Field_Terminal_Building_1.jpg|Jewett Field terminal building in Mason, MI

Image:Mason_Jewett_Field_Parking_Lot_Fuel_Terminal.jpg|Airport fueling center from parking lot

Image:Mason Jewett Field runway 10-28 Jan 2012-2.jpg|Runway 10/28 from West Dexter Trail

Image:Mason_Jewett_Field_Hangars_From_Eden_Road.jpg|Jewett Field hangars from Eden Road

Image:Mason_Jewett_Field_Hangars_From_Entrance_Drive.jpg|Airplane hangars from Jewett Airport Road

Image:Mason_Jewett_Field_Taxiway_Along_Entrance_Road.jpg|Taxiway and airplanes from Jewett Airport Road

Image:Mason Jewett Field USGS 7-Apr-99.jpg|April 1999 USGS aerial photograph of Jewett Field

Image:Mason Jewett Field Topo USGS 1-Jul-76.jpg|July 1976 USGS topographic map of Jewett Field

{{Portal|Aviation}}

{{Commons category|Mason Jewett Field}}

• List of airports in Michigan
• Capital Region Airport Authority
• Capital Region International Airport

;Notes

{{Reflist|2}}

;Bibliography

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite book |last= Ceasar |first= Ford Stevens |title= The Bicentennial History of Ingham County, Michigan |publisher= Braun-Brumfield, Ann Arbor, Michigan |year= 1976 |pages= 253–254 |lccn= 75035450|ref=CeasarF}}
• {{cite book |last= Morris |first= David D. |title= Lansing, Jackson, Ann Arbor and Automobiles |publisher= Edwards Brothers |location= Ann Arbor, Michigan |year= 1976 |pages= 106–107 |lccn=76363304|ref=MorrisD}}
• Smith, Bartlett. [https://web.archive.org/web/20110726011337/http://www.eaa55.org/Wingtips/wingtips2001/Mar_01.pdf Mason Jewett Airport], Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 55 Wingtips, eaa55.org, March 2001, Retrieved April 22, 2010

{{refend}}

• {{Official website|http://www.flylansing.com/about-craa/mason-jewett-airport Airport}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120513050002/http://bc.ingham.org/AppointedBoardsandCommissions/CapitalRegionInternationalAirportAuthority.aspx Capital Region Airport Authority]
• {{cite web|url= http://mich.gov/documents/Tew_19094_7.pdf |title=Mason Jewett Field (TEW) }} {{small|(47.2 KB)}} at Michigan DOT Airport Directory
• {{FAA-procedures|TEW}}
• {{FAA-airport|ID=TEW|use=PU|own=PU|site=10073.*A}}

{{US-airport-ga|TEW}}

Category:Airports in Michigan

Category:Buildings and structures in Ingham County, Michigan

Category:Transportation in Ingham County, Michigan

Category:Airports established in 1944

Category:1944 establishments in Michigan