Economic Impact of Westover Air Reserve Base/Metropolitan Airport(CEF)

Located in Chicopee, approximately 5 miles northwest of the City of Springfield, in Hampden County, Westover Air Reserve Base/Metropolitan Airport is a joint use military-civilian facility. With the military facility serving the United States Air Force Reserve Command’s 439th Airlift Wing and the civilian facility serving the general aviation needs of western Massachusetts. With its two intersecting runways, the longest of which is 11,598 feet by 301 feet wide, the airport can accommodate a full range of general aviation, commercial, and military aircraft. The airport’s facilities and Fixed Based Aircraft services are ideal for accommodating the aviation needs of based aircraft and transient users, while the air traffic control tower further enhances airport safety and efficiency. With a strategic aircraft location between Boston, Albany, Hartford and New York City, Westover Air Reserve Base/Metropolitan Airport is one of the premier industrial airports in the Northeast. While the airport experiences a significant amount of recreational flying and military operations, a considerable portion of the airport’s general aviation traffic is related to corporate business aircraft, gambling charters to Atlantic City, sports team charters, and the Massachusetts State Police Wing operations. During the annual United Nations General Assembly, the airport has accommodated Air Force One and large jets used by diplomats. The annual economic impact of Westover Air Reserve Base/Metropolitan Airport is associated with direct impacts that come from operations at the airport, construction projects that are undertaken at the airport, and spending from visitors who arrive in the area via general aviation aircraft. Also included are the economic impacts associated with the United States Air Force Reserve Command’s 439th Airlift Wing.

Economic Impact Types

Direct Impacts include both on-airport and visitor impacts. On-airport impacts are those benefits associated with on-airport businesses, government tenants, military aviation, and capital construction projects. Visit impacts generally take place off-airport and are attributable to visitor spending.

Multiplier Impacts consist of indirect and induced impacts. Indirect impacts are related to the recirculation of monies spent locally by on-airport businesses. Induced impacts are those impacts resulting from the recirculation of employee payroll within the economy.

Total Economic Impacts are the combination of all direct and multiplier impacts.

Additional Information

The following three documents provide additional information on the Economic Impact:

Brief Fact Sheet: Economic Impact of Westover Air Reserve Base/Metropolitan Airport(CEF)

Massachusetts Statewide Airport Economic Impact Study Update – Executive Summary

Massachusetts Statewide Airport Economic Impact Study Update – Technical Report