Cherry Capital Airport unveiled a critical upgrade to its runways today that will help planes land safely in bad weather.
Officials say the new Instrument Landing System (ILS) it will help prevent hundreds of flight cancellations per year.
“I read that during a single weekend a few years ago, the airport had 30 cancellations due to strong winds and low visibility,” FAA Regional Administrator Erik Amend said. “That type of impact will be a thing of the past with this innovative solution that improves the safety and efficiency of the National Airspace System.”
Traverse City is home to one of the state’s fastest growing airports.
2021 data from the Federal Aviation Administration says it saw nearly 300-thousand outbound planes.
U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-Michigan) was on the runway for a ceremonial ribbon cutting.
He said the ILS will keep the region’s booming tourism industry going strong. However, with more people coming to the area, he said the federal government will also need to focus on housing initiatives.
“There's no question that's an issue right now that we don't have building construction and a level that we need to move forward, not just for the greater Traverse City area, but all across the country. And it's going to be a continued focus in Congress as to how we make that happen.”
Peters also helped secure $5 million for Cherry Capital Airport to replace five boarding bridges earlier this year.
