Airports / Michigan / CIU
Chippewa County International Airport.
Kincheloe, Michigan · 800 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
4.4/5
Google rating
151 ratings
0
Operators based
800
Elevation ft
Google rating
Google reviews
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
15 nm
To the nearest alternate
Sault Ste Marie Airport (YAM), 2 fields within 50 nm.
Overview
Located in Kincheloe, Michigan, Chippewa County International Airport (KCIU / CIU) operates as a mid-sized airport. Field elevation is 800 feet above sea level. Scheduled carriers operate here, and the field also sees regular private and charter activity.
While no charter operators list CIU as their home base, the field is reachable for repositioned charter aircraft from nearby bases. The closest alternate fields are Sault Ste Marie Airport (YAM, 15 nm), Pellston Regional Airport of Emmet County Airport (PLN, 43 nm), and Elliot Lake Municipal Airport (YEL, 79 nm). The field has 2 runways, the longest 7,203-foot paved runway, long enough for charter aircraft up to VIP airliners.
Trip costs from CIU are driven by the aircraft category flown and how far it must reposition. You may also see the field referenced as Sault Sainte Marie and Sault Ste Marie. Browse operators flying from the area or estimate a trip cost from CIU to plan your flight.
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Field capability
ICAO
KCIU
IATA
CIU
FAA / Local
CIU
Elevation
800 ft
Coordinates
46.2420° N · 84.4621° W
Airspace
E · EchoClass E, EchoControlled airspace reaches the surface for instrument approaches, but there is no control tower on the field.Source: FAA NASR class airspace
Size
Medium
Scheduled svc
Yes
Elevation vs MI fields
state range 580–1,328 ft
At 800 ft, CIU sits higher than 65% of the 66 Michigan fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
2 runways
longest 7,203 ft
- 16/347,203 ft × 150 ftConcreteLighted
- 09/275,000 ft × 75 ftAsphaltLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 7,203 ft
CIU's 7,203 ft paved runway typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners.
- Turboprop3,000 ft
- Light Jet3,500 ft
- Midsize Jet4,500 ft
- Super-Midsize Jet5,000 ft
- Heavy Jet5,500 ft
- VIP Airliner6,000 ft
Class minimums are sea-level planning rules of thumb. A specific aircraft's balanced-field length varies with weight, temperature, and field elevation. Confirm performance with the operator.
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 15nmYAMSault Ste Marie AirportSault Ste Marie
- 43nmPLNPellston Regional Airport of Emmet County AirportPellston
- 79nmYELElliot Lake Municipal AirportElliot Lake
- 79nmAPNAlpena County Regional AirportAlpena
- 82nmYZEGore Bay Manitoulin AirportGore Bay
- 102nmTVCCherry Capital AirportTraverse City
Location
Open the full mapKCIU · Chippewa County International Airport · Kincheloe, MI
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from CIU on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago (ORD) | 296 nm | 1h 5m |
| Washington DC (IAD) | 536 nm | 1h 39m |
| New York (TEB) | 556 nm | 1h 42m |
| Boston (BED) | 608 nm | 1h 49m |
| Nashville (BNA) | 616 nm | 1h 50m |
| Denver (DEN) | 963 nm | 2h 38m |
| Dallas (DAL) | 985 nm | 2h 41m |
| Vail / Eagle (EGE) | 1,059 nm | 2h 52m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use CIU?
- Chippewa County International Airport's longest paved runway is 7,203 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners. Lighter classes (turboprops, light and midsize jets) operate comfortably; confirm exact performance for a specific tail with the operator, since balanced-field length shifts with weight, temperature, and elevation.
- What is the longest runway at CIU?
- Chippewa County International Airport has 2 runways; the longest measures 7,203 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- What is the nearest major airport to CIU?
- The closest alternate is Sault Ste Marie Airport (YAM), about 15 nm away, followed by Pellston Regional Airport of Emmet County Airport (PLN) at 43 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from CIU to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Chicago about 1h 5m (296 nm), Washington DC about 1h 39m (536 nm), New York about 1h 42m (556 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.