Huge potential
Located on 263 acres in one of the most depleted districts of Detroit, the airport retains huge potential. A 2011 study by University of Michigan planning students found that 60% of the region’s population lived closer to Coleman A. Young Airport than to Detroit Metro Airport. The east-side airport is a 10-minute drive to downtown Detroit and is close to expressways and rail lines.
The 100-page U-M study, titled “Preparing for Takeoff,” suggested that instead of extending the existing 5,100-foot runway, which would require relocating a portion of a cemetery just outside the airport, a new longer runway might be built 750 feet to the west, which would not require a relocation of graves. Watt said the idea makes sense, although it is unlikely a new runway is in the airport’s near future.
The U-M study also suggested the airport make relatively simple changes like creating a better website and providing shuttle service for pilots and crews to downtown hotels.
The U-M study noted several obstacles to the airport’s growth beyond a shortage of cash. A previous fixed-base operation, the company that handles private and corporate planes, did not perform well and earned the airport a reputation of high costs and poor service. A new fixed-based operator has improved service, Watt said.
In addition, some pilots considered the neighborhood unsafe and hesitated to fly or store their planes there. In the past, some travelers cited insufficient parking for large numbers of cars. There is also competition from other regional airports, which besides Metro and Willow Run airports include Oakland County International and Bishop International in Flint.
Despite those obstacles, Watt and other advocates for Coleman A. Young Airport believe new investment and a new regional carrier or two can help the airport return to greatness.
“The end goal to all of this is to turn the airport into a destination where people would like to come and benefit from all the wonderful things that are happening downtown,” Watt said. “Our location is second to none.”
Article Appeared @http://www.freep.com/article/20140404/NEWS01/304040017/Detroit-bankruptcy-plan-calls-for-revitalizing-Detroit-city-airport