SooLeader received the following letter about the Sault Ste. Marie Municipal Airport.
The Sault Ste. Marie Municipal Airport and the Soo Pilots Association just completed the Young Eagles Day celebration on June 8, where five local pilots donated their time and aircraft to give free airplane rides to 72 local children.
They were assisted by many local volunteers, including the local Civil Air Patrol detachment, who registered the young passengers, gave them certificates of completion, and supplied refreshments. This is an annual event, and introduces local young people to the world of aviation.
The event also highlights the many contributions of the airport to the well-being and economy of the City. An average of 10 medevac flights are conducted at the airport every month, providing critical and lifesaving care to local residents. The incoming business flights have been shown to contribute millions of dollars to the local economy.
While Chippewa County Airport provides the area with commercial airline service, the Sault Municipal Airport (Sanderson Field), located on Meridian Street, provides the bulk of governmental, medical, business, and general aviation services in the area.
Airport staff take on Continuing Technical Education students every year for an internship, and visit the local schools with programs encouraging students to enter the aviation field.
The Coast Guard uses the Municipal Airport to base aviation assets when working ice patrols and search and rescue efforts in Lake Superior; the same day we had the Young Eagles flights, we also fueled and supported a Coast Guard helicopter returning from the rescue of crew members from the damaged freighter Michipicoten.
We provide the only aircraft maintenance facility in the Eastern Upper Peninsula, and hire and train local personnel in this endeavor. We are also the only 24/7 Customs Aviation Point of Entry in the State of Michigan, clearing aircraft from 13 countries last year.
We urge our City residents to come visit the airport and let us show you around. We also urge residents to contact their City Commission members and the members of the TIFA III and EDC boards and encourage them to support the efforts for airport upkeep and expansion of services to meet the aviation needs of the future.
Since pre-European contact, the Sault has been a major transportation hub, and aviation is an essential part of that legacy.
David Waite
Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
