Introduction: The records described in this aid relate to the agencies facilitating the development of air transportation in Michigan and regulation of various aspects of aviation to ensure maximum safety. Present-day administrative agencies trace their history to the Board of Aeronautics, created by the Legislature in 1929. The Michigan Aeronautics Commission and the Michigan Department of Aeronautics were established in 1945. Both were transferred to the Department of Commerce by the Executive Organization Act of 1965. Further change occurred in 1973. Governor William Milliken, in addressing the problems of developing a balanced transportation system in the state, established the Michigan Department of State Highways and Transportation and transferred the Aeronautics Commission and the Department of Aeronautics to the new department (MDSHT). Decision-making powers, reporting relationships, and independence which had long been associated with the Michigan Aeronautics Commission, changed significantly. The full range of the Commission's authority was transferred to the Michigan Department of State Highways and Transportation by Executive Order 1973-1, with the Highway Commission delegating appropriate powers to the Aeronautics Commission. This order was amended to reserve certain powers for the Aeronautics Commission independent of the control and supervision of the MDSHT. The effect of the final transfer was the creation of two distinct lines of authority within the overall structure of MDSHT. The first line of authority ran from the Bureau of Aeronautics (acting as a line agency answerable to the Chief Deputy Director of the MDSHT), the Director, and ultimately the State Highway Commission. The Aeronautics Commission served in an advisory capacity. The second line ran from the Bureau of Aeronautics directly to the Aeronautics Commission and encompassed those responsibilities under the independent control of the Commission, e.g., registration and licensing. Maintaining a balance between the dual authorities and blending the aeronautics functions into the MDSHT created problems which continued in the 1980's. Minutes of the Aeronautics Commission. 1953-1969 (9 in.). Agendas, minutes and copies of supporting materials. Official signed copies, 1963-1976, are paged continuously, 1498-02599. Arranged chronologically. Minutes of the Capital Region Airport Authority. 1972-1973 (1 in.). Agendas and minutes of regular monthly meetings of the Authority created by Act 73, MPA 1970, relating to activities of the executive committee, finances, facilities and operations, reports of executive officers, special events, leases, insurance, restaurant concession, annexations of land, port development, and all business for which the Authority was responsible. Arranged chronologically. Minutes of the Executive Committee. 1970-1976 (2 in.). Agendas, minutes and copies of supporting statements, reports and memoranda relating to policy, Federal/State programs and priorities, task force recommendations, legislation, and objectives. Arranged chronologically. Minutes of Division Staff. 1971-1976 (3 in.). Minutes of regular monthly meetings of heads of divisions, i.e., engineering, operations, aviation services, the deputy director, assistant deputy director, and secretaries. Interbureau and departmental matters relate to procedures, travel, emergency employment fund, legislative bill analysis, other meetings, resolutions of recognition of individuals, budget and the like. Arranged chronologically. Minutes of the Bureau Staff. 1974-1975 (2 in.). Summaries of Bureau staff meetings in to the chief deputy director from the Michigan State Highways and Transportation Department are concerned mainly with highways on land. Reports of study design for airports, transfer of Bureau of Aeronautics billings for new computerized system, bid lettings, technical reports on airport system plan, program requests, and reductions in expenditures are examples of aeronautics-related subjects of concern to MDSHT. Arranged chronologically. Statements of objectives. 1965-1968 (1 folder (1 in.)). Memoranda to Division heads outlining objectives for accomplishment and report of progress for completion. Involves the Department of Aeronautics, Michigan Department of Commerce, and Aeronautics Commission. Arranged chronologically. Reports. 1966-1968 (1 folder, 1 in.). Monthly reports to the director of the Department of Commerce are based on narrative reports from each Division covering activities, i.e., pending litigation, airport development aid, programs, hazard control, zoning, field contracts, air safety, registration and licensing, aircraft inspection, flight service, electronic facilities, information services, and general administration. Arranged chronologically. Records relating to a management study proposal. 1975 (2 folders (2 in.)). Records of a study necessitated by the new constitution and the reorganization and transfer of various department and agencies of government. This resulted in various management and organizational problems involving the role of the Michigan Aeronautics Commission and its relationship to the Department of Michigan State Highways and Transportation and the public, and the relationship between the Michigan Aeronautics Commission and the Bureau of Aeronautics of the Department of Michigan State Highways and Transportation. Includes contracts, proposals, statements of cost, criteria for selection, study outlines, work plans, project control reports, organizational charts, and notes on presentations. Arranged alphabetically by subject. Records relating to reorganization. 1965-1968; 1970-1972 (5 in.). Interoffice memoranda, letters in and carbons of letters out, relating mainly to work of an advisory council appointed by the Governor to review the total Department of Commerce and charged to recommend reorganization and restructuring of the Department, with particular attention paid to Type I transfers, 1972. The creation of the Capital Region Airport Authority and demands of ever increasing aviation industry in Michigan supported the proposed reorganization of the Aeronautics Bureau in 1970. Arranged chronologically. Records relating to Interagency Transportation Council. 1969-1972 (5 in.). Calls to meetings, agendas, minutes, memoranda, letters in and copies of letters out, and legislative bills relate mainly to legislative review, advisory committee for inter-city passenger travel, and development of regional airport centers, freight, and energy. The Council created by Executive Order 1969-2 was composed of heads of the departments of Commerce, Natural Resources, and State Highways; Aeronautics and Public Service commissions; representatives of Bureau of the Budget; and director of policy and programs. The purpose was to coordinate transportation planning by state agencies and create a process for intermodal transportation planning. Arranged chronologically. Records relating to the controversy with Gross Telecasting, Inc. 1968-1975 (1 folder, 1 in.). Letters in, carbons of letters out, and news releases of editorials aired within news programming of WJIM-AM/FM-TV relating to the Capital Region Airport Authority, operaton of Capital City Airport, and the director of the Michigan Aeronautics Commission. The problem involved compliance with the Federal Communications Commission's fairness doctrine. Arranged chronologically. Records relating to the Gateway Jetport Committee. 1972 (1 folder (1 in.)). Minutes, informationals, statements, statistical summaries, and reports relate to efforts by a Flint-area group to promote a regional jetport, legislation to allow formation of regional airport authorities, and a report of feasibility of a regional jetport in southwestern Michigan. The committee as appointed by the Governor to study and develop a statewide airport system as an element of the National Airport Development Act. Arranged chronologically. Records of the National Association of State Aviation Officials. 1962-1971 (2 folders (2 in.)). Correspondence, reports of transactions, audits, comments on budget, and summary statements of receipts and disbursements created by the treasurer. The director of the Michigan Aeronautics Commission was treasurer. Arranged chronologically. Records relating to Air Commuter Committee. 1975-1977 (4 folders (2 in.)). Minutes, memoranda, progress reports, and releases to the news media relate to a study by the Bureau of Urban and Public Transportation and the Bureau of Aeronautics, Department of State Highways and Transportation, preliminary to establishment of third-level commuter airline service linking the peninsulas and areas not being served by airlines. The study was funded by the Upper Great Lakes Regional Commission. Arranged chronologically. Records relating to the Civil Aeronautics Board (Federal). 1965-1980 (4 folders (2 in.)). Mainly form petitions, applications, orders, complaints, and similar court documents relating to cases on docket for hearing before the Civil Aeronautics Board, Washington, D.C. Includes letters in, carbons of letters out, memoranda, and copy of telegrams. File codes are 21-4, 21-10, and 13-2. Arranged chronologically. Records relating to problems. 1971-1975 (1 folder (1 in.)). Letters in, carbons of letters out, and memoranda believed removed from office of the deputy director relating to proposed transfer of quonset building located at Capital City Airport from the jurisdiction of the 9622nd Air Reserve Squadron to the Lansing Group Squadron 15-2 of Civil Air Patrol, 1971; purchase, maintenance, use and charges for Mitsubishi MU-2F S/N226, N215MA, 1973-1974; and Grayling Area Airport, 1975. Arranged alphabetically by subject, then chronologically. Records relating to the S.M.A.L.L. Race. 1971-1977 (2 in.). Printed programs, rules and regulations, score sheets, applications for entry, letters in, carbons of letters out, and memoranda relating to annual race sponsored by the Michigan Chapter of the Ninety-Nines, Inc. The Commission supported the race by providing personnel available to ensure safe and efficient operation. Arranged chronologically. Records relating to legislation. 1965-1974 (1 ft., 2 in.). Drafts and printed copy of bills, acts and resolutions affecting all policy, legal code, activities, and administrative procedure of the Commission. Arranged chronologically. Rules and regulations, ca. 1965-1976 (1 folder (1 in.)). General rules governing the Commission when it functioned under different departments and for Capital City Airport, 1965. Includes traffic code for Capital City Airport, c1970. Arranged alphabetically by subject, then chronologically. Carbon copies of letters out from District Airport Engineer, Civil Aeronautics Board (Federal). 1951-1963 (1 ft., 3 in.). Subjects include air traffic control, grant agreements, airport development contracts, air and ground safety, Michigan's cost share, property allocations, land acquisition, and like activities subject to Federal approval. Title of agency varies. Arranged chronologically. Audio tape recordings, 7 1/2 ips. 1953, 1956 (15 items (5 in.)). Magnetic tape recordings (13 reels) of "Sky Trails", a series commemorating the 50th anniversary of powered flight prepared by Fred Waite. Segments aired on radio related to Wright's flight around New York; NC-4 crossing the Atlantic; modern airmail; Michigan State Police; Department of Conservation; air freight; Air Rescue Air Force; Air Rescue (Coast Guard); flying ranchers; air terminal; mail freight; flight stewardesses; and flight crews. Includes proceedings of the Michigan Air Service Committee (2 reels) relating to Tri-City Airport, Saginaw, Midland, and Bay City, and Great Lakes Service case, December 11, 1956. Arranged in sequence spoken. Clippings, ca. 1965-1970 (2 ft.). Clippings from newspapers relating to aviation provided by the Michigan Press Clipping Bureau service. Pasted on bond paper, they relate to activities, aircraft, airlines, airmen and women, aviation education, federal aviation, Michigan Department of Aeronautics, and trends. Clippings pertaining to airports are filed at the end of these subjects by name and city where located, then chronologically. Arranged by subject, then chronologically. Records relating to conferences, clinics and seminars. 1944-1970 (1 ft.). Memoranda, reports by attendees, statements and copies of papers read, and printed informationals relating to selected conferences, clinics, and seminars sponsored by the Michigan Aeronautics Commission, Federal Aviation Authority and aviation related associations. Includes House legislative Committee on Michigan Aviation, Michigan Flying Council, World Congress of Flight, National Noise Abatement Council, National Pilots Association, National Aviation System Plan, parachute clubs, Paul Bunyan Clan gathering, Professional Aviation Instructors Association, and World Soaring championships. Arranged alphabetically by title, then chronologically.
