Westchester County Airport logged 35,519 flight operations in the first quarter of 2023, an 11.6% increase compared with the same period last year. The increase reflects its continued significance to not only the traveling public that uses airline service but the private aviation communities that use the airport for their business and personal flying.
The flexibility of the airport as a business tool was just enhanced again when on June 19 the airport facilities at which travelers can clear customs when returning from international trips was expanded to include Million Air’s business and private aviation terminal. Million Air, based in Dallas, has 37 sites in the U.S. and overseas. CEO Roger Woolsey and his executive team arrived at Westchester early on the morning of the 19th and became the first international travelers to be cleared into the U.S. by Customs and Border Protection agents at Million Air White Plains.
The initial customs clearance took place just a few days after the National Business Aviation Association had held its northeast regional aviation forum at Million Air for the third time. A hangar that normally houses jets was turned into an exhibition hall where more than 170 exhibits were set up by various companies serving the aviation industry. Education sessions were held that could be attended by the estimated 3,000 registered guests. About 30 aircraft, including the latest business jets, were on static display in Million Air’s ramp area.
“We really believe in being a great citizen, neighbor, and friend of our communities, and we are grateful that we have these opportunities to showcase Westchester County in front of thousands of guests,” Million Air’s general manager at Westchester, Lauren Rones-Payne, told the Business Journals.
The NBAA event is designed to bring together current and prospective business aircraft owners, operators, manufacturers, customers and other essential industry personnel. The underlying theme this year was sustainability in aviation.
“White Plains, Westchester, has been a great partner of ours for many years,” Chris Rocheleau, COO of the NBAA, told the Business Journals. “Whatever the subjects we’re talking about, whether that’s sustainability or the importance of business aviation to communities, or workforce or innovation, we have found it to be very advantageous.”
Rocheleau said that the current trend of increased travel by air in the U.S. has made business aviation more attractive for businesses.
“The aviation industry at-large has raced back from the Covid pandemic and we’re seeing activity in commercial aviation as well as business aviation continue to grow,” Rocheleau said. “One of the things we’ve found through many studies over the years is that business entities that use aviation really have an advantage over businesses that don’t have aviation. When you think about the congestion now, the constriction within the commercial aviation side of the house, we’re finding more and more people waking up to the benefits of business aviation.”
Rocheleau said that NBAA takes a broad view of aviation and the U.S. airspace as a national asset.
“One of the things we’ve done through our work with the Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration as well as with the commercial airlines is to make sure that we’re all sharing the airspace, that we’re looking out for each other and, at the end of the day, the passengers,” Rocheleau said. He said that includes advocating for sustainability in aviation including making a successful transition to unleaded and alternative aviation gasoline and jet fuel.
“”We have made a dent but we’re not done; we’ve got a long way to go, ” Rocheleau said. “We’re proud of our commitment back in 2021 on climate change to reach net zero by 2050. We continue every year to become more fuel-efficient. Part of our effort is to get more information out about our efforts on supporting sustainability, whether that’s through aviation fuels where we’re seeing real progress both on the commercial and business aviation sides. We’ve been endorsing legislation on Capitol Hill to make sure we’ve got policies in place to allow for accelerated production and distribution of sustainable aviation fuel.”
Rocheleau said that NBAA also is showing support for the development and introduction of eVTOL aircraft, vertical takeoff and landing small aircraft powered by electricity in what’s known as air mobility operations. One such experimental aircraft was shown on a demonstration flight at Westchester County Airport this past February.
“We’re very interested in electric propulsion systems,” Rocheleau said. “If anything, right now, we’re tracking it very closely. I would say that every single drop of sustainable aviation fuel is being used. People are buying it as soon as they can get it.”
Rocheleau said that NBAA’s approximately 11,000 members allow the organization to not only engage with people who are active in business aviation but encourage spreading the word about its benefits.
“Our events allow us to get people in the room and understand the benefits of business aviation,” Rocheleau said. “Business aviation, general aviation has always been at the forefront of new and modern technology. We’ve been determined to make flights faster, certainly safer over the years. Technology is a critical element.”
Rocheleau said he sees business aviation continuing to thrive and local communities trying to become more connected to aviation’s future.
“We see business aviation continuing to connect more and more communities going forward,” Rocheleau said. “That’s why we created our own advanced air mobility roundtable to make sure that we’re assisting that very exciting piece of business aviation to enable it going forward. We see a very, very bright future for business aviation.”
Rocheleau said that NBAA plans to return to Westchester County Airport for future events.
