HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-10-17-HFAC-min
Hanscom Field Advisory Commission Minutes
October 17, 2006
Prepared by Massport Staff
1.September Minutes:
The September Minutes were accepted without corrections.
2.Tour:
Hank Manz thanked Massport for the tour of the airfield and for food afterwards.
He noted that attendance for the tour was lower than expected.
3.Monthly Noise Report:
Sara Arnold presented the Monthly Noise Report. In response
to questions, S. Arnold commented:
a.Total operations to-date for 2006 indicate there will be a decrease for the year as
compared to last year, but jet activity will increase.
b.Time of day, type of aircraft and number of operations are all factors that
determine noise levels for Hanscom Field noise reports.
c.Hanscom staff count all noise disturbance reports and log them into the computer
system. The noise office researches them and minimally determines if they are
civilian or military. There is no method to correlate daytime complaints with type
of aircraft, but it is expected that the new noise monitoring system will be able to
provide additional information for most flights that cause disturbances.
Depending on the frequency of calls from individual residents, the number of
monthly noise complaints can vary considerably.
4.Annual Noise Report:
S. Arnold presented the Annual Noise Report. Tom Hirsch
commented that the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) is concerned that
student pilot numbers are down nationally; this is consistent with the decline in touch-
and-go traffic at Hanscom.
In response to a question regarding the number of helicopter operations used in the
report, S. Arnold commented that helicopters are usually flown VFR, making it necessary
to estimate the level of activity. Slight adjustments to the helicopter estimate will not
change noise levels because jet activity is the main factor that drives noise levels.
The purpose of the EXP noise model is to show changes in noise levels year-to-year.
EXP was created in the 1980s in response to the community’s request for a mechanism to
track noise. The methodology was created by Harris Miller Miller and Hanson (HMMH),
a highly respected noise consultant, and HMMH reviews the data and report each year. S.
Arnold noted that EXP calculations are based on the FAA’s Integrated Noise Model
(INM).
Tom Ennis said that the noise data that is collected at Hanscom is used in the
Environmental Status and Planning Report (ESPR). He noted that both reports are highly
professional and provide the communities with valuable information.
In response to community questions, S. Arnold said that Massport’s two main recent
initiatives to reduce noise are to more aggressively encourage nationwide sponsored fly
friendly techniques and to support Sound Initiative, a national organization that is
working to phase out Stage 2 aircraft nationally.
5.Hanscom Projects:
S. Arnold reported that side-by-side testing of the new noise
monitors is completed and the evaluation is being conducted. Installation of the monitors
should begin in the near future.
T. Ennis reported that Massport plans to file the 2005 ESPR in late November and will
hold public comment meetings in January. He noted that copies will be distributed to the
Commission as well as to HATS, community town halls and the town libraries. Gordon
Feltman expressed community dissatisfaction with the MEPA process. T. Ennis noted
that the ESPR is a planning document that many state agencies beyond Massport use for
planning.
T. Ennis reported that Massport plans to reissue the RFP for the development of the
Hangar 24 site. In response to questions about the old t-hangars, T. Ennis noted that
Massport would consider relocating that t-hangar area to the east ramp if there were third
party development interest in that area. This is reviewed in the 2005 ESPR.
The Commission asked Massport if there had been any discussions with new commercial
carriers and/or cargo operators. D. Steele responded that there have not been any.
6.Other:
H. Manz noted that as of late many questions at the meetings are coming from
the aviation community. He thanked Massport, Barry Morgan and Tom Hirsch for their
contributions to the tour.
Barbara Patzner noted that Massport is willing to present a brief report on the New
England Regional Airport Study Plan at a future HFAC meeting. Hank Manz agreed that
this is a good idea. Massport will look into presenting the report at the next meeting,
which is scheduled for November 21, 2006.
HANSCOM FIELD ADVISORY COMMISSION
DATE: 10/17/06
HFAC COMMISSIONER ATTENDEES
CATEGORY NAME IN ATTENDANCE
**********************
Contiguous Towns (4)
Bedford Gordon Feltman X
Bedford Alt. Mark Siegenthaler
Concord Anne Shapiro
Concord Alt. Charles Blair
Lexington Hank Manz X
Lexington Alt. Michael Barrett
Lincoln Sara Mattes
Lincoln Alt. Sarah Cannon-Holden
**********************
Local Citizen Groups (2)
So. Lex Margaret Coppe
No. Lex Graydon Wheaton X
**********************
Area Wide Organizations (2)
LWV Melodee Wagen
LWV Alt.
VACANT
**********************
Other Area Towns (2)
Carlisle Steve Lerner
Waltham Rep. Tom Stanley
Waltham Alt. Michael Squillante
**********************
Businesses Basing Acft at Hanscom (2)
VACANT
VACANT
**********************
Aviation/Aviation Related Businesses (2)
Jet Aviation Frank Diglio
Signature Flight Support Rick Blaze X
Signature Alt. Jim Phelps X
**********************
Business Aviation Organization (1)
MBAA John Williams
NBAA (Alt. Org.) Ken Heider
**********************
General Aviation Organization (1)
Hanscom Pilots Association Thomas Hirsch X
**********************
Commission Advisors
Massport Sara Arnold X
Massport Barbara Patzner X
Massport Cedric Daniel X
Massport Dorothy Steele X
Massport Tom Ennis X
HAFB
FAA Barry Morgan X
MMNHP Nancy Nelson