7E72004 From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 3586 posts, RR: 1 Posted (9 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 2762 times:
I know that AccessAir or ProAir served DET but i was wondering if DET is even still open. What airlines in the past have served that airport and does nyone think that any airlines will have service to that airport?
The next generation of aircraft is just around the corner!
Jeffrey1970 From United States of America, joined Apr 2001, 1335 posts, RR: 13 Reply 1, posted (9 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 2685 times:
Southwest used to serve DET until they moved to DTW.
Luv2fly From United States of America, joined May 2003, 11957 posts, RR: 51 Reply 2, posted (9 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 2659 times:
Correction WN started service at DTW and then added DET! DET Airport never was able to do the upgrades promised so WN left and concentrated all there efforts at DTW
7E72004 From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 3586 posts, RR: 1 Reply 3, posted (9 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 2654 times:
how bad of shape was DET in?
The next generation of aircraft is just around the corner!
Luv2fly From United States of America, joined May 2003, 11957 posts, RR: 51 Reply 4, posted (9 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 2641 times:
It is a small terminal in a residential area, also an area that is not the nicest to be in after dark, or really anytime for that matter. Growth of the airport is only going to happen if they buy out houses and also move a cemetery! Right now they can not extend the runway because of this reason. Hope this helps.
7E72004 From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 3586 posts, RR: 1 Reply 5, posted (9 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 2625 times:
I see what you are saying. The only problem is i doubt that DET will get expanded or upgraded considering everything is going toward DTW. I think it would be nice to have DET upgraded...more LCCs could come in and drive fares lower...or at least hopefully lower
The next generation of aircraft is just around the corner!
Neilalp From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 1034 posts, RR: 1 Reply 6, posted (9 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 2604 times:
Well I am not against the expanding of DET, but I am against the moving of the cemetery. I have many family memebers at rest there and would hate for them to be relocated.
Luv2fly From United States of America, joined May 2003, 11957 posts, RR: 51 Reply 7, posted (9 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 2599 times:
I honestly do not see anything happening with the airport myself. The negatives out weigh the positives and until that changes nothing at the DET airport will.
7E72004 From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 3586 posts, RR: 1 Reply 8, posted (9 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 2598 times:
It seems like that they are in a similar situation as MDW. The only way to expand MDW to have more runways would be to demolish many city blocks
The next generation of aircraft is just around the corner!
Sushka From United States of America, joined Nov 1999, 4784 posts, RR: 16 Reply 9, posted (9 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 2579 times:
I went there last month. The terminal reminded me of the movie Langoliers There were a few GA airplanes flying there though and a Falcon 2000.
Luv2fly From United States of America, joined May 2003, 11957 posts, RR: 51 Reply 10, posted (9 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 2579 times:
Well yes and no, even if DET expanded it could never reach the size of MDW the land is just not there.
IndustrialPate From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 11, posted (9 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 16 hours ago) and read 2552 times:
Quite a few airlines have served DET. US Air Express flew DET-MDW with 19-seat turoboprop (Dornier 228?) after WN departed... I'm not sure how long the service lasted, though. Spirit wanted to fly DET-LGA (and later other key business communities) with DC-9-20. Most recently, DL proposed DET-CVG with CRJ last year, provided they got a subsidy.
Correction WN started service at DTW and then added DET!
Now that you've mentioned it (here and elsewhere), I remember as well. I remember my dad carrying me around (now THAT illustrates how long ago this was ) the L.C. Smith Terminal. The airlines' were cramped for ticket counter space, so Southwest set-up shop in the dead-center of the check-in area... my dad use to buy me 'blue moon' ice cream from ice cream store that was near where the PGA shop is today... anyway, I'd eat the ice cream and watch the WN people cart the bags around, since there were no moving belts (since WN was set-up in the middle of the terminal).
Penguinflies From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 975 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (9 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 16 hours ago) and read 2517 times:
Is it me or is it funny they have pictures of their urinals on their website??
IndustrialPate From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 14, posted (9 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 16 hours ago) and read 2516 times:
Don't people in the neighborhood around the airport have a penchant for firing handguns at the airplanes?
My older brother lives five minutes from DET. I visited with him one weekend, and on the way back we stopped at a gas station one block from his house. It was late so naturally I was nervous, but he assured me the situation was safe. After he gassed up and got back into the car, I asked him what made him so sure... he told me 'because the place was robbed and the owner killed a couple days ago so why would they strike again?'
AIR757200 From United States of America, joined Jul 2000, 1579 posts, RR: 8 Reply 15, posted (9 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 16 hours ago) and read 2508 times:
Isitsafenow From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 4984 posts, RR: 26 Reply 16, posted (9 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 15 hours ago) and read 2453 times:
Hey PATE..you forgot the originals at DET..Tag and Wright flying to Cleveland
Burke Lakefront in the 60's and early 70's.
safe
If two people agree on EVERYTHING, then one isn't necessary.
Timz From United States of America, joined Sep 1999, 6466 posts, RR: 8 Reply 17, posted (9 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 14 hours ago) and read 2418 times:
Well, as for originals... wasn't DET the Detroit airport before WWII?
TxAgKuwait From United States of America, joined Aug 1999, 1803 posts, RR: 48 Reply 18, posted (9 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 2366 times:
I flew WN from OKC-MCI-MDW-DET back in '93 or '94...returning DET-STL-OKC.
It was very interesting to say the least.
I rented a car from hertz in the terminal. It was 11:20 pm at night when we got in. The rent car clerk pointed out the door towards an area with high, concertina wire fence and told me the cars were in there.
Her suggestion was to run and get in the car, and after leaving the fenced area to drive fast.....dont stop for stop signs or stop lights....until I got to I-94.
She assured me prior to me getting to I-94 that the police would not ticket me for running stops signs or speeding.
It was, in fact, close to where I was going (Warren MI) but in retrospect I think I would do DTW next time.
I'm not sure what I expected....something like Houston Hobby ot Dallas Love Field....something close to downtown but still an airport.
DET was like a runway and little terminal building just happened to spring up on the block. Weird.
Markus From United States of America, joined May 1999, 275 posts, RR: 0 Reply 19, posted (9 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 2280 times:
Don't forget that as recently as 1987 both BAS and Comair also operated the DET-BKL route...BAS with Cessnas and Comair with EMB-110s. Some of the BAS flights originated and/or ended in Youngstown (YNG).
Cheers,
Markus
Thestooges From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 20, posted (9 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 2238 times:
Industrial Pate-
completely off the topic, but I too grew up as kid in Detroit, and also indulged in "Blue Moon" ice cream. I have not heard that name for something like 20 years. Yet another of my long forgotten Detroit memories.
Jeffrey1970 From United States of America, joined Apr 2001, 1335 posts, RR: 13 Reply 21, posted (9 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 2233 times:
was this a nice airport when it was in full operation?
Ouboy79 From United States of America, joined Nov 2001, 3995 posts, RR: 23 Reply 22, posted (9 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 2223 times:
Going back to the USAir Express service that came to DET in the mid 90s...
From Metro for those that care...
BWI - 1 flight daily
CLT - 5 flights daily
DAY - 3 flights daily
PHL - 4 flights daily
PIT - 6 flights daily
The flights from DET were operated by Chautauqua using the Saab 340s...not sure if any Metros made it up there, but they did operate the TOL-IND (5 times a day) that were operated at the same time.
Any opinion/comment posted is that of my own and not that of Southwest Airlines Co.
Barney Captain From United States of America, joined Nov 2001, 749 posts, RR: 14 Reply 23, posted (9 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 2187 times:
Ah yes.......good ol' DET. Can't say I miss it; Captain only landing, nasty crosswinds on a snow covered runway only 75' wide, but hey, at least it was short!
A340Spotter From United States of America, joined Jul 2003, 1973 posts, RR: 26 Reply 24, posted (9 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 2148 times:
Since it's only been briefly mentioned, Pro Air (P9/PRH) hubbed here from July 4, 1997 to September 18, 2000 with 737-300s and 737-400s. As a founding member of this airline, I can say that we did our best to work with the city to make DET more appealing and safe, improved the roads greatly surrounding the airport, and helped get the terminal improved to what is seen today on their website. WN layed the groundwork for the terminal and P9 updated it.
Pro Air started by serving DET-BWI, then IND, EWR, and MKE. Flights on our 737-400s (8/138 seating) were full to MKE in less than a month after service started there, of course prompting a response from NW which ultimately led to MKE being the first city dropped! We eventually served PHL, ATL-MCO, LGA, MDW-SEA, and weekend non-stop charter flights to RSW and MCO.
A few things always hindered us at DET though. Runway length was an issue (5001' x 100'), but we worked with what we had (great pilots and dispatchers!). Getting the families to move the cemetary was something we would have loved to see (our CEO has family buried there too), but was unrealistic.
Another thing that worked against us was that we were dealing with the Detroit City government and investment fund. Every time we were "set" to get money released from this investment fund, the wheels of bureaucracy hit the brakes...It made operating P9 on a small budget and only getting a nibble instead of a feast...
I won't get into the FAA side of things as that's another thread for a different lifetime, but that is one reason that DET didn't have anything to do with.
All in all, for the 3 plus years that Pro Air operated at DET, we did our best to revitalize a part of Detroit that needed help, and I think that we did a good job in adding to the city's economy by serving this small, yet strategically located airport.
Jeffrey
"Irregardless, it's a Cat III airplane, we don't need an alternate!"
25 AZO: I loved flying ProAir out of DET. It was so much more convenient than driving all the way to DTW from Southeast Oakland. Of the probably 5 or 6 times
26 Beltwaybandit: I flew ProAir to DET once. Spirit was at one time trying to fly DC-9-21s from DET to LGA. It got hung up on the LGA side and never happened. I was tol
27 ElectraBob: Northwest Airlink flew from DET to BKL in the late '80s using Dornier 228's. At the same time, Delta Connection also flew from DET to BKL using Saab 3
28 Isitsafenow: ElectraBob The Tag crash was Jan of 70. The flight was the morning originator from Burke to DET. A wing came off in flight and the plane went straight
29 ElectraBob: Isitsafenow -- Thanks for the info on the TAG Airlines crash - I have searched all over for info on that crash and have not had much success. The NW A
30 HlywdCatft: US Airways Express did fly Metros out of DET around 1995, If I am not mistaken they were flying some of their newly delivered at the time D328 props t
31 ElectraBob: HlywdCatft - You very well may be correct on the Southwest BNA service from Detroit. I used to have quite a few old WN timetables, but I must have hea
32 N312RC: Someone asked if DET was the main Detroit airport before the DTW days. The answer to that question is No. The main airport for Detroit before DTW was
33 Zrb2: Interesting to hear about all the 737 service into DET in past years. The runway there seems about the same length and width as PDK in Atlanta. I coul
34 Flairport: My question is... is anyone operating out of the terminal at the moment...it seems strangly empty! Also, i saw a Hertz sign, do they have an agent the
35 Luv2fly: I stand corrected. Rather than trust my memory any further, I checked with schedule planning this morning, and we did indeed start DTW first (6-4-87)
36 Isitsafenow: ELECTRABOB I forgot about Fischer Brothers Aviation. I flew em DTW to FNT on a CASA. I also did the Simmons YS 11 MBS and LAN to ORD and a Simmons Ban
37 A340Spotter: Zrb2, Operating a 737-400 in and out of DET wasn't too bad, though in crosswinds it was a bit more demanding of skill. Generally speaking, the Captain
38 HlywdCatft: **Someone asked if DET was the main Detroit airport before the DTW days. The answer to that question is No. The main airport for Detroit before DTW wa
39 KarlB737: I can remember seeing at Willow Run in 1955 or 1956 Eastern 707's and Northwest Stratocruisers as passenger service was there until Metro was ready in
40 HlywdCatft: yeah Willow Run was the Detroit Airport post WWII until about 1957. For a while, both airports were operating as passenger before all pax service move
41 Dc8jet: The only airlines that operated from Ford Airport were those associated with Ford Motor Company, mainly Stout Airlines and Ford Air Transport Service.
42 Dc8jet: Almost forgot! At one time in the fifties North Centarl was flying DET-YIP with DC-3s.
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From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 3586 posts, 
There were a few GA airplanes flying there though and a Falcon 2000.
From , joined Dec 1969, posts, 
) the L.C. Smith Terminal. The airlines' were cramped for ticket counter space, so Southwest set-up shop in the dead-center of the check-in area... my dad use to buy me 'blue moon' ice cream from ice cream store that was near where the PGA shop is today... anyway, I'd eat the ice cream and watch the WN people cart the bags around, since there were no moving belts (since WN was set-up in the middle of the terminal).
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