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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-01-21-HFAC-min HANSCOM FIELD ADVISORY COMMISSION MINUTES January 21, 2003 1. Membership and Minutes: Larry Jorash was introduced as the new representative for Signature Flight Support, and Paul Gamache will serve as the alternate. Other HFAC membership issues still need to be resolved so that the roster can be approved by the Selectmen in the four contiguous towns. Margaret Coppe is working with Tom Hoban on this. Sara Arnold apologized for the delay in distributing the December Minutes, explaining that the Minutes were prepared, but Richard Walsh usually distributes them, and she just learned that he is ill. They will be sent out by email. 2. Noise Report: S. Arnold reported that there was a 9.4% decrease in December 2002 operations as compared to December 2001, while jet activity increased 12%. In response to questions about the influence of weather, S. Arnold said weather affects activity by smaller aircraft, but jets can fly in most weather. It was noted that there was no run-up report because there were no nighttime run-ups in December 2002. Now that Shuttle America has completed moving its maintenance operation to Indiana, nighttime run-ups should be rare. Shelly Moll reported that he is collecting complaints from residents for disturbances between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. He expressed interest in getting additional data from Massport regarding noise levels and company names for night operations. He would like to contact companies that fly at night and see if they can avoid this activity. S. Arnold added that her office sends a letter to pilots if they conduct a night operation that generates a complaint. S. Arnold was asked if it was possible to receive Massport’s monthly HFAC report before the meeting and via electronic mail. Sara Arnold stated that there is a two week delay in obtaining information from the FAA, so the data is generally not ready until the day of the meeting. Furthermore, the pages come from a variety of sources, so there are difficulties with this. She prefers to distribute the data as is currently done, at least at this time. There was discussion about having the 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. activity broken down by fees and aircraft type on a monthly basis. S. Arnold said that she has been reluctant to do this because the monthly numbers are so low that the percentage comparisons could be very misleading. The data is included in the annual report, which usually comes out in the fall. S. Arnold also reported that she is working on upgrading EXP so that it uses the most current data from the Integrated Noise Model. She will try to start providing data from the upgraded version in either February or March, and will go back a year to provide comparative data for 2002. She emphasized that EXP was designed to track changes in noise levels. 3. Planning Report: S. Arnold reported on the following: - Fencing Installation: Work was started in December, but with the heavy snow the project will have to done in the spring. - Parking Lot: A contract for repavement of the parking lot has been awarded, and this is also scheduled for the spring. The parking lot project will include some underground work for a revenue control system, but funding to install a revenue system is not available at this time. In response to questions, S. Arnold added that if funding for the installation of a parking revenue system appears to be available, it is reasonable to assume that staff will review the financial implications. - Terminal Improvements: The only first floor terminal improvements being considered on an immediate basis are improvements to the lavatories. -FAA Tower: The FAA tower staff has moved into the new tower. -US Customs: US Customs currently sends an employee from the Port of Boston to Hanscom every time an international flight comes into Hanscom. Primarily because of the new Homeland Security needs at the port, US Customs is requiring Massport to provide a customs office at Hanscom that has airfield access. Massport is planning to lease a trailer to put on the East Ramp. User fees will be charged to recover costs. This will happen in either February or March. -Environmental Status and Planning Report (ESPR): Tom Ennis will be attending the HATS meeting on Thursday night to provide an update. -Deicing: Although aircraft are deiced at Hanscom, Massport only uses sand on its runways and taxiways. It has been a particularly difficult winter, and Massport has received complaints from tenants about the condition of the runways and taxiways along with requests that the use of deicing be considered. The issue of deicing also came up in comments on the ESPR. Massport has decided to look at the options for deicing. In response to questions, S. Arnold said that it was unlikely that Massport would begin using deicing chemicals this winter, but Massport would continue to let the towns know what is being done regarding this issue. S. Arnold also said she was aware of the environmental concerns that the communities have, and she will forward the particular concerns expressed by Lincoln and Bedford to those working on this study. In Bedford, the Shawsheen River and the closed Bedford wells are of concern; Bedford would like to be able to reopen the wells. Sarah Mattes from Lincoln requested a list of available deicing agents. S. Arnold added that Tom Ennis will be at the HATS meeting and can comment further, particularly as the study relates to the ESPR. In response to questions about the Vegetation Management Plan (VMP), Shelly Moll said that Massport and the Bedford Conservation Commission are still negotiating. In response to questions about any new contacts by airlines or cargo carriers, S. Arnold said she was not aware of any. There were questions about Jet Blue being interested in Hanscom, and S. Arnold commented that Massport has the 60 seat rule of Hanscom.