Michigan airport scraps GA landing fees

At its October 12 meeting, the authority's board voted to change the charge to a facility fee that applies only to operators who park on the airport's ramp and use its landside access, instead of charging for every landing.

The vote came less than two months after the board adopted a rates and charges schedule, set to take effect October 1, that applied landing fees to light GA aircraft. AOPA pushed back and, in a letter to the airport authority, Great Lakes Regional Manager Kyle Lewis called the landing fees "extremely concerning," noting that "small general aviation airports rarely charge landing fees to all aircraft, and the proposed... fee far exceeds many other categorical landing fee schedules for light aircraft (under 12,500 lbs.) at airports across the country."

Lewis questioned how the $10 fee was calculated and whether it reflected the actual costs of the operations, and noted that Mackinac Island Airport is the only GA airport in the region that charges landing fees to light aircraft.

If the airport authority intended to charge pilots who park on the ramp, Lewis wrote, a parking or facility fee might be a better fit.

In follow-up conversations with the airport authority, Lewis pointed out that landing fees have historically been charged to heavier aircraft to cover the cost of wear and tear on the runways and other pavements. The dialogue was productive, and AOPA’s outreach was well received by the authority.

"We appreciate the Manistee County Blacker Airport Authority listening to the concerns of the general aviation community and taking the time to understand what these fees would mean in practice," said Lewis. "New fees cannot be instituted arbitrarily at federally obligated airports, and AOPA works hard to understand the cost analysis in each case. In Manistee, a facility fee makes more sense as long as the amount reflects real costs, because pilots get a service in return."

"Establishing rates and charges that are as financially self-sustaining as possible, while also considering the impact on our users, is certainly a challenge, but it is necessary to ensure the continued operation and sustainability of the airport," said Manistee County Blacker Airport Director Miles Weaver. "The airport authority and staff do want to thank everyone who provided productive feedback and to AOPA for their insight and perspective. Also, we want to extend gratitude to the users who do and will continue to support the Manistee County Blacker Airport."