‘Remember Meigs Field’

The destruction of this hugely popular Chicago airport has become a battle cry for general aviation airports.

Wednesday, March 30, 2022 at 01:23 PM ET

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Meigs Field was built shortly after World War II. [FLYING Archives]

Key Takeaways:

Merrill C. Meigs Field, a prominent general aviation airport near downtown Chicago, was controversially and abruptly closed on March 30, 2003, when Mayor Richard M. Daley ordered its runway destroyed overnight without warning, citing initially security concerns and later, avoiding litigation.
The sudden and illegal closure sparked widespread outrage from the aviation community and groups like AOPA and EAA, leading to efforts to reopen the airport and ultimately the passage of the "Meigs Legacy Provision" which significantly increased federal fines for illegal airport closures.
The destruction of Meigs Field has become a potent symbol and cautionary tale for general aviation, serving as a constant reminder of the vulnerability of local airports and a rallying cry for airport preservation advocates nationwide.

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Editor’s Note: This article is part of special series spotlighting runways: April 18: America’s Longest Runways | America’s Shortest Runways | April 19: 11 Fun Facts About Runways | April 20: Self-healing Concrete and How It Can Save Runways | April 21: FLYING Explained: How Do You Read Airport Markings and Signage | Runway History | April 22: Remembering Meigs Field

“Remember Meigs Field!”

Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.