"Air Force One" lands at Westover

Published Sept. 20, 2011
By Lt. Col. James Bishop
439 Airlift Wing Public Affairs

WESTOVER AIR RESERVE BASE, Mass. -- The Boeing 747 aircraft arrived at Westover Air Reserve Base Sept. 19 after dropping off President Obama in New York City. There were no passengers aboard the aircraft. This is one of two VC-25As assigned to the Presidential Airlift Group, 89th Airlift Wing, Joint Base Andrews, Md. The VC-25A is commonly known as "Air Force One," although that call sign is reserved for any Air Force aircraft the President is aboard. "This is a case-study in Westover's expanding role in federal operations, both civilian and military," said Lt. Col. James Bishop, chief of public affairs. "The presidential aircraft is on one side of the flightline, and the FEMA trailers are on another." Several dozen trailers carrying emergency supplies are being staged on a base taxiway, in partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.