HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-06-21-HFAC-min
Hanscom Field Advisory Commission
Minutes – 21 June 2022
Prepared by Massport Staff
Video of HFAC Meeting on the Lincoln, MA Live Streams Page:
https://lincolntv.viebit.com/index.php?folder=Hanscom+Field+Advisory
Call to Order: HFAC Chairman Christopher Eliot called the meeting to order at 7:03pm
Announcements:
Chairman Eliot recording HFAC Meeting; welcomed all to 21 June meeting pursuant to Chapter 22 of Acts of 2022
o Chairman Eliot reminded HFAC remote meeting provisions expire 15 July 2022
o Mike Vatalaro added that Massport’s Board Meeting is a hybrid meeting; Legislature may lean toward hybrid
o Emily Mitchell noted Bedford Select Board doing both in person and virtual; virtual HFAC is helpful to people
o Barbara Katzenberg would like occasional in person meeting but feels virtual meeting has worked well
o Mark Giddings suggested it was best for hybrid meetings to allow easier access for the public to attend
o Amber Goodspeed provided that Hanscom Field does not have full capability to hold a hybrid meeting in July
o Thomas Hirsch moved to plan July Zoom meeting and if not allowed, set up next meeting for August
Board voted unanimously to accept plan
Chairman Eliot has been pulling together old HFAC Meeting minutes in order to make accessible archive
o Bedford has large portion of meeting minutes in electronic format, Lexington has 12 years on microfiche and
Massport has mix of both electronic and paper copies; Chairman Eliot combining into one library
Chairman Eliot shared that he is taking a course on sustainable aviation
Chairman Eliot noted Annual State of Hanscom will be postponed until the next meeting
Minutes: The May 2022 Meeting Minutes were reviewed for approval
The May 2022 Meeting Minutes were approved unanimously with the following amendment:
o Change to word “Council” to “Counsel” in the Announcements
Cargo or Scheduled Commercial Passenger Services
Chairman Eliot asked Massport the two questions about Cargo and Scheduled Commercial Passenger Services
o Amber Goodspeed responded Massport has not been approached by heavy cargo or commercial scheduled
passenger service
Monthly Noise Reports: Amber Goodspeed presented the May Report and noted that:
In May 2022 as compared to May 2021:
7am - 11pm operations decreased 3.5% in May 2022
Singles (including touch and goes) decreased 18.3% in May 2022
Turbo activity increased 18.4% in May 2022
Jet operations increased 23.1% in May 2022
Helicopter activity increased 1.4% in May 2022
Night Operations (11pm-7am) increased 51.9% in May 2022
Capital Programs and Third Party Development Reports: Amber Goodspeed presented the Capital Programs and
Third Party Development reports and noted that:
Pre-construction activity is being wrapped up at Ross Aviation Pine Hill construction area; construction ongoing
Massachusetts Port Authority Board of Directors assigned North Airfield Ventures as the developer of the north
airfield RFP at the June Board Meeting; conceptual design was shown
o Not a Fixed Based Operation, buildings currently designed parallel to Hartwell Road designed as buffer. No fuel
farm in the design
o Mark Giddings queried about the concept of value for project: Amber Goodspeed did not have dollar value
o Emily Mitchell interested in how much new impervious surface will be within new parcel, which will be
addressed during permitting
o Margaret Coppe asked about Massport property line portrayed on maps; line shown as dashed black-white line
Taxiway Romeo maintenance activities estimated to begin in August timeframe; more information to follow
Request for qualifications for 2022 ESPR due 24 June
Agenda Items: Topics discussed on published agenda:
Chairman Eliot presented his hypothesis for Hanscom in 2050; does not predict dramatic changes
o Leaded avgas will be gone, short range electric aircraft, electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft
No new information about FAA representative attending a future HFAC meeting
Thomas Hirsch brought attention to Chairman Eliot about new information on avgas; will be discussed at later date
Citizen Comments: Citizens commented on and/or asked about the following topics:
Jennifer Boles inquired about developers and their experience creating aviation facilities and hangers
o Michael Vatalaro noted group presented best proposal and consists of individuals with aviation experience
Chairman Eliot shared track of aircraft submitted by Amy McCoy that flew around her residence for 45 minutes
o Thomas Hirsch expounded on railroad track intersection that makes a good reference point for performing turns
o Amy McCoy contested that all training is concentrated at the Wachusett Reservoir and Moore Army Airfield
o Barbara Katzenberg queried about what data shows about actual flight distribution in area
o Amy McCoy indicated that there was no public input about training locations not in an airport community
o Thomas Hirsch explained no regulations preventing general training areas other than altitude restrictions
o Chairman Eliot commented on inherent conflict with aviation because one flight can affect thousands on ground
o Amy McCoy noted new legislation being proposed by MA State Representatives to address aircraft noise
Jennifer Boles inquired about data package from Chris McCann; no data has been shared with Chairman Eliot yet
o Chairman Eliot shared had collected database of flight tracks looking for density spots; concluded there is an
awful lot of airplanes and no matter where you were, one could hear aircraft
Patty Dahlgren inquired about regulations on unmanned flight apparatus
o Thomas Hirsch answered there is an automated system online that remote pilots can use to make reservations to
fly; limited up to 400 feet above ground level; depends on weight of the unit
Other Business: The proposed date for the next HFAC meeting is 19 July 2022 at 7:00 p.m.
Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 8:31 p.m.
Attendees: Christopher Eliot, Margaret Coppe, Barbara Katzenberg, Thomas Hirsch, Mark Giddings, Emily Mitchell,
Amber Goodspeed, Michael Vatalaro, Mark Wimmer, Richard Baughman, Jennifer Boles, Patty Dahlgren, Robert
Legge, Lexie Marshall, Amy McCoy, Mike Rosenberg and Julie McCay Turner.