WESTFIELD-A once-in-a-lifetime experience in third grade set the trajectory for Christopher J. Willenborg’s career and he continues to live his best life – now as the airport manager at Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport.
“I was inspired the day we were at JFK Airport on a third grade class trip and saw the Concorde take off,” said Willenborg, adding having a class lunch inside a United Airlines plane was the icing on the cake.
While times have certainly changed since those days in the 1970’s, his passion for aviation has never waned.
Christopher J. Willenborg, C.M. is the new airport manager at Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
“When you become an airport manager it is a part of your life and your heart and that is definitely true,” said Willenborg, recalling a conversation years earlier with a colleague who also served in a similar role. “Barnes is a big part of my life and my family.”
Willenborg and his family have lived in Southwick for 17 years and previously lived in Westfield for four years. His wife, Taryn, also shares a love of aviation since she received her pilot’s license at age 17 at Fitchburg Municipal Airport. The couple has a son, Luke, and a daughter, Amelia.
“I would like to pursue a pilot’s license but it takes a lot of time,” said Willenborg, adding he takes great pleasure during downtime to hike with his family and their miniature goldendoodle Lucy at Stanley Park and Granville Gorge, as well as state parks in the region, play golf at The Ranch Golf Club in Southwick, and attend air shows, high school and professional sporting events and concerts.
With more than 28 years of aviation experience, Willenborg first served as airport manager at Westfield-Barnes from 1999-2008, and then in early 2009, he was hired as the state’s aeronautics director where he served for more than six years. In recent years, he had been employed as an airport consultant at Airport Solutions Group, based in Burlington. For the past three years, Airport Solutions Group has been the on-call engineering firm for Westfield-Barnes, and Willenborg served as client manager for the airport. He is a graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Fla.
“These three distinct perspectives of the aviation industry provide me with the knowledge and relationships to effectively work for the airport’s stakeholders,” said Willenborg.
For Willenborg, his enthusiasm and passion for aviation is apparent.
“My passion is airport management and Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport is the best airport in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,” he said.
Willenborg oversees a team of six full-time employees which he says share a common passion of aviation and providing a safe environment.
“My leadership style is ‘lead by example,’” said Willenborg, noting he is “very engaged with the dedicated airport team.”
“We interact and work together each day to ensure Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport is safe for the flying and general public,” he added.
Willenborg’s team is responsible for 1,200 acres of land with more than 3.5 million square feet of pavement and markings, 650 airfield lights, 85 airfield signs, and 700 acres of grassland.
“The airport is a civilian/military joint-use airport and we have the honor to work closely with both the Massachusetts Air National Guard and Massachusetts Army National Guard,” said Willenborg.
Willenborg added the airport has three aircraft maintenance facilities working on single engine propeller aircraft to multi-million dollar business jets, and an air ambulance operation that provides airlift to those with severe trauma.
“We have three flight schools and Westfield Technical Academy Aircraft Maintenance Program training tomorrow’s aviation industry workforce,” said Willenborg.
Willenborg cited a 2019 Massachusetts Department of Transportation Aeronautics Division statewide airport economic impact study that determined Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport generates more than 2,100 direct/indirect jobs with an economic output of approximately $236 million annually.
“The airport is a regional transportation gateway for economic development, national security, aviation workforce development and recreational flying,” he said.
Willenborg added that the airport experienced a “downturn” in aircraft operations and activity during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic earlier this year, however, he has also seen a “rebound” in airport operations and activity over the past three to four weeks. In addition, he said Sok’s Runway Restaurant & Bar has opened per Gov. Charlie Baker’s COVID-19 reopening plan which has generated more general public activity at the airport terminal building.
Since Willenborg began his position April 13, he has set several goals for the remainder of 2020, including “ensure the airport is maintained to FAA Part 139 safety standards, enhance communications with tenants, users, legislative leaders and the general public, and sound fiscal oversight.”
Willenborg noted the airport will generate more than $1 million in direct revenues which includes airport fees and property taxes.
“The Westfield Airport Commission and the airport management team want to enhance aeronautical and non-aeronautical activities at the airport through increased marketing and outreach to potential stakeholders,” said Willenborg. “In addition, we will be focused on leveraging capital project funds from the FAA, MassDOT, and other state agencies for our airport capital improvement program.”
Mayor Donald F. Humason, Jr., shared a similar sentiment.
“I have a really good feeling of the direction that Christopher Willenborg, the Westfield Airport Commission, and the city will take the airport in,” said Humason. “I have known Chris for years and he is well-liked, well-respected, and well-regarded in the aviation field and at Barnes.”
Humason said Willenborg is also a “great teacher.”
“When I was in the House of Representatives, I was on the Massachusetts Legislative Aviation Caucus and learned a lot by talking to Chris,” said Humason, adding, “We are lucky to have someone like Chris and I am glad he came back to Barnes.”
