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Also Air service · Flying on Beaver Island

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Beaver Island archipelago

Before an airfield

The earliest documented flights connected to the archipelago did not use an airfield at all. In early February 1923 an Army plane, flown from Selfridge Field via Charlevoix, crossed the ice to carry a physician to a Beaver Island logger with a fractured skull – a rescue improvised because the water route was closed and no road existed. Four months later, in June 1923, a disabled biplane that had put down on South Fox Island during a relief flight to lumbermen the Charlevoix County Herald described as starving finally departed for Chicago after its crew spent more than a month repairing it on the island. Both flights used improvised landing ground rather than a built field, and both were responses to an emergency rather than scheduled service; together they establish that aircraft reached the archipelago’s outer islands, not just Beaver Island itself, within the first two decades of powered flight.

Winter mail by air

Beaver Island’s air service began, and for decades continued, as a solution to a single recurring problem: Lake Michigan closes to navigation each winter, and mail still has to move. In May 1926 the newly formed Beaver Island Air Service was reported to have acquired a twelve-passenger seaplane, on top of two aircraft it already owned, and to be seeking a Post Office Department contract for winter mail; whether that contract was ever awarded is not established in any source read for this survey. Six years later the contract itself is directly attested: the Charlevoix Sentinel of 15 December 1932 reports Karl (also printed Harl) R. Schneider of Detroit as the winning bidder, the lowest of eight, at $48 a week. Flying that route was hazardous in a way that scheduled mainland service was not – in February 1933 Schneider blew a tire taking off from the island and made what the Sentinel called a skillful emergency landing at Charlevoix, the earliest held reference to a dedicated landing field on the island rather than harbor ice. By the mid-1950s the arrangement had become an annual handoff between the ferry Emerald Isle and a chartered plane once the ice closed the harbor, carried by Joe McPhillips Flying Service into the early 1960s; that seasonal pattern, and the post office it served, are covered in full in Communication and connection and are not repeated here.

The airfield becomes an institution

By June 1951 the Charlevoix County Herald described a developed field five miles south of St. James: two runways of 3,500 and 2,500 feet, resodded strips, cleared approaches, a wind-indicator tower, and both scheduled and private-plane service to Charlevoix. The Beaver Island Airport’s own hub article documents its ownership, funding, and construction history in detail, including a 1976 township bond issue and state loan that paved a runway and replaced turf strips with the help of 8,500 tons of crushed limestone delivered by freighter – material this survey does not restate. What belongs here is the airfield’s early role as a hub for organized flying rather than a public-works project: in July 1958 B. I. UNICO began serving aircraft traffic with a radio weather-conditions frequency, 123.3, and that same year and the next the island’s “Dawn Patrol” gathering drew large numbers of private pilots – 329 planes and 798 meals in October 1958, 155 planes and 488 breakfasts in October 1959 – years before the airfield had a paved runway or a resident emergency aircraft.

Charter, freight, and family carriers

Commercial air service on the island has been carried, at different times, by a shifting set of small operators rather than one continuous company. The 1926 Beaver Island Air Service is the earliest named entity, documented only in a single brief report. Nearly fifty years later, in January 1975, Paul Welke sought office space at the Charlevoix Municipal Airport for a preliminary corporation proposing twin-engine freight and passenger service; by May the resulting Welke Aviation, Inc. held an FAA Air Taxi/Commercial Operator certificate, with chief pilot William “Bill” Welke and second pilot Paul Welke flying an Apache twin-engine aircraft, based at Welke Airport, for charter passenger and freight work. Welke Aviation and a second operator, McPhillips Flying Service, ran in parallel through the following decade until, over the 1982-83 New Year, they announced and completed a merger into Island Airways, combining aircraft and personnel and continuing year-round service through Charlevoix Airport while using both the township field and Welke’s. Ownership of the combined carrier changed hands at least once: in January 1989 Bill and Betty Welke and Paul and Ellen Welke bought out Eric Hodgson’s remaining half, making Island Airways, in the Beacon’s words, “again a family business.”

Charter work extended past freight and scheduled passengers into tourism and emergency use. In July 1989 Island Airways flew paid air tours over the harbor and surrounding islands as a Fourth of July fundraiser, donating the proceeds to the Chamber of Commerce. A private charter – not the township’s dedicated aircraft – carried Alex Siudara to Harbor Springs in 1981 after a skiing accident, on Dr. Christie’s arrangement, with onward ambulance transport to Little Traverse Hospital. Private aviation on the island also connected to the wider aviation regulatory system in ways that produced friction as well as convenience: in May 1989 pilot Red Rowley disputed a Greek overflight bill that used his aircraft’s call sign but described a Boeing 707 he said was never his, a dispute the Beacon preserved without resolving; a paved runway itself was still enough of a surprise in July 1983 that the pilot of a visiting Cessna Citation I business jet said he had not expected to find one.

Medical evacuation as a system

Before the townships owned an aircraft, evacuation depended on charter planes by day and, at night, a Coast Guard helicopter from Traverse City – an arrangement the Medical Center’s own 1971 account describes plainly. By early 1974 that arrangement was straining: five emergencies in the preceding twelve months had required Coast Guard helicopter evacuation, and St. James Township Supervisor Jim Janda secured a surplus aircraft, over a local charter operator’s objection, that the townships restricted chiefly to no-fee medical flights. Volunteer pilots Janda and William Wilke flew its first two documented flights within a week of each other in June 1974. The aircraft, its hangar, its pilots, and the 1975 dispute over its county-held flight logs are the subject of its own hub article, “The Beaver”, and are not restated here; what this survey adds is the shape of the system around it – an island that moved from relying on off-island charter and federal helicopter response, to a community-funded, volunteer-flown aircraft restricted by written rule to emergencies, to (by the 1980s) a licensed ambulance service integrated with the Fire Department, a later development traced in Public service and emergency response.

The flying club and private flying

Private aviation had its own institution on the island distinct from any carrier or the airport itself. In January 1971, fifteen teenage members formed the Beaver Island Flying Club, meeting weekly at the school under licensed flying instructor Bill Welke; several members flew in his plane the same month. No source located for this survey documents the club’s activity beyond 1971 or whether any member went on to solo or hold a pilot’s license.

Fly-ins as a recurring event

The island’s fly-in tradition predates its current name. Civic Association “Dawn Patrol” gatherings in 1958 and 1959 already drew hundreds of private pilots and were run largely as tourism promotion, with committees for registration, breakfast, fishing, and even a designated “night watch.” The event lapsed at some point before 1974, when the Beacon described that October’s gathering – about 100 pilots and 450 visitors – as the first Fly-In since 1959. Attendance then grew for several years: 210 planes in 1975, 150 in 1976, and by October 1983, under the sponsorship of the Volunteer Fire Department, more than 250 planes and 636 whitefish dinners. Pilots’ groups made the island a repeat destination on their own initiative outside the main event: the Quiet Birdmen, a fraternal pilots’ society, held their fourth annual Beaver Island outing in August 1989 with fifteen members arriving in five aircraft from the Grand Rapids Hangar. By 1990 the Fly-In, still Fire Department-sponsored, had settled to a smaller scale – 57 planes and about 300 people at the dinner in cold, windy weather – and in 1991 it was canceled outright for lack of sponsorship, though the Beacon still invited pilots to visit independently. No source located for this survey documents whether the Fly-In resumed after 1991.

Crashes and their consequences

Aviation accidents recur through this record, most of them involving the water crossing rather than the runway itself. In November 1967 a twin-engine Beechcraft crashed about a mile east of the airport; pilot Paul Eddy survived with minor lacerations after volunteers and a circling search plane found him standing on the wing. On the evening of April 19, 1985, an aircraft approaching from Holland, Michigan crashed into trees south of the airport, killing all seven people aboard; the FAA and the aircraft’s manufacturer investigated, and the Beacon reported the cause as not established. Sheriff George T. Lasater later commended the volunteer Fire Department’s response. Two further fatal accidents occurred over open water rather than near the field: on April 20, 1990, Paul and Mary Ann Eddy, who kept ties to the island, died when their plane went down in Lake Michigan between Charlevoix and Beaver Island – no source read for this survey establishes whether this Paul Eddy is the same person who survived the 1967 crash. On July 18, 1992, a plane carrying four people bound for the island went down in Lake Michigan; after unsuccessful searches, an Emmet County probate court issued orders that November declaring pilot Tom Lammon, Peggy Sue Lammon, and Raymond and Catherine Sears dead. None of these accidents’ causes is established by any source read for this survey beyond what is stated above.

The forum also preserves a small contemporary customer-service trace: in February 2026, a participant asked whether Island Airways hats and shirts could be purchased and shipped off-island, and another participant referred them to the company’s Charlevoix number. This shows interest in branded merchandise and a referral path, but does not establish that merchandise was available, its price, or a completed sale.1

Evidence and limits

This survey rests primarily on Beaver Beacon and Charlevoix-newspaper notices, spanning 1923 to 1992, plus two items reached through the airport and Airport Commission hub articles for 2025-26 governance and one 2026 forum customer inquiry. It does not draw on FAA or NTSB accident records, aircraft registries, or corporate filings for any of the carriers named; several open aircraft-identity questions in the underlying hub articles (registration numbers, the “de Havilland Beaver” versus “U-6A” naming of the 1974 emergency aircraft, an unreliable 1977 photo caption naming a different aircraft entirely) are flagged there and are not resolved or repeated here. The forum item is resident-generated and is treated as a lead about customer interest, not as evidence equivalent to a company notice or official record. This survey does not restate the airport’s ownership and construction history, the emergency aircraft’s full flight record, or the post-1986 professionalization of island EMS; those belong to Beaver Island Airport, The Beaver, and Public service and emergency response respectively.

Open questions

  • Was a winter mail contract ever awarded to the 1926 Beaver Island Air Service, and what became of the company?
  • Did the Beaver Island Flying Club continue past its January 1971 formation, and did any member go on to hold a pilot’s license?
  • Did the annual Fly-In resume after its 1991 cancellation, and under what sponsorship?
  • Is the Paul Eddy who survived the November 1967 crash the same person who died with Mary Ann Eddy in April 1990?
  • What caused the 1985, 1990, and 1992 fatal accidents, and do FAA or NTSB records survive to establish cause independently of newspaper reporting?
  • Was Red Rowley’s disputed 1989 Athens overflight charge ever resolved?

Summary

Beaver Island’s air service began, like much of its communication with the mainland, as an emergency improvisation rather than a plan: an Army plane crossed the ice for an injured logger in February 1923, and a disabled relief aircraft sat on South Fox Island for over a month that June after flying supplies to lumbermen. Winter air mail followed by 1926 and was under contract by 1932, filling the gap each year after Lake Michigan closed to the ferry. A dedicated landing field is attested from the early 1930s and was a developed civilian airport by 1951, hosting large private-pilot “Dawn Patrol” gatherings before it had a paved runway. Commercial service passed through a changing set of small operators – the 1926 Beaver Island Air Service, then Welke Aviation from 1975, which merged with McPhillips Flying Service into Island Airways over the 1982-83 New Year and returned to full Welke family ownership in 1989 – carrying freight, charter passengers, sightseeing tours, and, on at least one occasion, a private charter arranged for a medical evacuation. A separate, publicly owned system grew alongside the commercial carriers after 1974, when the townships bought a surplus aircraft, restricted by written rule to no-fee medical flights, after Coast Guard helicopter evacuations had become too frequent to sustain; that program matured over the following decade into a licensed ambulance service. Private flying had its own youth institution in the 1971 Flying Club and its own visiting fraternity in groups like the Quiet Birdmen, while the annual Fly-In grew from about 100 planes in 1974 to over 250 in 1983 before shrinking and, in 1991, lapsing for want of a sponsor. The same water crossing that made air service necessary also produced its worst outcomes: a fatal approach crash in 1985 and two further fatal accidents over open water, in 1990 and 1992, neither of which any source read here explains.

See also

Footnotes

  1. 06Kukri.Ghurka and Marie Laf, “Island airways merchandise,” Beaver Island Forum, February 17–March 7, 2026, topic 18680. ↩

Sources

  1. A participant sought a ride for Lois Sowa Stipp to Detroit or Grand Rapids after a prior arrangement failed. This documents informal travel coordination, not a completed journey or scheduled service.
    forum · www.beaverislandforum.com · 00 · t000462
  2. A participant first sought a traveler to carry a wedding dress, then reported that a charter flight made the delivery possible; a later thank-you said it arrived in Grand Rapids in time for the wedding. This is a participant-reported one-off arrangement, not evidence of scheduled service or a general charter route.
    forum · www.beaverislandforum.com · 00 · t000704
  3. A participant explored informal accompaniment for a child traveling from the Chicago area to Beaver Island, including a possible flight through Traverse City. It documents a travel-planning request and possible routing, not a completed itinerary or an airline service record.
    forum · www.beaverislandforum.com · 00 · t000797
  4. A participant relayed Irish Echo advertising for low-fare flights from JFK to Ireland West Knock Airport. This is an external travel advertisement, not Beaver Island air service or independently verified fare evidence.
    forum · www.beaverislandforum.com · 00 · t000918
  5. A participant offered five seats on a planned charter from Beaver Island to Traverse City and proposed sharing the $300 cost. This documents informal charter cost-sharing, not scheduled service or a completed flight.
    forum · www.beaverislandforum.com · 00 · t000926
  6. A first-party Fresh Air Aviation notice advertised Advantage Travel Program offers and directed readers to the company site. It documents a contemporaneous commercial promotion, not the terms or continued availability of the offers.
    forum · www.beaverislandforum.com · 00 · t000960
  7. A first-party Fresh Air Aviation notice advertised winter car care, Charlevoix hotel booking, wireless internet, and fleece sales; replies clarified that the company did not itself offer island car rentals but could arrange them. This documents a contemporaneous commercial offer and clarification, not proof of every service's continued availability.
    forum · www.beaverislandforum.com · 01 · t001021
  8. The forum relayed a planned Shamrock Express route from Lansing to Shannon. It is a travel-marketing notice, not an airport schedule or proof the service operated.
    forum · www.beaverislandforum.com · 01 · t001062
  9. A traveler offered to share the cost of a June 30 charter flight from Traverse City to Emerald Isle. This is an informal travel-coordination notice, not a scheduled-service or passenger record.
    forum · www.beaverislandforum.com · 13 · t013180
  10. A forum participant asked whether Island Airways hats and shirts could be purchased and shipped south; a reply directed the participant to the company's Charlevoix telephone number. This documents a customer inquiry and a referral, not confirmed merchandise inventory, price, sale, or shipping arrangement.
    forum · www.beaverislandforum.com · 18 · t018680
  11. Charlevoix County Herald, February 9, 1923, "Army Plane Comes North."
    Described in this archive: Army Plane Medical Flight to Beaver Island.
    Project article record. Reports an Army plane from Selfridge Field, flown via Charlevoix, that crossed the ice to carry a physician to an injured logger on Beaver Island in early February 1923; the aircraft landed on the ice, not at a field. No public copy of this file is known; the archive holds one and can provide it on request.
    charlevoix · Charlevoix_County_Herald_1923-02-09
  12. Described in this archive: Aviation relief expedition to South Fox lumbermen, 1923.
    Project article record. Reports a disabled biplane that had landed on South Fox Island more than a month earlier during a relief expedition to lumbermen described as starving; the crew repaired it and departed for Chicago. Read directly as part of this survey; the crash-prone South Fox landing field and the plane's type are exactly as reported, not verified independently.
    charlevoix · issues · Charlevoix_County_Herald_1923-06-08 · Charlevoix_County_Herald_1923-06-08_djvu
  13. Charlevoix County Herald, May 21, 1926, "State News in Brief."
    Described in this archive: Beaver Island Air Service.
    Project article record. Reports the Beaver Island Air Service had acquired a twelve-passenger seaplane, already owned two other aircraft, and hoped for a Post Office Department winter-mail contract. No public copy of this file is known; the archive holds one and can provide it on request.
    charlevoix · Charlevoix_County_Herald_1926-05-21
  14. Charlevoix Sentinel, December 15, 1932, "Mail Service to Beaver Island Let to Schneider."
    Described in this archive: Winter air-mail contract to St. James is awarded to Karl R. Schneider, 1932.
    Project article record. Karl (also printed Harl) R. Schneider of Detroit was awarded the 1932-33 winter air-mail contract, the lowest of eight bidders, at $48 a week. No public copy of this file is known; the archive holds one and can provide it on request.
    charlevoix · charlevoixsenti0501unse_0
  15. Charlevoix Sentinel, February 9, 1933, "Pilot Schneider Shows His Skill in Landing Wednesday."
    Described in this archive: Pilot Schneider lands safely after losing a tire on take-off from Beaver Island, 1933.
    Project article record. Schneider lost a tire casing taking off from Beaver Island and made an emergency landing at the Charlevoix airport without injury -- the earliest held reference to a landing field on the island rather than harbor ice. No public copy of this file is known; the archive holds one and can provide it on request.
    charlevoix · charlevoixsenti0501unse_0
  16. Charlevoix County Herald, June 8, 1951, "Beaver Island Airport Being Improved To Modernize It."
    Described in this archive: Beaver Island Airport Improvements Reported in 1951.
    Project article record. Describes two runways of 3,500 and 2,500 feet, resodded strips, cleared approaches, a wind-indicator tower, telephone service, and scheduled and private-plane service to Charlevoix. No public copy of this file is known; the archive holds one and can provide it on request.
    charlevoix · Charlevoix_County_Herald_1951-06-08
  17. Described in this archive: Beaver Island holds its 1958 Dawn Patrol, 1958.
    Project article record. The second annual Dawn Patrol, October 5, 1958, registered 329 planes and served 798 meals to roughly 900 guests. The holding institution's portal restricts automated access; the archive holds a copy of this issue and can provide it on request.
    data1 · beaver-island-archive · beaver_beacon · 1958-10_Beaver-Beacon
  18. Described in this archive: Beaver Island announces its October 1959 Dawn Patrol, 1959.
    Project article record. The October 4, 1959 Dawn Patrol logged 155 planes by noon and served 488 breakfasts. The holding institution's portal restricts automated access; the archive holds a copy of this issue and can provide it on request.
    data1 · beaver-island-archive · beaver_beacon · 1959-10_Beaver-Beacon
  19. Described in this archive: B. I. UNICO begins radio weather service for Beaver Island aircraft, 1958.
    Project article record. B. I. UNICO began serving aircraft traffic to the island, with pilots able to call 123.3 for island weather conditions. The holding institution's portal restricts automated access; the archive holds a copy of this issue and can provide it on request.
    data1 · beaver-island-archive · beaver_beacon · 1958-07_Beaver-Beacon
  20. Described in this archive: Bread is airlifted to cattle keepers on Hog Island, 1957.
    Project article record. Clint Pasineau dropped bread by air to Charlie Martin and his son, tending cattle on Hog Island after reaching it across the ice. The holding institution's portal restricts automated access; the archive holds a copy of this issue and can provide it on request.
    data1 · beaver-island-archive · beaver_beacon · 1957-03_Beaver-Beacon
  21. Described in this archive: Formation and first flights of the Beaver Island Flying Club, 1971.
    Project article record. A fifteen-member teenage flying club began meeting weekly at the school under licensed flying instructor Bill Welke; some members flew in his plane the weekend of January 16, 1971.
    data1 · beaver-island-archive · beaver_beacon · 1971-01_Beaver-Beacon
  22. Described in this archive: Beaver Island Fly-In, 1974.
    Project article record. About 100 pilots and 450 visitors attended the first Fly-In since 1959, held October 22, 1974, organized by Dr. John Ludwig, Bob Adams, and airport manager Robert Gillespie.
    data1 · beaver-island-archive · beaver_beacon · 1974-11_Beaver-Beacon
  23. Described in this archive: Plans for Beaver Island twin-engine air service, 1975.
    Project article record. Paul Welke sought office space at the Charlevoix Municipal Airport for a preliminary corporation proposing twin-engine freight and passenger service to Beaver Island. The holding institution's portal restricts automated access; the archive holds a copy of this issue and can provide it on request.
    data1 · beaver-island-archive · beaver_beacon · 1975-01_Beaver-Beacon
  24. Described in this archive: Welke Aviation begins FAA-certified air-taxi and charter operation, 1975.
    Project article record. Welke Aviation, Inc. received an FAA Air Taxi/Commercial Operator certificate; chief pilot William Welke and second pilot Paul Welke would fly an Apache twin-engine aircraft carrying four passengers plus pilot, based at Welke Airport, for charter passenger and freight service. The holding institution's portal restricts automated access; the archive holds a copy of this issue and can provide it on request.
    data1 · beaver-island-archive · beaver_beacon · 1975-05_Beaver-Beacon
  25. Described in this archive: Beaver Island Fly-In held October 5, 1975.
    Project article record. 210 planes were logged at the October 5, 1975 Fly-In, sponsored by the Civic Association. The holding institution's portal restricts automated access; the archive holds a copy of this issue and can provide it on request.
    data1 · beaver-island-archive · beaver_beacon · 1975-10_Beaver-Beacon
  26. Described in this archive: Third annual Beaver Island Fly-In held, 1976.
    Project article record. 150 planes and about 500 whitefish dinners were recorded at the October 3, 1976 Fly-In; two minor accidents caused no serious injury. The holding institution's portal restricts automated access; the archive holds a copy of this issue and can provide it on request.
    data1 · beaver-island-archive · beaver_beacon · 1976-10_Beaver-Beacon
  27. Described in this archive: First medical evacuation by Beaver Island emergency aircraft, 1974.
    Project article record. Pilots Jim Janda and William Wilke flew Mrs. John (Lillian) Gallagher off the island on June 18, 1974, for a severe nasal hemorrhage, the aircraft's first documented flight.
    data1 · beaver-island-archive · beaver_beacon · 1974-05_Beaver-Beacon
  28. Described in this archive: Second medical evacuation by Beaver Island emergency aircraft, 1974.
    Project article record. The same pilots flew the Rev. Chester Meengs to the mainland on June 24, 1974, after a stroke.
    data1 · beaver-island-archive · beaver_beacon · 1974-05_Beaver-Beacon
  29. Described in this archive: Alex Siudara thanks island rescuers after a skiing fracture, 1981.
    Project article record. Thanks named islanders and Dr. Christie for arranging a Welke Aviation charter flight to Harbor Springs after a skiing hip fracture, with onward ambulance transport to Little Traverse Hospital. The holding institution's portal restricts automated access; the archive holds a copy of this issue and can provide it on request.
    data1 · beaver-island-archive · beaver_beacon · 1981-03_Beaver-Beacon
  30. Described in this archive: McPhillips Flying Service and Welke Aviation announce Island Airways merger, 1982.
    Project article record. McPhillips Flying Service and Welke Aviation merged as of January 1, 1983 into Island Airways, combining aircraft and personnel, continuing year-round service through Charlevoix Airport, and using both Beaver Island and Welke's airports. The holding institution's portal restricts automated access; the archive holds a copy of this issue and can provide it on request.
    data1 · beaver-island-archive · beaver_beacon · 1982-12_Beaver-Beacon
  31. Described in this archive: A Cessna Citation jet lands at Beaver Island Township Airport, 1983.
    Project article record. A Cessna Citation I business jet carrying four passengers landed at the Township Airport on July 9, 1983; pilot Edward Borowy said he was surprised to find a paved runway. The holding institution's portal restricts automated access; the archive holds a copy of this issue and can provide it on request.
    data1 · beaver-island-archive · beaver_beacon · 1983-08_Beaver-Beacon
  32. Described in this archive: Beaver Island Fire Department hosts its 1983 Fly-In.
    Project article record. The Fire Department's October 9, 1983 Fly-In drew over 250 planes and served 636 whitefish dinners. The holding institution's portal restricts automated access; the archive holds a copy of this issue and can provide it on request.
    data1 · beaver-island-archive · beaver_beacon · 1983-11_Beaver-Beacon
  33. Described in this archive: Beaver Island aircraft crash kills seven near the township airport, 1985.
    Project article record. An aircraft approaching from Holland, Michigan crashed into trees south of the Township airport on the evening of April 19, 1985, killing all seven aboard; the FAA and the manufacturer investigated, and the newspaper reported the cause as not yet known. Sheriff George T. Lasater commended the volunteer Fire Department's response. The holding institution's portal restricts automated access; the archive holds a copy of this issue and can provide it on request.
    data1 · beaver-island-archive · beaver_beacon · 1985-05_Beaver-Beacon
  34. Described in this archive: Welke family completes Island Airways purchase, 1989.
    Project article record. Bill and Betty Welke and Paul and Ellen Welke completed the purchase of Eric Hodgson's remaining half of Island Airways. The holding institution's portal restricts automated access; the archive holds a copy of this issue and can provide it on request.
    data1 · beaver-island-archive · beaver_beacon · 1989-01_Beaver-Beacon
  35. Described in this archive: Island Airways provides July 4 air tours for a Chamber fundraiser, 1989.
    Project article record. Island Airways flew July 4, 1989 air tours over the harbor and surrounding islands, donating proceeds to the Chamber of Commerce. The holding institution's portal restricts automated access; the archive holds a copy of this issue and can provide it on request.
    data1 · beaver-island-archive · beaver_beacon · 1989-08_Beaver-Beacon
  36. Described in this archive: Quiet Birdmen gather for their fourth Beaver Island outing, 1989.
    Project article record. Fifteen members and guests of the Quiet Birdmen pilots' society, Grand Rapids Hangar, arrived in five aircraft for their fourth annual Beaver Island outing. The holding institution's portal restricts automated access; the archive holds a copy of this issue and can provide it on request.
    data1 · beaver-island-archive · beaver_beacon · 1989-09_Beaver-Beacon
  37. Described in this archive: Red Rowley questions an Athens overflight charge attributed to his aircraft call sign, 1989.
    Project article record. Red Rowley disputed a reported Greek overflight charge that used his aircraft call sign but described a Boeing 707; confidence contested, per the source article, since the notice is preserved as a disputed correspondence, not an aviation-authority determination. The holding institution's portal restricts automated access; the archive holds a copy of this issue and can provide it on request.
    data1 · beaver-island-archive · beaver_beacon · 1989-05_Beaver-Beacon
  38. Described in this archive: Beaver Island Volunteer Fire Department’s 1990 Fly-In.
    Project article record. The Volunteer Fire Department's October 7, 1990 Fly-In hosted 57 planes and about 300 people at the whitefish dinner, in cold, windy weather. The holding institution's portal restricts automated access; the archive holds a copy of this issue and can provide it on request.
    data1 · beaver-island-archive · beaver_beacon · 1990-10_Beaver-Beacon
  39. Described in this archive: Beaver Island Fly-In canceled for 1991.
    Project article record. The annual Fly-In did not occur in 1991 for lack of sponsorship, though pilots and families were still invited to visit independently. The holding institution's portal restricts automated access; the archive holds a copy of this issue and can provide it on request.
    data1 · beaver-island-archive · beaver_beacon · 1991-09_Beaver-Beacon
  40. Described in this archive: Paul Eddy survives a twin-engine plane crash near Beaver Island airport, 1967.
    Project article record. A twin-engine Beechcraft crashed about a mile east of the airport around 10 p.m. on November 5, 1967; pilot Paul Eddy survived with minor lacerations after volunteers and a circling search plane responded.
    data1 · beaver-island-archive · beaver_beacon · 1967-11_Beaver-Beacon
  41. Described in this archive: Paul and Mary Ann Eddy die in Lake Michigan airplane accident, 1990.
    Project article record. Paul and Mary Ann Eddy, who maintained ties to Beaver Island, died in an airplane accident in Lake Michigan between Charlevoix and Beaver Island on April 20, 1990; Mary Ann's body was recovered, Paul remained missing and presumed dead. No source read for this survey establishes whether this Paul Eddy is the same person who survived the 1967 crash near the airport. The holding institution's portal restricts automated access; the archive holds a copy of this issue and can provide it on request.
    data1 · beaver-island-archive · beaver_beacon · 1990-05_Beaver-Beacon
  42. Described in this archive: Emmet County court declares four 1992 Beaver Island plane-crash victims dead, 1992.
    Project article record. Emmet County Probate Court issued death orders in November 1992 for four people lost in a July 18, 1992 Lake Michigan plane crash while traveling toward Beaver Island, after unsuccessful searches. The holding institution's portal restricts automated access; the archive holds a copy of this issue and can provide it on request.
    data1 · beaver-island-archive · beaver_beacon · 1992-12_Beaver-Beacon
  43. Described in this archive: Beaver Island Airport.
    Read via the hub article. A $27,000 township bond issue and a state loan funded a $160,000 paved runway, apron, and taxiway project, replacing two turf runways of about 3,000 and 2,700 feet; the freighter Joseph S. Young delivered 8,500 tons of crushed limestone for the work in August 1976. The holding institution's portal restricts automated access; the archive holds a copy of this issue and can provide it on request.
    data1 · beaver-island-archive · beaver_beacon · 1976-05_Beaver-Beacon
  44. Described in this archive: Beaver Island Airport Commission.
    Read via the hub article. St. James and Peaine Townships formed the Airport Commission under an interlocal agreement authorized by MCL 259.134 and share operating costs equally; the resolution approves a $100,000 state loan for runway and lighting rehabilitation.
    governance · township_meetings · peaine-board · 01-20-2026-board-of-trustees-regular-meeting-minutes-approved-6aba87bf7c
  45. A promotional post described a Chicago–Pellston air connection and onward Fresh Air Aviation service to Beaver Island, including an approximate per-person cost. It documents an advertised travel option, not a verified schedule or fare.
    forum · www.beaverislandforum.com · 04 · t004643
  46. A participant’s first-person reminiscence described arriving by air in 1980 and seeing the island’s runway from an aircraft. It is personal recollection, useful for lived aviation history but not an operational record.
    forum · www.beaverislandforum.com · 04 · t004583
  47. A first-party notice advertised $25 Fresh Air Aviation seats on selected December dates. It documents a period promotional fare, not a complete schedule or proof of ticket sales.
    forum · www.beaverislandforum.com · 04 · t004424
  48. A first-party notice advertised Island Airways holiday fares, ticket-book discounts, and child/dog pricing. It documents a period fare promotion, not an official timetable or completed bookings.
    forum · www.beaverislandforum.com · 04 · t004405
  49. A participant offered aviation headsets after no longer flying. It documents personal aviation equipment circulation, not an aviation business or pilot roster.
    forum · www.beaverislandforum.com · 04 · t004338
  50. A first-party notice advertised Island Airways Thanksgiving fares and a multi-ticket discount. It documents a period promotional offer, not a full timetable or completed sales.
    forum · www.beaverislandforum.com · 04 · t004313
  51. A notice linked Airport Commission news releases and funding explanations on BeaverIslandNews.com. The commission’s own releases are stronger for airport policy and finance; the forum documents their circulation and discussion.
    forum · www.beaverislandforum.com · 04 · t004308
  52. A participant described seeing Beaver Island from an aircraft during a clear fall weekend. It is a personal aerial observation, not a weather or flight log.
    forum · www.beaverislandforum.com · 04 · t004277
  53. A participant announced that a balloon ride was canceled because winds were too fast and described a later ride experience. It documents a stated weather-related activity decision and participant report, not an aviation log.
    forum · www.beaverislandforum.com · 04 · t004060
  54. Participants identified the Grande Mariner at the ferry dock; this is an observation, not a verified port or vessel record.
    forum · www.beaverislandforum.com · 04 · t004037
  55. A participant reported launching a pontoon boat at the St. James Marine ramp and losing shoes there. It documents a boating-use observation, not a launch-facility inventory.
    forum · www.beaverislandforum.com · 03 · t003980
  56. A race organizer sought an ATV to place mile markers for a September marathon. It documents event logistics, not the race’s final route or equipment.
    forum · www.beaverislandforum.com · 03 · t003867
  57. A first-party notice advertised a $25 Fresh Air Aviation fare. It documents a period promotional fare, not a full schedule or ticket sales.
    forum · www.beaverislandforum.com · 03 · t003457
  58. A participant posted changing travel-departure information for a trip to Beaver Island. It documents informal travel coordination, not an official schedule.
    forum · www.beaverislandforum.com · 03 · t003434
  59. A participant reported a flight delay and sought to coordinate arrival information. It is a participant travel report, not an airline record.
    forum · www.beaverislandforum.com · 03 · t003431
  60. A participant sought transportation to the mainland. It documents informal travel demand, not a scheduled service.
    forum · www.beaverislandforum.com · 03 · t003305
  61. A first-party notice advertised Fresh Air Aviation fares. It documents a period promotional offer, not a complete schedule or ticket sales.
    forum · www.beaverislandforum.com · 03 · t003212
  62. A participant sought information about parking at Charlevoix Airport. It documents a travel-planning question, not airport policy or capacity.
    forum · www.beaverislandforum.com · 03 · t003159
  63. Fresh Air Aviation advertised $25 Beaver Island–Charlevoix seats during a stated November 13 window. This is a first-party promotional fare, not a complete schedule or proof of ticket sales.
    forum · www.beaverislandforum.com · 02 · t002023
  64. Fresh Air Aviation advertised $25 Labor Day weekend seats between Beaver Island and Charlevoix. This is a first-party promotional fare, not a full schedule or proof of ticket sales.
    forum · www.beaverislandforum.com · 01 · t001860
  65. Island Airways advertised a $40 one-way fare for the Labor Day holiday and first Beaver Island Marathon. This is a first-party promotion, not a complete fare schedule or ticket-sales record.
    forum · www.beaverislandforum.com · 01 · t001841
  66. A participant sought to share a returning charter to Traverse City and discussed overnight travel and multiple connections. This documents informal charter coordination and island travel constraints, not a completed flight, route schedule, or aviation safety record.
    forum · www.beaverislandforum.com · 01 · t001287

Added 4 August 2026. Recent changes

Cite this article

Beaver Island Archive, “Aviation and air service”, https://beaverislandarchive.org/themes/aviation-and-air-service/, accessed [date], citing Beaver Island Forum, "Lois needs a ride", October 2005, topic 462. (and 64 further sources listed on the page).

Last revised 2026-08-04. Fill in [date] with the date you read it — this page is static and cannot know that.

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