HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-03-08-HFAC-min
March 8, 2004
Peter Enrich, Esq.
Chairman
Hanscom Field Advisory Commission
C/O Selectmen’s Office
1625 Massachusetts Avenue
Lexington, MA.
02420
Re: Hangar One Site at Hanscom Field
Mr. Chairman,
I would like to thank you and your colleagues on the Hanscom Field Advisory Commission for the
th
opportunity on January 20 2004, to present Liberty Mutual’s proposal to build a new hangar at
Hanscom Field.
Consistent with our commitment during the meeting, I am writing to provide you with answers to
questions that I was unable to respond to during my presentation.
Several individuals at the meeting asked about the amount of office space, number of employees
and the number of parking spaces at the existing Liberty Mutual hangar. The office space in the
present hangar is approximately 4,000 square feet. We have a staff of 28 people at this location, and
the number of parking spaces is approximately 65. The number of spaces we use may vary
depending upon the number of employees in the building or on trips, as well as the number of
passengers on trips.
Attendees also asked me about our corporate goal for taking commercial aircraft, the number of
our flights serving Northeast corridor destinations and the average number of passengers per flight
versus our aircraft’s capacity. Liberty Mutual uses corporate aircraft based on business needs, for
purposes of efficiency and employee safety. Our aircraft are configured to seat between 8 and 12
passengers, with the actual number of passengers based on the business need for making the trip.
The net result of our activity over the past two years is that we average the equivalent of less than
one flight per day, and we fully expect similar operations in the future.
Deleted:
3/12/2004
Deleted:
3/10/2004
8/7/2013
Our security measures, plans for deicing aircraft, the age of our aircraft, and our plans for Stage 4
compliance should the Federal government set that standard were also topics of interest at the
meeting. Let me assure the Commission that Liberty Mutual will fully meet or exceed all security
requirements set by the FAA, TSA, Massport and any other agency having jurisdiction over the
operation of aircraft and facilities at Hanscom Field. For reasons of security, I will not report on
the specifics of our plans in this letter.
Liberty Mutual follows the customary deicing protocol practiced by all operations at Hanscom
Field. Because we do not operate or own deicing equipment we contract with on-field service
providers on an as needed basis.
All of our planes are Stage 3 noise compliant aircraft, the highest standard set by the Federal
government. They will also be fully compliant with Stage 4 requirements should the Federal
government implement this standard, as it is currently written. The ages of our planes are as
follows: two were built in 2003, one in 2000, and one in 1989. We are in the process of selling a
plane we no longer use.
Attendees also asked for the number of exemptions received by Liberty Mutual for curfew
violations in 2003, the corporate policy on idling jets, information on aircraft use and clarification
on the need for a larger hangar building.
Liberty Mutual did not receive, nor did we request any exemptions from curfew violations in 2003.
Liberty Mutual operates our aircraft as efficiently and responsibly as possible. Standard operating
procedures dictate that the engines are run as required; and not for any extended period of time
unnecessarily.
Liberty Mutual operates four aircraft, all based at Hanscom Field. We have no plans to increase this
number of aircraft in the foreseeable future. As I mentioned earlier, the number of flights we have
operated over the last several years has been approximately level at about 260 flights per year, the
equivalent of less than one flight per day. Liberty Mutual anticipates operations will continue at
similar levels for the foreseeable future.
The chief reason for submitting our proposal is because the current facility is too small for us to
safely protect and maintain our aircraft. We take the safe operation of our aircraft very seriously. I
am sure you will agree that for us to do otherwise would be irresponsible of us as an employer and
neighbor.
Deleted:
3/12/2004
Deleted:
3/10/2004
8/7/2013
I hope this information is helpful. Once again, I appreciated the opportunity to discuss this project
with the Hanscom Field Advisory Commission. If I can be of further assistance, please do not
hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
William E. Costa
Senior Leasing Project Manager
Liberty Mutual Insurance Company
Deleted:
3/12/2004
Deleted:
3/10/2004
8/7/2013