A determination of the economic contributions of Westover, Barnes and Bradley airports to the Pioneer Valley Region

32 Pages·1994·1.6 MB·English

by  Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (Mass.)

FEB 03 1998
Massactjusetts
Univcsity of
C .?V
Depository
Barnes
Massachusetts
Conneciicut 1
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^
Bradley
International
Airport
A
Determination of the
ECONOMIC Contributions
OF WESTOVER, BARNES
AND BRADLEY AIRPORTS
TO THE PIONEER VALLEY REGION
Preparedfor: Preparedby: Underthe supervision of:
The GreaterSpringfield The Department of The PioneerValley
ChamberofCommerce Landscape Planning Commission
&
Architecture 26 Central Street
Regional Planning West Springfield
0^ University ofMassachusetts Massachusetts, 01089
-f'y ,
Amherst
UMASS/AMHERSt July 1994

FINAL REPORT
A DETERMINATION OF THE ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTIONS OF
WESTOVER, BARNES AND BRADLEY AIRPORTS TO THE
PIONEER VALLEY REGION
Prepared for:
The Greater Springfield Chamber ofCommerce
Prepared by:
&
The Department ofLandscape Architecture Regional Planning
University ofMassachusetts,Amherst
Under the supervision of:
The PioneerValley Planning Commission
26 Central Street
West Springfield, Massachusetts, 01089
July 1994
Digitized by the Internet Archive
2015
in
https://archive.org/details/determinationofeOOpion
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The research and analyses presented inthis final report was underwritten by a grant to the
University ofMassachusetts by the GreaterSpringfield ChamberofCommerce. The project was
overseenby the Chamber's SeniorVice President, Charles Hill. The writing, production and
printing ofthis report was financed by the PioneerValley Planning Commissionunderthe
directionofthe Commission's Executive Director,Timothy Brennan.
The completionofthis final report would nothave beenpossible withoutthe active participation
and support ofthe Chairman and members ofthe Regional Airport Sub-Committee ofthe Spring-
field Chamber. Additional funding was provided by Western Massachusetts Electric Company,
WestoverMetropolitan Development Corporation, Baystate Health Systems, Westfield/Bames
MimicipalAirport and Bulkey, Richardson and Gelinas. In particular, we would like to acknowl-
edge and salute the efforts ofthe following persons:
REGIONALAIRPORTS SUB-COMMITTEE
Michael Daly, Chairman
RobertAbair, WesternMassachusettsElectric Company
Allan Blair, WestoverMetropolitan Development Corporation
Timothy Brennan,Pioneer Valley Planning Commission
Col. James Czekanski, WestoverAirReserve Base
Michael Daly, BaystateHealth SystemsInc.
JohnGallup, GreaterSpringfield ChamberofCommerce
George Gifford, WestfieldlBarnesMunicipalAirport
Tom Glynn, GreaterSpringfield ChamberofCommerce
JohnGarvey, Garvey Communications, Inc.
Marc Hanks, Economic DevelopmentPartners
RobertJuliano, Bradley InternationalAirport
Kermeth Robert, Bradley InternationalAirport
Jeffrey Roberts, Robinson, Donovan, Madden andBarry, P.C.
James L. Shriver, Greater Springfield ChamberofCommerce
Bruce Stebbins,Massachusetts Executive Office ofEconomicAffairs
Ronald Weiss, Bulkey, Richardson andGelinas
Charles Hill, GreaterSpringfield ChamberofCommerce (Staff)
STAFF CREDITS
Writing andResearch: ProfessorJohn Mulhn, University ofMassachusetts
Terri Smith, ResearchAssistant, University ofMassachusetts
Francesca Maltese, PioneerValley Planning Commission
Additional Writing: Allan Blair, WestoverMetropolitan Development Corporation
John Garvey, Garvey Communications, Inc.
George Gifford, Westfield/Bames MunicipalAirport
Graphics and Design Shaun Hayes, PioneerValley Planning Commission
Coordination: Catherine Gibbs, PioneerValley Planning Commission
Report Editing and Timothy Brennan, PioneerValley Planning Commission
Coordination:
ReportPreparation Denise Lussier, PioneerValley Planning Commission
and Typing:
1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.
1
INTRODUCTION
3
BENEHTS AND IMPACTS 5
Direct Impacts 5
Jobs and Payroll 5
Local Purchases and Construction 6
Indirect Impacts 6
Induced Impacts 7
Total Impacts 7
Transportation Benefits 8
Taxes 8
Aircraft 8
Property 8
BRADLEY INTERNATIONALAIRPORT
History 9
ExistingFacilities/Level ofService 9
Economic Impacts 1
Direct Impacts 11
Indirect Impacts 12
Induced Impacts 12
Total Impacts 13
Future Plans 13
BARNES MUNICIPALAIRPORT
History 15
Existing Facilities 15
ServiceArea 16
Economic Impact 16
Direct Impacts 16
Indirect Impacts 17
Induced Impacts 17
Total Impacts 17
Future Plans 17
8
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
WESTOVER AIR RESERVE BASE/
WESTOVER METROPOLITAN AIRPORT
History 18
Existing FacilitiesA^evel ofService 1
Economic Impact 19
Direct Impacts 19
Economic Impact (ofcompanies that rated airportessential) 20
Indirect Impacts 20
Induced Impacts 20
Total Impacts 20
AirForce Current Contribution to the Physical Plant ofWestover. 20
Runway/Airfield Maintenance 20
Fire Protection 21
Future Plans 21
LIST OF TABLES
Page
Table 1 Summary ofDirectEconomic Impacts 6
Table 2 Summary ofIndirectEconomic Impacts 7
Table 3 Summary ofInduced Economic Impacts 7
Table 4 Summary ofEconomic Impact 7
Table 5 Summary Economic Impacts 7
Table 6 1992 Operations at Bradley InternationalAirport 10
Table 7 Annual Economic Contribution - Bradley InternationalAirport 12
Table 8 HistoricalAircraft Operations at Bradley InternationalAirport 14
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Summary
Executive
Airports are Major Contributors to the
Pioneer Valley Economy Military Spending Currently Has the
Most Economic Impact
Foranumberofyears, Westover, Barnes and
BradleyAirports have provided area residents and With a combined payroll of$60.6 million, military
businesses with passengertravel, cargo shipping and personnel account formore than 75 percent ofthe
recreational opportunities and benefits. The quiet payroll expenditure ofthe three airports addressed
secret; however, is themajoreconomic impact that inthis report. Utilizing data supplied by the Massa-
these three airports have on the PioneerValley. chusetts DepartmentofEmployment, it would take
the addition of2,014 manufacturingjobs, 4,790
Fueled by $92.9 million indirect annual spending, retail tradejobs, or2,770 servicejobs to replace the
the three airports servingthe civilian and military local military payroll should itbe lost.
interests ofthePioneerValley combine for an
impressive total economic impact of$485.64 The military has even alargereconomic impact
millionperyear. Further, local residents and when the spending onlocal purchases and construc-
businesses save an additional $6.36 million by tion is factored in. During 1992 alone, it is esti-
utilizing the convenience ofthe region's major mated that $12.17 million was spentby the military
commercial passenger airport namely Bradley onlocal purchases andconstruction woric.
InternationalAirport, situated innearbyWindsor
Locks Connecticut Finally, the military provides tremendous financial
supportto the Barnes and WestoverAirports by
The three are also among the region's topemployers making improvements and maintaining the runways,
withover 1,800PioneerValley residents owingtheir as well as providing othernecessary support ser-
jobs directly to the airports. When thesejobs are vices including a fire department forWestover
combined with the federal payrolls atWestover and which has a $3,451,034 operating budget and $17
Barnes, the total payroll by way ofcomparison is million worth ofequipment. Annual maintenance
approximately halfofthe total payroll forthe figures forWestoveralone were approximately
region's printing and publishing industry, is almost $647,400 in FY 1993, not including capital im-
twice that ofthe legal services industry and is twice provements. When Westover's mammoth total
the regional payroll forthe electronic equipment military impact is combined with its relatively small
industry. total civilian impact, the $303.69 million sum
dwarfs the total economic impacts ofthe othertwo
airports serving this region.
Clearly, in the PioneerValley, the impact ofmilitary
spending outweighs any othercurrent economic
benefit ofthe region's airports.
1
ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTION OF AIRPORTS TO THE PIONEER VALLEY REGION
Civilian usage ofthe airport is supported by both
Individual Airport Economic Impacts recreational and business users with 175 civilian
aircraft stored there. Seven businesses reported that
Bradley International Airport they considerthe airport essential to theirbusiness.
Bradley, with its previously mentioned convenience Those businesses combine foratotal of417jobs
ofuse forpassengerand cargo services, weighs in as with an annual payroll of$9.34 million. Several
a sizable presence in the PioneerValley's economic otherlocal businesses use the airporton a regular
profile. An estimated 442 employees ofBradley basis as well.
live in this area and at least 13 percent ofthe travel
related business generated by the airport is attribut-
able to this region. Bradley's total annual economic
impactis estimated at $67.82 million forthe Pioneer
Valley Region. Future Economic Impact and Growth
ofthe Region's Airports
WestoverAir Force Reserve Base
and Metropolitan Airport Like all public infrastructure, airports provide a
As previously mentioned, Westover's combined foundation on which the economy can grow. Their
military and civilian total impacts represents 62.5 usefulness to the economy lies in their ability to
percent ofthe total economic impactofall three generate, support and serve residents and existing
airports forthe pioneerValley Region. businesses and spawn airport related industry.
Military spending represents the bulk ofWestover's Each airporthas outlined plans to increase their
total economic impact. With an estimated 536 ability to serve the region's residential and business
reserve technicians, 537 civilian employees and interests. Bradley's expansion plans project an
3,100 part-time reservists, the federal payroll alone increase in local employmentof617 additionaljobs
at Westover amounts to $56.7 million. An addi- by the year2015. The total economic impact on the
tional $10.89 million was spent locally on construc- region is expected to triple by thattime as well.
tion, government contracts and otherpurchases. Westover, through the WestoverMetropolitan
Development Corporation and local business
On the civilian use side, 57 business tenants ofthe interests, is pursuing an expansion ofthe hours of
WestoverMetropolitan Development Corporation operation to increase civilian use and to attract
hangartheirplanes at the airport. Two corporate airport related industry. Westover will soon embaric
tenants indicated that the airport was essential to on substantial infrastructure improvements which
theirbusiness. These two businesses account for a will enhance its total economic impact on the
combined 26jobs with an annual payroll of$2.36 Region's economy.
million. Several otherlocal businesses regularly use
the airport as well. There were an estimated 3,864
civilian takeoffs and landings atWestoverin 1992.
Barnes Municipal Airport
BarnesAirport also attributes the size ofits total
economic impact largely to military spending. It is
estimated that 90 percent ofthe airport's $114.3
million total economic impact is due to the presence
ofthe AirNational Guard. With 1,318 full and part-
time employees, the total military payroll equals
$12.65 million.
2