Sawyer International Airport, County of Marquette, receives Airport of the Year Award.
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) Office of Aeronautics has named the Sawyer International Airport in Marquette as Airport of the Year, in recognition of sustained excellence and contribution to aviation progress in the State of Michigan. Duane DuRay, Sawyer’s Airport Manager, was also presented a service award for outstanding contributions to airport development and aviation progress.
Recognized in particular, Airport Manager Duane DuRay is being commended for his generous assistance to the MDOT Office of Aeronautics in the Grant Closeout Improvement Process. In addition to overseeing the complex rehabilitation of Runway 1/19 at Sawyer International Airport, Duane provided significant valuable input to MDOT. As a result, the primary airports in the State, the FAA, and MDOT will all benefit from the more efficient and effective grant closeout process.
These awards were presented to Airport Manager, Duane DuRay at the Michigan Association of Airport Executives Winter Conference on February 21, 2019, by Michael Trout, Executive Administrator for Michigan Department of Transportation, Office of Aeronautics and Mark Noel, Planning and Development, Michigan Department of Transportation, Office of Aeronautics.
There are 234 airports across Michigan and only 18 commercial airports identified in MDOT air carrier data reporting with scheduled passenger enplanements.
Six of these airports are located in the Upper Peninsula (UP), with Sawyer International Airport the only airport in the UP not receiving Essential Air Service (EAS) funding for operations. These awards are based on accomplishments in the areas of community relations, airport management, airport maintenance activities, and innovative activities and programs implemented at airports. These awards are added to the Airport Manager of the Year Award presented to Duane DuRay earlier in September, 2018.
