Westover Arb / Metro Airport (KCEF), Massachusetts
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
Westover ARB / Metro (KCEF) is a joint-use airfield in Chicopee, Massachusetts, combining military operations with public civil access under an FAA-tracked traffic profile. The field sits roughly 21 nautical miles from its metro area and reports business aviation crossings tracked via FAA TFMSC data, with a total of 781 bizav operations recorded in 2025. Its long primary runway and on-site customs services support a range of civil and military traffic, though several operating restrictions tied to its military status apply to civil pilots.
Runways
Westover Arb / Metro Airport has two paved runways. The longest, 05/23, is 11,597 ft long and 300 ft wide, with an asphalt surface.
Runway geometry from published threshold coordinates. Not for navigation.
Runways are listed longest first.
Source: FAA Form 5010.
Fuel and airfield services
Westover Arb / Metro Airport has Jet A and 100LL available on the field. The airport has an operating control tower.
Source: FAA Form 5010 / NASR.
Customs
Westover Arb / Metro Airport has US Customs and Border Protection clearance available onsite, with general clearance for international arrivals. A USDA compliance agreement is in place.
Source: CBP list of ports of entry.
Business aviation traffic
Westover Arb / Metro Airport recorded 781 business aviation movements in 2025. Traffic peaks in September. Business aviation traffic at KCEF concentrates notably in September and October, which together account for the highest monthly operation counts of the year.
Business jet movements, FAA TFMSC count. Peak month September, 127 movements in 2025.
Source: FAA TFMSC, business jet movements, 2025.
Climate
Weather station is 3.0 NM from the field. Some values are estimated by the agency. 1991–2020 climate normals.
Source: NOAA NCEI.
Operating constraints
Westover Arb / Metro Airport has published operating constraints in three categories: access, runway notes and other notes.
Civilian training is limited to low approaches only; touch-and-go landings are not authorized.
Fuel operating hours are 1200-0400Z++ on weekdays, 1400-2200Z++ on Saturday, and 1800-0200Z++ on Sunday. UTA hours are 1200-2100Z++ Saturday through Sunday. If fuel support is needed outside these hours on a UTA, request approval through AMOPS when arranging PPR, except on holidays.
Restricted: after-hours departures and arrivals require 24-hour PPR notice.
Caution: light aircraft traffic, hang glider operations, and hot air balloon activity occur along the river west and northwest of the airport. Extensive hang glider and glider activity occurs in the Mt. Greylock area approximately 45 nautical miles northwest of the airfield. There is an unlit obstacle on the west side of the Runway 05 clear zone.
Transient alert: fleet service for transient aircraft is unavailable on weekends and weekdays from 2030-0400Z++ without prior approval from AMOPS.
When the control tower is closed, contact Bradley Approach for clearance delivery.
Pilot-controlled lighting is only authorized with a 5-hour PPR arranged through the FBO.
Restricted: prior permission required; contact Airport Operations.
When the control tower is closed, activate ALSF1 on Runway 05 and 23. PAPI is available on Runway 5, 15, 23, and 33. HIRL is available on Runway 05/23 and 15/33, via CTAF.
There is a 1,000-foot overrun at both ends of the runway.
PAPI on all runways provides proper threshold crossing height for Group 4 aircraft only.
Caution: aircraft departing in VMC should remain at or below 1,000 feet until past the departure end of the runway to ensure separation from VFR overhead and closed pattern traffic. A strobe light is located atop stacks 4,000 feet left of the Runway 23 threshold, with occasional steam cloud. Uncontrolled vehicle traffic operates on ramps and taxiways.
Caution: potential for hydroplaning after any precipitation. Ponding at the intersection of Runway 05/23 and 15/33 has been measured in tenths of an inch; see NOTAMs for KCEF.
Runway 15 wind data is estimated and available at all times.
An assault strip marking is painted 3,000 feet by 60 feet on Runway 15-33.
Miscellaneous: the first 1,000 feet of each end of Runway 05-23 is concrete, and the middle 9,597 feet is asphalt.
Beacon operates from dusk to 2300. Airfield lights are not available from 2300 to 0700.
PAPI is unusable beyond 6 degrees right.
KCEF is a joint-use airfield. IFR takeoff and landing minimums as prescribed by USAF regulation apply.
There is heavy VFR traffic below 10,000 feet along the river and highway 5 nautical miles southwest of the airfield.
Lighting note: PAPI is off during operating hour periods with no traffic.
Customs: pilots must personally arrange customs clearance.
Military: civilian pilots are reminded to check military NOTAMs by visiting the Federal NOTAM System (FNS) website or contacting Flight Service.
Caution: eastside Pad 19, Pad 33, and Taxiway L do not have paved shoulders.
Military: aircraft on a JA/ATT, JCS, tactical exercise, or military charter mission should contact 439 LRS/LGRDX to coordinate support requirements. LGRDX will arrange all required support. SAAM missions coordination will be made with the airfield manager.
Source: FAA Chart Supplement.
Nearby airfields
Westover Arb / Metro Airport has five airfields within 26 NM. The closest is Westfield-Barnes Regional (KBAF), 8.34 NM west.
Part of the Hartford and Springfield area.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at KCEF
We arrange catering, fuel and trip support here. Supplier prices reach you unchanged; our coordination fee sits on its own line.
The same order, priced two ways.
$2,400.00 catering order at KCEF.
Unchanged.
What the kitchen invoices us is what your quote reads.
One line, fixed.
It does not move with the size of the order.
At cost.
Passed on at the exact amount the processor took.
Market practice figures are industry averages, not a specific competitor.
Frequently asked questions
Is customs available on-site at KCEF?
Westover ARB / Metro (KCEF) has on-site CBP inspection services, and the field also maintains a USDA compliance agreement. Pilots must still personally arrange customs clearance ahead of arrival rather than assume automatic coverage. Because KCEF is a joint-use airfield shared with military operations, all civil arrivals should confirm current customs procedures before flight. Standard prior-notice requirements common to joint-use fields apply, and crews should coordinate directly with the airfield rather than relying on a fixed base operator for this function.
What runways are available at KCEF, and how long is the primary runway?
Westover ARB / Metro (KCEF) offers two paved asphalt runways. Runway 05/23 is the primary strip at 11,597 feet long and 300 feet wide, giving it one of the longer paved surfaces in the region. Runway 15/33 measures 7,085 feet long and 150 feet wide. Both ends of the airfield's runways carry a 1,000-foot overrun, and the first 1,000 feet of each end of Runway 05/23 is concrete, with the mid-section asphalt.
Are there any operational cautions specific to KCEF that pilots should know before arrival?
KCEF sits near a river and highway corridor 5 nautical miles southwest of the field that carries heavy VFR traffic below 10,000 feet. Light aircraft, hang gliders, and hot air balloons also operate along the river west and northwest of the airport, with extensive hang glider and glider activity near Mt. Greylock roughly 45 nautical miles northwest. A strobe light sits atop stacks 4,000 feet left of the Runway 23 threshold and may produce an occasional steam cloud. An unlit obstacle also exists on the west side of the Runway 05 clear zone.
What fuel is available at Westover ARB / Metro, and when can pilots get it?
Westover ARB / Metro (KCEF) stocks both 100LL avgas and Jet A. Fuel operating hours run 1200-0400Z++ on weekdays, 1400-2200Z++ on Saturday, and 1800-0200Z++ on Sunday, with UTA hours of 1200-2100Z++ on Saturday and Sunday. Fuel support outside these windows on a UTA requires approval through AMOPS when arranging PPR, except on holidays. Transient fleet service is also unavailable on weekends and weekdays from 2030-0400Z++ without prior AMOPS approval.
Does KCEF require prior permission (PPR) for arrivals or departures?
Yes, Westover ARB / Metro (KCEF) restricts after-hours departures and arrivals to a 24-hour PPR notice. As a joint-use airfield with military operations, IFR takeoff and landing minimums follow USAF regulation requirements rather than standard civil minimums alone. Pilot-controlled lighting is only authorized with a 5-hour PPR arranged through the FBO. Military mission traffic, including JA / ATT, JCS, tactical exercises, and charter missions, must coordinate support requirements separately through the airfield's logistics squadron.