Island Airways is a small passenger airline based in Charlevoix, Michigan. It provides services to Welke Airport and Charlevoix Municipal Airport.[1]
History
The airline began in 1945 as McPhillips Flying Service. In 1975, Welke Aviation was started in competition with McPhillips. The two companies merged in 1983, and Paul Welke bought out his partners in 1989.[2] In 2001, Welke was instrumental in the location and rescue of a family that had been on a charter flight that crashed on approach to Beaver Island.[3] In 2013, the Michigan Aeronautics Commission gave Welke an award in recognition of Island Air's long history of service.[4]
Fleet
Destinations
- Welke Airport (Beaver Island, Michigan)
- Charlevoix Municipal Airport
References
- ^ "Island Airways". Island Airways. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
- ^ Rich Warren, "Island Hopping: When Navigating The Great Lakes, Air Taxis Are The Only Way To Fly", Chicago Tribune, August 27, 2000.
- ^ Sara Burnett, Dave Mann, Tom O'Konowitz, "Cold, Tired, Wet ... but Amazingly Alive Rescuers Find Family 15 Hours after Plane Crashed on Island"[dead link], Daily Herald, February 10, 2001.
- ^ "Aeronautics Commission honors two northern Michigan aviators, National Cherry Festival Air Show Committee", Michigan Department of Transportation, September 13, 2013.
