HOUGHTON — Ontonagon County Airport Manager Margot Anderson will ask the County Board for critical support next week.

Anderson needs the board’s share in funding an automated weather reporting station at the airport, a proposal the board’s been updated on for the past several months as part of the airport’s five-year improvement plan.

“This equipment will automatically measure and transmit weather data pertinent to pilots and airport users to aircraft, to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) database, and via recorded telephone message available to the public,” Anderson said, noting 10 airports in the U.P. have similar systems. “Weather reporting is a necessary piece of equipment in order for most commercial aircraft operators to use our airport. Commercial charter operators, for the most part, currently steer clear of our airport due to the lack of reported weather conditions at the airport.”

The FAA will grant about $150,000, provided the Michigan Department of Transportation and county match the funds, each at approximately $8,500. Additional maintenance costs would cost the county approximately $4,000 to $6,000 annually, but the airport will generate more revenue from the increased traffic.

“Currently pilots flying into Ontonagon rely on forecasts for the Ironwood and Houghton airports and use their best judgement to predict unique lakeside conditions,” Anderson explained. “This limited information is not sufficient for commercial and charter activities. The airport stakeholders feel the investment in an automated weather observing system is crucial for pilot safety and increasing corporate and private traffic. They’ve signed a letter of support addressed to the county board.”