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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-02-15-HFAC-min Hanscom Field Advisory Commission Minutes February 15, 2011 Prepared by Massport Staff 1. Introductions: New meeting participants were introduced to the group. The meeting was called to order by Jeanne Krieger. 2. Monthly Noise Report/ Hanscom Projects: Sara Arnold presented the December noise report and in response to questions noted that: The 2010 annual civilian departure EXP is not recorded on Page 2 of the report because the results are not final until Massport review the annual data for publication in the Annual Noise Report. Massport has always focused on the civilian portion of EXP because HFAC has traditionally been interested in civilian operations. Decibel level changes at noise monitors, like the monitor closest to the national park, are influenced by a combination of aircraft and community noise. Modeling of the noise levels in EXP enables Massport to identify aircraft noise without community noise. periodically based on updates to the Integrated Noise Model (INM). Massport can also enter new aircraft manually in EXP, until the group is known. 3. Capital Programs and Third Party Development Report: Dorothy Steele presented the capital projects report. There are no new capital projects to report; some existing projects have been completed. The vegetation removal in the Concord Land Trust is complete. Massport removed seven obsolete light poles at the arrival end of runway 23, some of which were in the Jordan Conservation Area. Snow piles are moved to non-operational areas of the field after snow storms. Massport uses an FAA approved chemical de-icer (sodium formate) on the runways when conditions permit. FAA approved sand is also used. Plowing is the primary method of snow removal on the airfield. The 2007 FAA reauthorization bill includes language to phase out Stage 1 and Stage 2 aircraft. has not been passed to date. Massport is a member of Sound Initiative; an aviation group that supports this legislation to phase out Stage 1 and Stage 2 aircraft by regulation rather than relying on attrition. Massport will present the Annual State of Hanscom report which will include an update on the Minuteman National Park Fly Friendly Program. The program is directed towards reducing touch and go piston aircraft that fly over the Hartwell Tavern area of the park. There are no plans to update the 1978 Master Plan. The Generic Environmental Impact Reports (GEIR) and Environmental Status and Planning Reports (ESPR) are the updates to the planning documents. 4. Conversion of databases that produces EXP: The database currently in use requires manual entering of FAA flight strips. Due to recent FAA requirements, the flight strips are not available for 45 days. The new database will not rely on FAA flight strips; therefore data will be available in a timelier manner. The new system will use the same calculations as the existing system, including the incorporation of tower counts from the FAA. The new system will include operational data from Massport Noise Operations and Monitoring System (NOMS). The conversion will take several months. As Massport always emphasizes, the numbers of operations by aircraft and type are estimates based on data compiled from multiple sources we compile and combine. EXP, the metric used to track changes in noise, was created for the communities to best understand and monitor changes in aircraft noise at Hanscom. Using the new sources for operations data should have a minimal impact on EXP. 5. HFAC Membership: J. Krieger discussed the current effort to create a full slate of HFAC members based on the legislation that created HFAC. Massport is currently reaching out to aviation representatives to join the group. There will be more details before next meeting. 6. Charter Operation: Dorothy Steele advised that Massport has not had discussions with scheduled commercial or cargo operators. Massport was approached by a scheduled charter operator about the prospect of operating 2 flights per day (Monday through Friday) from Hanscom to Trenton, New Jersey. The company, Charter Air Transportation, will base their operation in Trenton, New Jersey. They are interested in operating Embraer 120 turbo prop aircraft for this service. These aircraft have a capacity of 30 passengers. This service would be similar (scheduling flights, etc) to the existing air taxi/charter operators that are currently servicing Hanscom Field. The main difference would be that the prospective operation would process passengers in the Civil Air Terminal rather than with the local Fixed Based Operators be governed under FAA Part 135, which does not require security pre-board screening by the federal government. Charter Air Transportation would like to begin service in the next few months. 7. Other: Logan CAC: In response to an inquiry, D. Steele discussed the Logan Community Advisory Committee (Logan CAC). The committee is comprised of impacted community representatives. Recent discussions have focused on mitigation efforts related to the Logan Airport Improvements and Planning ision and runway 14/32 operations. She advised the attendees that they may be able to join the Logan CAC if they are recommended, in writing, by an elected official. Sara Arnold perspective on HFAC : In response to inquiries, Sara Arnold discussed her 23 years as an HFAC participant. She stated that, at times, there has been controversy and tension between Massport and the communities. Although Hangar 24 is currently a controversial topic, hangars have been built in the past without controversy. Aircraft do not come to Hanscom to visit the airport; they come for business reasons or for personal reasons. She encouraged communication and open dialog to maintain a productive and cooperative relationship. She noted that activity at the airport is market driven. 8. The next HFAC meeting is scheduled for March 15, 2011. Massport will present the Annual State of Hanscom. Massport requested a room with amenities for a Power Point presentation. Attendees : Tom Hirsch, Jeanne Krieger, Kati Winchell, Dee Ortner, Mark Siegenthaler, Elise Woodward, Dorothy Steele, Cedric Daniel, Sara Arnold, and Sharon Williams.