Grosse Ile Municipal Airport
Grosse Ile Municipal Airport is two miles south of Grosse Ile, in Wayne County, Michigan. It is owned by the Township of Grosse Ile. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2017–2021 categorized it as a local reliever airport facility. Most U.S. airports use the same three-letter location identifier for the FAA and IATA, but Grosse Ile Municipal Airport is ONZ to the FAA and has no IATA code. History. In 1929 the airport opened as Naval Reserve Air Base Ile, with a training school, seaplane base and dirigible hangar . In 1930 Thomas Towle used the hangars to build his Towle TA-3 diesel powered amphibian. Renamed as Naval Air Station Grosse Ile during World War II, the installation operated until 1969, when it was closed and turned over to the Township in 1971 for use as a general aviation airport. A memorial garden sits directly behind Township Hall, the former Hangar One, to honor the men and women who served in the armed forces at the Naval Air Station Grosse Ile. The airport taxiways are getting a major renovation that should be completed next year. On the evening of September  25, 2018 an EF1 tornado, one of a three tornado outbreak in the area, crossed the airfield at about 9:00 PM local time. Facilities. The airport covers and has two concrete runways: 4/22 is 4,846 x 100 ft (1,477 x 30 m) and 17/35 is 4,425 x 75 ft (1,349 x 23 m). In 2006 the airport had 52,820 general aviation aircraft operations, average 144 per day. The airport is reached by taking Jefferson Street to the Grosse Ile Parkway and turning right onto Meridian Road. Continue on Meridian Road and turn right onto Groh Road. Watch for the Township  Hall sign on the left (about 200-250 yards), which marks the entrance to the parking lot. The airport offices are on the second floor.