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Westover Metropolitan Airport

May 19, 2023

For the military airport use of this facility, see Westover Air Reserve Base.

Westover Metropolitan Airport (IATA: CEF, ICAO: KCEF, FAA LID: CEF) is a civilian airport located in the Massachusetts communities of Chicopee, Granby, and Ludlow, near the cities of Springfield and Holyoke, Massachusetts. The complex is considered intermodal because it borders the Massachusetts Turnpike and is accessible by several industrial rail spurs. It was named for General Oscar Westover, commanding officer of the Army Air Corps in the 1930s.

Westover Metropolitan Airport
Summary
Airport typeCivil
OwnerWestover Metropolitan Corporation
ServesSpringfield, Massachusetts
LocationChicopee, Massachusetts
Ludlow, Massachusetts
Granby, Massachusetts
Elevation AMSL241 ft / 73 m
Coordinates42°11′38″N 072°32′05″W / 42.19389°N 72.53472°W / 42.19389; -72.53472
Websitehttps://westoverairport.com/
Maps

FAA Airport Diagram
CEF
CEF
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
5/23 11,598 3,535 Asphalt
15/33 7,082 2,159 Asphalt
Statistics (2017)
Aircraft operations16,213
Based aircraft40

Joint use

The Westover complex is composed of the civilian airport and the Westover Air Reserve Base. The core aviation facilities at Westover are owned by the Department of Defense while 91 acres (370,000 m2) are under private ownership.

History

Westover Field was created by a war-readiness appropriation signed by president Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939. It became the largest military air facility in the Northeast during the course of World War II. The post-war Berlin Airlift was based in large part at Westover. It was renamed Westover Air Force Base after that agency's creation and became instrumental in waging the Cold War. The Eighth Air Force and its 99th Bombardment Wing were headquartered at Westover in order to provide range and support to nuclear bombers. As a former Strategic Air Command (SAC) B-52 and KC-135 base, this military center was one of the Soviet Union's top targets during the Cold War.[2] The SAC constructed a secret underground bunker several miles away in Hadley, Massachusetts to coordinate Westover's operations during a nuclear war. The command post was linked to the main base by buried cables and microwave antennae. The U-2 spy plane film that set off the Cuban Missile Crisis was developed at Westover. It was a base of operations for the Air Force in both the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Bombing and cargo missions in Vietnam were made directly from Westover. Eight fully armed nuclear bombers stood ready in Christmas tree formation to scramble if a conflict broke out with the Soviet Union.

In 1974, as the last Vietnam War veterans stepped onto Westover's tarmac, the base was turned over to the Air Force Reserve. The decision followed four years after the Eighth Air Force was moved from Westover by President Richard Nixon.

On May 30, 2007, Skybus Airlines announced it would begin once-daily flights to Columbus, OH utilizing 144-seat Airbus A319 jets.[3] On July 16, 2007, the first revenue flight bound for Columbus took off from Westover.[4] This marked the first commercial service at the airport since the late 1980s. Due to Skybus ceasing all operations on April 4, 2008, the airport was yet again without commercial service.[5]

Economic impact

The local government credits Westover with spurring development of the Memorial Drive corridor, including several planned hotels and a high-end retail plaza.[6]

Civilian use

Westover Metropolitan Airport is the civilian component of the complex. It is owned and managed by the non-profit Westover Metropolitan Corporation, established in 1974 to develop property surplused by the General Services Administration. An area of 91 acres (370,000 m2) of the property has been operated since that time as a public use, regional civilian airport. The United States Air Force extends military-grade air traffic control and firefighting/rescue services to civilian users.

Airlines and destinations

 
Skybus Airlines was the last airline to operate scheduled commercial service at the airport, in 2008.

The airport is currently looking to receive new commercial service from an airline.

Historical service

Facilities and aircraft

Westover Metropolitan Airport contains a full-service passenger terminal, including Transportation Security Administration security facilities. The facility was built in 1989 in order to host several commuter airlines and is still operational today.

  • Long-term and short-term parking is available.
  • Parking shuttles and hotel shuttles are provided at no cost.

Facility upgrades were paid for by Massachusetts taxpayers,[citation needed] but since the collapse of Skybus the passenger terminal has been empty.

The Westover complex covers an area of 2,500 acres (10 km²) which contains two runways: 5/23: measuring 11,598 x 301 ft (3,535 x 92 m) and 15/33 measuring 7,082 x 150 ft (2,159 x 46 m).[1] At nearly 11,600 feet long, runway 5/23 is the longest runway in all of New England. A new Air Traffic Control tower was constructed in 2002 and the old tower was demolished.

According to FAA records for the 12-month period ending October 31, 2017, the airport had 16,213 aircraft operations, an average of 44 per day: 64% military, 33% general aviation and 3% air carrier. There were 40 aircraft based at this airport: 16 military, 11 single engine, 5 multi-engine, 5 jet aircraft, 2 gliders and 1 helicopter .[1]

General aviation services are provided by Metro Air Services.

References

  1. ^ a b c FAA Airport Form 5010 for CEF PDF, retrieved 2007-03-15
  2. ^ Pike, John. "Strategic Air Command".
  3. ^ "Chicopee airport to get discount airline". masslive.com. Retrieved 2018-07-23.
  4. ^ "Inaugural Skybus flight lands at Westover". masslive.com. Retrieved 2018-07-23.
  5. ^ "Low-cost carrier Skybus calls it quits". msnbc.com. 2008-04-05. Retrieved 2018-07-23.
  6. ^ "Westover project good for economy - MassLive.com".

External links

  • Official website
  • FAA Airport Diagram (PDF), effective May 18, 2023
  • Resources for this airport:
    • FAA airport information for CEF
    • AirNav airport information for KCEF
    • ASN accident history for CEF
    • FlightAware airport information and live flight tracker
    • NOAA/NWS weather observations: current, past three days
    • SkyVector aeronautical chart, Terminal Procedures

May 19, 2023
westover, metropolitan, airport, military, airport, this, facility, westover, reserve, base, iata, icao, kcef, civilian, airport, located, massachusetts, communities, chicopee, granby, ludlow, near, cities, springfield, holyoke, massachusetts, complex, conside. For the military airport use of this facility see Westover Air Reserve Base Westover Metropolitan Airport IATA CEF ICAO KCEF FAA LID CEF is a civilian airport located in the Massachusetts communities of Chicopee Granby and Ludlow near the cities of Springfield and Holyoke Massachusetts The complex is considered intermodal because it borders the Massachusetts Turnpike and is accessible by several industrial rail spurs It was named for General Oscar Westover commanding officer of the Army Air Corps in the 1930s Westover Metropolitan AirportIATA CEFICAO KCEFFAA LID CEFSummaryAirport typeCivilOwnerWestover Metropolitan CorporationServesSpringfield MassachusettsLocationChicopee MassachusettsLudlow MassachusettsGranby MassachusettsElevation AMSL241 ft 73 mCoordinates42 11 38 N 072 32 05 W 42 19389 N 72 53472 W 42 19389 72 53472Websitehttps westoverairport com MapsFAA Airport DiagramCEFShow map of MassachusettsCEFShow map of the United StatesRunwaysDirection Length Surfaceft m5 23 11 598 3 535 Asphalt15 33 7 082 2 159 AsphaltStatistics 2017 Aircraft operations16 213Based aircraft40Source Federal Aviation Administration 1 Contents 1 Joint use 2 History 3 Economic impact 4 Civilian use 5 Airlines and destinations 5 1 Historical service 6 Facilities and aircraft 7 References 8 External linksJoint use EditThe Westover complex is composed of the civilian airport and the Westover Air Reserve Base The core aviation facilities at Westover are owned by the Department of Defense while 91 acres 370 000 m2 are under private ownership History EditWestover Field was created by a war readiness appropriation signed by president Franklin D Roosevelt in 1939 It became the largest military air facility in the Northeast during the course of World War II The post war Berlin Airlift was based in large part at Westover It was renamed Westover Air Force Base after that agency s creation and became instrumental in waging the Cold War The Eighth Air Force and its 99th Bombardment Wing were headquartered at Westover in order to provide range and support to nuclear bombers As a former Strategic Air Command SAC B 52 and KC 135 base this military center was one of the Soviet Union s top targets during the Cold War 2 The SAC constructed a secret underground bunker several miles away in Hadley Massachusetts to coordinate Westover s operations during a nuclear war The command post was linked to the main base by buried cables and microwave antennae The U 2 spy plane film that set off the Cuban Missile Crisis was developed at Westover It was a base of operations for the Air Force in both the Korean War and the Vietnam War Bombing and cargo missions in Vietnam were made directly from Westover Eight fully armed nuclear bombers stood ready in Christmas tree formation to scramble if a conflict broke out with the Soviet Union In 1974 as the last Vietnam War veterans stepped onto Westover s tarmac the base was turned over to the Air Force Reserve The decision followed four years after the Eighth Air Force was moved from Westover by President Richard Nixon On May 30 2007 Skybus Airlines announced it would begin once daily flights to Columbus OH utilizing 144 seat Airbus A319 jets 3 On July 16 2007 the first revenue flight bound for Columbus took off from Westover 4 This marked the first commercial service at the airport since the late 1980s Due to Skybus ceasing all operations on April 4 2008 the airport was yet again without commercial service 5 Economic impact EditThe local government credits Westover with spurring development of the Memorial Drive corridor including several planned hotels and a high end retail plaza 6 Civilian use EditWestover Metropolitan Airport is the civilian component of the complex It is owned and managed by the non profit Westover Metropolitan Corporation established in 1974 to develop property surplused by the General Services Administration An area of 91 acres 370 000 m2 of the property has been operated since that time as a public use regional civilian airport The United States Air Force extends military grade air traffic control and firefighting rescue services to civilian users Airlines and destinations Edit Skybus Airlines was the last airline to operate scheduled commercial service at the airport in 2008 The airport is currently looking to receive new commercial service from an airline Historical service Edit Skybus Airlines to Columbus and Greensboro 2007 2008Facilities and aircraft EditWestover Metropolitan Airport contains a full service passenger terminal including Transportation Security Administration security facilities The facility was built in 1989 in order to host several commuter airlines and is still operational today Long term and short term parking is available Parking shuttles and hotel shuttles are provided at no cost Facility upgrades were paid for by Massachusetts taxpayers citation needed but since the collapse of Skybus the passenger terminal has been empty The Westover complex covers an area of 2 500 acres 10 km which contains two runways 5 23 measuring 11 598 x 301 ft 3 535 x 92 m and 15 33 measuring 7 082 x 150 ft 2 159 x 46 m 1 At nearly 11 600 feet long runway 5 23 is the longest runway in all of New England A new Air Traffic Control tower was constructed in 2002 and the old tower was demolished According to FAA records for the 12 month period ending October 31 2017 the airport had 16 213 aircraft operations an average of 44 per day 64 military 33 general aviation and 3 air carrier There were 40 aircraft based at this airport 16 military 11 single engine 5 multi engine 5 jet aircraft 2 gliders and 1 helicopter 1 General aviation services are provided by Metro Air Services References Edit a b c FAA Airport Form 5010 for CEF PDF retrieved 2007 03 15 Pike John Strategic Air Command Chicopee airport to get discount airline masslive com Retrieved 2018 07 23 Inaugural Skybus flight lands at Westover masslive com Retrieved 2018 07 23 Low cost carrier Skybus calls it quits msnbc com 2008 04 05 Retrieved 2018 07 23 Westover project good for economy MassLive com External links EditOfficial website FAA Airport Diagram PDF effective May 18 2023 Resources for this airport FAA airport information for CEF AirNav airport information for KCEF ASN accident history for CEF FlightAware airport information and live flight tracker NOAA NWS weather observations current past three days SkyVector aeronautical chart Terminal Procedures Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Westover Metropolitan Airport amp oldid 1151222574, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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