Previously Published in The Messenger
By Matt Meduri
Some Long Islanders are unaware that the region is home to an Air National Guard Base.
While a hidden gem to many, Francis S. Gabreski Airport, while adjacent to the base, serves private and general aviation as well. The Westhampton facility saw a deluge of flights this summer for the U.S. Open in Shinnecock Hills. County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) said that during the 2018 U.S. Open, Gabreski received about 1,000 flights. For this year’s contest, that number doubled.
However, the airport’s control tower is slated to be replaced. The 70-foot structure was built in 1943 and is no longer compliant with Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) standards.
Congressman Nick LaLota (R-Amityville) was able to secure $11 million in federal funding to kick off the project. $20 million will be required overall.
The new tower will sit directly across from the current one. However, it will have fresh infrastructure, better accessibility, and will stand at 146 feet, or eight stories – nearly double the height of the current tower. The upgrades will improve air traffic control visibility, incorporate latest technologies, and will include a full-building backup generator.
“It’s going to create jobs in the short term and safety in the long term,” said Romaine at the construction site on Wednesday morning. He mentioned some prior knowledge to running an airport when he was Brookhaven Town Supervisor. Shirley is home to Calabro Airport, which has significantly less traffic than Gabreski.
“This location, while county run, has a very large regional and federal impact,” said Congressman LaLota. “The folks who come in nearly 2,000 flights are spending their dollars here in Suffolk County, and that helps us in our regional economy here as well. The investment we’re making here is worthwhile for our region.”
The project will take about one year of construction and the commencement was delayed due to funding concerns.
“This airport sits on 1,500 acres and it’s no small operation,” said Suffolk County Legislator Jim Mazzarella (R-Moriches). “At Gabreski, commercial jet traffic is up 75% in the last six years.”
Mazzarella added that new hangars and services continue to populate the airport, meaning “economic activity, jobs for revenue growth, and tax revenue growth.”
Mazzarella was joined by Legislator Anne Welker (D-North Sea), whose district contains Gabreski, and Minority Leader Jason Richberg (D-West Babylon).
“We have thousands of regional airports around the country and regional airports are one of those small economic drivers that some folks don’t know about,” said Richberg, adding that smaller airports can teach students how to fly, provide certain levels of recreation, and bring material goods to their surrounding communities.
“This is a free trade zone,” said Romaine. He said from an “economic point of view,” businesses should consider Gabreski.
Gabreski’s regional impact includes 44,000 to 60,000 aircraft operations annually. $116.1 million in economic impact, almost 1,1000 jobs, $3.3 million in local tax revenue, and tens of millions of dollars in private sector development.