DETROIT – U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Detroit, Mich., opened its seasonal air facility in Muskegon, Mich., Friday, in order to provide increased search and rescue capabilities and faster response times throughout the Lake Michigan area.

The seasonal air facility located at Muskegon County Airport operates annually from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend.

Two crews and one MH-65C rescue helicopter from Air Station Detroit stand ready to provide search and rescue services 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“Air Facility Muskegon’s opening coincided with National Safe Boating Week, and the theme this year is ‘always wear your life jacket,’” said Cmdr. Michael Platt, commanding officer of Air Station Detroit. “This applies to both boaters and weak swimmers.”

Boaters are also encouraged to take a boating safety course and leave a float plan ashore. Swimmers should always swim near a lifeguard and never swim alone. A great resource to practice safe water activities is the boating safety resource center at http://www.uscgboating.org.

Air Station Detroit is a year-round Coast Guard facility that has a staff of 115 personnel and five MH-65C Dolphin rescue helicopters. Both Air Station Detroit and Air Facility Muskegon are maintained under the Ninth Coast Guard District to provide multi-mission capabilities in the Great Lakes region.