HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-03-15-HFAC-minHanscom Field Advisory Commission
Minutes – 15 March 2022
Prepared by Massport Staff
Video of HFAC Meeting can be found on the BEDFORD TV YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpGZoHgJ7H08Lcm7aj90Gfw
Call to Order: HFAC Chairman Christopher Eliot called the meeting to order at 7:05pm
Announcements:
Chairman Eliot recording HFAC Meeting; welcomed all to 15 Mar meeting pursuant to Chapter 20 of Acts of 2021
Chairman Eliot announced Ross Aviation and Quiet Communities will be speaking at HFAC
Chairman Eliot shared that the FAA announced to eliminate lead in aviation fuels by 2030 and that Airbus is going
to test a hydrogen fueled engine on an A380
Chairman Eliot provided information about the electric Alice corporate aircraft being developed by Israeli
company Eviation in Arlington, WA; planning to do their initial flight test in the upcoming weeks. May be used
on routes between Martha’s Vineyard and Cape Cod; may one day use Hanscom Field as airfield
Chairman Eliot added three documents to the chat
Minutes: The February 2022 Meeting Minutes were reviewed for approval
The February 2022 Meeting Minutes were approved unanimously with the following amendments
o Amend spelling of Airnoise in Agenda Items
o Fix 2018 nomenclature in Capital Programs and Third Party Development Reports
Margaret Coppe asked where copies of the Meeting Minutes are stored
o Amber Goodspeed responded that Massport stores meeting minutes copies; could ask if Massport host website
o Barbara Katzenberg added that copies could be kept for Lexington
o Thomas Hirsch noted that HFAC website was never accomplished due to lack of funding
Cargo or Scheduled Commercial Passenger Services
Chairman Eliot asked Massport the two questions about Cargo and Scheduled Commercial Passenger Services
Amber Goodspeed responded to the best of her knowledge, Massport has not been approached by heavy cargo or
commercial scheduled passenger service
Agenda Items: Topics discussed on published agenda:
Chairman Eliot addressed request to share HFAC zoom meetings
o Margaret Coppe voiced all HFAC meetings are public with anyone allowed to attend; zoom not official minutes
o Emily Mitchell agreed with points raised by Margaret; Bedford pays contractor to add meetings to YouTube
o Chairman Eliot concerned about cost associated with potential amount of downloads; needs to find terms
Amber Goodspeed Introduced the project team working on the Ross Aviation hangar, located in Concord on
Virginia Road
o Kevin Uniacke, project architect with UDA Architects, Ashley Watts General Manager of Ross Aviation at
Hanscom Field, Justin Mosca site civil engineer with VHB, Shannon Erickson Senior Project manager with
Buildtech LLC.
o Kevin Uniacke provided project overview; remove 38 current t-hangars, replace with 3 general aviation hangars
o Emily Mitchell questioned configuration of new buildings; Ashley Watts stated the new hangars are expected to
hold eight to nine aircraft.
o Margaret Coppe inquired about type of aircraft in new hangars; fleet mix will be corporate aircraft
o Thomas Hirsch inquired about Boeing Business jets and was informed that type aircraft will not fit in hangars
o Barbara Katzenberg queried about impervious surface; there will more for project but net for all projects is less
o Amber Goodspeed added construction vehicle route is out Virginia Road to Route 2A to Route 128
Jamie Banks of Quiet Communities provided an overview of the coalition focused on reducing noise and pollution
o Has five Quiet programs: Coalition, Conversation, Healthcare, Outdoors and American Skies
o Arline Bronzaft, honorary chair of Quiet American Skies, spoke about community involvement in process
o Chairman Eliot asked about increased sensitivity of aircraft noise; surmised way to reduce it has not been found
o Jennifer Boles queried about 65 DNL FAA standard; researchers have requested lowering of standard to 55 DNL
Monthly Noise Reports: Amber Goodspeed presented the February Report and noted that:
In February 2022 as compared to February 2021:
7am - 11pm operations increased 11.7% in February 2022
Singles (including touch and goes) decreased 9.3% in February 2022
Turbo activity increased 29.0% in February 2022
Jet operations increased 41.9% in February 2022
Helicopter activity increased 5.1% in February 2022
Night Operations (11pm-7am) increased from 114 in February 2020 to 164 in February 2022, a 43.9 % increase
Calendar year to date operations are down 11.6% in 2022 compared to 2019 pre-pandemic levels
Emily Mitchell noted complaint total for February is the lowest amount in consecutive months since July 2021
Capital Programs and Third Party Development Reports: Amber Goodspeed presented the Capital Programs and
Third Party Development reports and noted that:
Vegetation Management team plans to follow up with Bedford Conservation Commission and their Arborist to
discuss completion of work; frozen ground conditions delayed work
As discussed previously in HFAC, Ross Aviation project is ongoing; imagery provided showed updates to project
Former Navy Hangar Land Swap appraisals are expected to be completed during Spring 2022
Pre-construction work for T-Hangar relocation ongoing; fencing, site security, erosion controls and access road
o Emily Mitchell queried about construction vehicles at T-Hangar construction; steel delivery is expected in
March-April. Twelve Month vertical construction project M-F during normal business hours. Monthly forecast
will be provided if available, but the long term nature of the project could move target dates due to multiple
variables
Bid documents for Taxiway R Maintenance have been posted on Bid Express; this is a pavement maintenance
project including milling and crack sealing
Massport expects to present winning bidder of North Airfield development to the Massport Board in May.
Citizen Comments: Citizens commented on and/or asked about the following topics:
Amy McCoy commented about Massport website indicating Massport is a partnering airport with the FAA; asked
for more mitigation through additional voluntary measures
o Chairman Eliot noted successful collaboration with Boston Med Flight to change training location
o Amber Goodspeed noted voluntary noise abatement procedures currently in place
Jennifer Boles asked about reduction of hangars, nomenclature of project, type of aircraft being housed and fuel
Margaret Coppe congratulated Emily Mitchell on her recent reelection to the Bedford Select Board
Other Business: The proposed date for the next HFAC meeting is 19 April 2022 at 7:00 p.m.
April is the month for reformation of HFAC; election of chairman for next year
Emily Mitchell noted date for April HFAC was incorrect on the Agenda
Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 8:42 p.m.
Attendees: Christopher Eliot, Margaret Coppe, Barbara Katzenberg, Thomas Hirsch, Emily Mitchell, Amber Goodspeed,
Michael Vatalaro, Mark Wimmer, Jamie Banks, Arline Bronzaft, Chris Boles, Jennifer Boles, Louis Bradberry, Arline
Bronzaft, Shannon Erickson, Amy McCoy, David McCoy, Justin Mosca, Mike Rosenberg, Kevin Uniacke and Ashley
Watts