Yeager Airport (CRW) will soon be on a NEW map as construction of a standalone United States Customs and Border Protection building wraps up this November.
While CRW does not concurrently offer non-stop, international commercial flights, the Airport is West Virginia’s only U.S. Customs and Border Protection port of entry.
This standalone facility goes hand-in-hand with the Airport’s international designation, which will become official on January 1, 2022, when CRW becomes West Virginia International Yeager Airport.
Currently, only five states do not have an international airport, and West Virginia is one. That can be a negative factor for some companies looking to relocate their business to West Virginia; being near an international airport is considered necessary.
WHAT IS THE POINT OF THE CUSTOMS & BORDER PROTECTION FACILITY?
The U.S. Customs facility at CRW will handle Customs-clearance for private and military aircraft carrying up to 20 persons, thus significantly increasing air operations at Yeager Airport. In addition, the building will support foreign trade.
WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE INTERNATIONAL DESIGNATION?
To be classified as an “international airport,” an airport must have a U.S. Customs building on the premises. The Airport does not have to have international commercial service. As CRW’s U.S. Customs Building will be complete in December, the Airport is officially permitted to add “international” to its name. This name addition will put General Yeager’s legacy on an international stage.
Airport officials and tourism partners are exploring opportunities to attract international commercial service through Customs and Border Protection Preclearance. With Preclearance, travelers clear customs at one of 16 preclearance locations in 6 countries, then bypass CBP and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) inspections upon U.S. arrival and proceed directly to their connecting flight or destination.
Today, CBP has more than 600 officers and agriculture specialists stationed at 16 Preclearance locations in 6 countries: Dublin and Shannon in Ireland; Aruba; Freeport and Nassau in The Bahamas; Bermuda; Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; and Calgary, Toronto, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Vancouver, Victoria, and Winnipeg in Canada.
WHO WILL BE UTILIZING THE NEW FACILITY THE MOST?
Private general aviation and military aircraft that need to clear U.S. Customs will utilize the facility.
ECONOMIC IMPACT
We expect several hundred international flights to clear Customs at CRW each year. In addition, flights that may not be destined for our state now have the option to stop at CRW to quickly and conveniently clear Customs utilize the services of Capital Jet Center.
WHAT DO U.S. CUSTOMS OFFICERS CHECK FOR?
U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) mission is to protect the American people, safeguard our borders, and enhance the nation’s economic prosperity. Its mission is complex at ports of entry with broad law enforcement authorities tied to screening all foreign visitors, returning American citizens and imported cargo that enters the U.S. at more than 300 land, air and sea ports. The CBP’s mission includes is to:
Counter Terrorism – Anticipate, detect and disrupt the threat of terrorists, their weapons and actions to protect the people and economy of the United States.
Combat Transnational Crime – Detect, deter and disrupt transnational organized crime that threatens U.S. national and economic security interests at and beyond the border.
Secure the Border – Protect the Homeland through the air, land and maritime environments against illegal entry, illicit activity or other threats to uphold national sovereignty and promote national and economic security.
Facilitate Lawful Trade and Protect Revenue – Enable fair, competitive and compliant trade and enforce U.S. laws to ensure safety, prosperity and economic security for the American people.
Facilitate Lawful Travel – Enhance, enable and transform the travel experience by anticipating, detecting and intercepting threats prior to and at ports of entry.
