Comments for Michigan, United States

Had a pretty scary experience getting out of there!

My advice: Be light and be familiar with these rough rural grass strips as I've been told this one can bite you!!

What would it take to get some competition for flights to/from Traverse City? It costs $300-500 more to fly in and out of Traverse City than other cities within a 2 hr drive.

The FBO, Harbour Air Services, does a great job.

Runways 02 -20 usually have crosswinds.

Well someone has there facts wrong, I was a regular at Berz from 1961 to 1970, I was employed there from 1966-1970. No Learjet came in 1967 that's for sure. October 1966 American Jet Leasing was the first Lear to arrive and depart at this airport, the next time a Lear came in was 1968 when Bill Freehan and Denny McClain chartered one from Pepsi-Cola to fly to Denver after winning the World Series. Berz was sold to Rockwell and it became Grand Prix Airport in 1971 that remained until the county bought it where it is now Oakland Troy Executive..

My first flight in the Piper Dakota N2190H was 9/11/92 at Berz McComb with CFII 1936055 L C Jell (sp). Ferried the plane to California in 1992. I bought the plane in 2000 and have flown it in California ever since.

FIRST!!

I worked at Berz Airport in 1967. Looking back, it was a dream job..short-lived due to my own short-comings in arriving to work on time. I kick myself for that, as I had opportunities,thanks to Mr. Berz, to take flying lessons at a discount. I frequently returned to Berz Airport to enjoy it again,remembering each time the many planes, people , and overall enjoyment working there. I'm sorry it was sold and although I have returned to remember Berz's aiport, the Troy-Oakland remnant is nothing at all like the original. Mr. Berz was a fair and good man to work for. I was fortunate to have experienced washing, taxiing and caring for the Cherokee and Piper trainers. That summer of 1967, I saw a Lear Jet come in for viewing, walked into the cockpit of a King Air, spoke to a pilot who showed me the STOL capabilities of his military camouflaged turbine-engine plane, was allowed to hand-crank an inertia starter biplane(really cool!), and tanked up some intersting old twin-Beech and Turbo-Commanders' that still remain as highlights of my short job experience. Milt, if you're still listening, "thanks for the memories!".

Wickenheiser Airport..Tell me more about your Airport..and how it came to be.. drop me a note.

Todd Wickenheiser, Golden B.C. Canada.

I use to work at the original Berz Airport off maple rd in the 60's as a teenager for Milt Jr. and his Dad , who we all called "Pappy" he was a great man to work for and I think Sharon was the girl that use to talk to all the pilots. There was another elderly man that use to make coffee in the mornings for all the people that use to just hang out in the terminal, but can't remember his name right now. My father bought into a piper 180 and had it in a hanger, I myself use to fuel the plane and wash them I really enjoyed working there , except when we had to get up at 2 am in the morning and plow the runways because to much snow fallin that night. Jeff Moffett (geoffreyfaulknerz28_47@msn.com)

I used to fly into Berz occasionally when I lived in Troy. In fact, I bought my first airplane there. My partner took flying lessons there and he happened to see a for sale sign in the window of a Piper Arrow just at the time we were looking. Sorry to see another nice GA airport gone in favor of urban sprawl and more sorry to hear of Milt's passing. He was a true friend of aviation.

Tom Altobello

I miss Berz Airport every day. I miss all the great folks who used to work there, hang out there, learned to fly there, our customers and the people who flew in and out of Berz macomb Airport.

It breaks my heart every time I pass by that area and see homes in its place. I grew up there and worked there most of my life. I was the third generation in the family business.

It was a business decision to sell. We sold at a good time before the economy took a dive.

Milton H. Berz who built the airport passed away December 6th of 2008. He was an aviation icon and a aviation pioneer.

Jeffery A. Berz (uiz@juno.com)

I landed here back in July of 2002. Nice little airport. Too bad it got turned into houses.

From 31 May to 1 June, the Red Bull Air Race is coming to Windsor and Detroit. It will take place along the Detroit River between the two cities, and there will be viewing stands on both the Canadian and U.S. sides of the river.

http://www.redbullairrace.com/

This was originally called the Tri Cities Airport, but, unusually, it has taken its FAA and IATA code "MBS" (the first letter of each of the cities) right into its official name.

For years Metro Airport was the poster boy for dark and dank terminals. It was a truly disgusting airport.

Today, it is state-of-the-art in every way. I love flying through here.

Refueled here on the way to Oshkosh. They had free hotdogs, which I think is why my fellow club members chose it.

Ended up here when weathered out by a huge line of thunderstorms on a flight home from Oshkosh. Had dinner in a Hooters that was an easy walk (for somebody who just spent a week walking around Oshkosh) from the airport. Ate dinner with two Canadians who arrived VFR in a Grumman Tiger.

South Haven was my home base from April 2004 until December 2005. Great airport, one of those places where the locals cook out every Saturday during the summer. Self serve fuel prices are generally competitive for the region.

Tips for transient pilots:

The wind off of Lake Michigan is often a direct crosswind for traffic on the pavement (4-22), but coming right down the grass runway (14-32). Despite this, we've noticed a lot of transient pilots shun the grass, sometimes accepting brutal crosswinds. The grass is well maintained and used regularly by the locals. During the warmer months, there are a pair of Piper Pawnee crop dusters operating at South Haven that do not broadcast on the radio. They are very good at working among the rest of the GA traffic, but it's good to be aware of them. Transient pilots are most likely to be interested in the new ramp east of the intersection of the two runways - this is where the fuel and terminal building are located. The ramp at the south end of the field is where the maintenance shop is located.

My favorite food stop while living in Michigan. Usually lots of transient aircraft on the ramp. You can watch arrivals from the restaurant which sits near the base of the control tower.

Not much going on here. But I had my first light aircraft flight here in a Citabria. A year later, I did my first solo here in a Cessna 150. Nice long runway, good place to practice (there's never anyone around).

US Customs officers will drive over from the bridge to clear you. Even on a Sunday, only 1 hour notice required!

A nice convenient little airport to clear US Customs if you are heading West from Southern Ontario.