Frankfort Dow Memorial Field
Frankfort Dow Memorial Field is a public-use airport located two nautical miles southeast of downtown Frankfort, Michigan, in Benzie County. It is owned by the Frankfort City-County Airport Authority. The airport has FAA LID FKS and ICAO KFKS, and it has no IATA designation (FKS is used for Fukushima, Japan).
Facilities and operations
- The field covers 168 acres and sits at 633 feet above mean sea level.
- Runway: one asphalt runway designated 15/33, measuring 4,050 by 75 feet.
- Hours: staffed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
- Fixed-base operator offers fuel, general maintenance, hangars, a conference room, a crew lounge, snooze rooms, and more.
Activity
- In the 12 months ending December 31, 2020, there were about 4,000 general aviation operations (about 77 per week).
- There were 19 aircraft based at the airport: 17 single-engine planes, 1 helicopter, and 1 glider.
History and development
- In 1937, Frankfort was recognized as a premier spot for glider flying, with national soaring meets held in the area and a flight school starting in the 1940s.
- In 2015, the airport’s license was downgraded to basic utility due to issues such as trees blocking runway approaches, missing or poor runway markings, a torn windsock, and snowplow damage near the end safety area. The license was upgraded back to general utility later that fall.
- In 2016, a 20-year airport layout plan was adopted to acquire nearby land to clear obstructions in approach paths.
- In recent years, there have been governance and fee-related complaints, including a 2017 filing with the Michigan Department of Transportation.
Access
- The airport is reachable by road from Airport Road and is near M-22 and M-115.
Website
- FrankfortDowField.com
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 09:02 (CET).