HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-09-20-HFAC-min
Hanscom Field Advisory Commission
Minutes – 20 September 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 7:01pm
Announcements:
Chairman Eliot recording HFAC Meeting; all welcomed to 20 Sept meeting pursuant to MA Open Meeting Law
o Vote required per OML 29.2 (e) to officially allow remote participation; HFAC voted unanimously to allow
Margaret Coppe questioned how to get HFAC agendas and minutes to Lexington website
o Barbara Katzenberg stated items should be posted in every town; she will get minutes posted in Lexington
o Chairman Eliot keeps record of names and date he gets responses from towns; getting posted on bulletin boards
o Amber Goodspeed will send final approved meeting minutes to Chairman Eliot
o Determined HFAC a Regional Public Body; notices shall be filed and posted in each city/town within region
o Barbara Katzenberg expressed her concerns that the existence of HFAC is not posted in any Lexington site
Minutes: The July 2022 Meeting Minutes were reviewed for approval
The following amendments were suggested for the July 2022 Meeting Minutes:
o Change to last name for Julie from “McKay” to “McCay” in the June Attendees section
o Mark Wimmer reported Massport was unable to identify any weekly overnight helicopter activity out of BED
o Jennifer Boles requested to change her comment in Agenda Items Section from “fearful” to “concerned”
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 July and August Reports and noted that:
In July 2022 as compared to July 2021:
7am - 11pm operations increased 15.2% in July 2022
Singles (including touch and goes) increased 25.8% in July 2022
Turbo activity decreased 13.3% in July 2022
Jet operations decreased 1.3% in July 2022
Helicopter activity increased 4.8% in July 2022
Night Operations (11pm-7am) increased from 224 in July 2021 to 226 in July 2022, a 0.9 % increase
Calendar year operation totals decreased 4.2% when compared to pre-pandemic levels
Barbara Katzenberg asked if reports could be provided at an earlier timeframe for review
Margaret Coppe queried about increase of military flights in August 2022 as compared to August 2021
o Thomas Hirsch questioned if Hanscom Air Force Aero Club flights counted as military
o Amber Goodspeed explained that USAF registered aircraft are military and how aircraft are categorized for EXP
calculations in categories 21 and 21M
7am - 11pm operations increased 2.1% in August 2022
Singles (including touch and goes) increased 1.6% in August 2022
Turbo activity decreased 4.9% in August 2022
Jet operations decreased 1.4% in August 2022
Helicopter activity increased 14.1% in August 2022
Night Operations (11pm-7am) increased from 219 in August 2021 to 231 in August 2022, a 5.5% increase
Calendar year operation totals decreased 4.0% when compared to pre-pandemic levels
Chairman Eliot asked about decrease at Lincoln noise monitor; typically impacted by livestock or lack thereof
Capital Programs and Third Party Development Reports: Amber Goodspeed presented the Capital Programs and
Third Party Development reports and noted that:
2019 Vegetation Management Plan work completed in 2022; next update will be part of next five year plan in 2023
Massport in process of acquiring an electric pickup truck to evaluate if it is appropriate for airfield activities
Taxiway Romeo maintenance activities is substantially complete; will be removed from update list
Consultant Harris, Miller, Miller & Hanson has been selected as the project management team for ESPR update
o Amber Goodspeed will update HFAC once a schedule is received; evaluates conditions for calendar year 2022
o Amy McCoy queried about flight training areas included in ESPR; scoping meetings will evaluate content
Agenda Items: Topics discussed on published agenda:
Chairman Eliot announced FAA supplemental type certificate (STC) for GAMI unleaded fuel in piston aircraft
o Thomas Hirsch suggested biggest problem is finding a refiner willing to produce new fuel as well as distribution
Chairman Eliot plotted Airnoise data for 2020, 2021 and first half of 2022; plotted where the complaints were
o Complaints about jets line up with the runways; people complaining about jets as they take off
o Singles and helicopter complaints are around the airport; include complaints about touch and gos
o 57% of the 2020 complaints were about singles, 23% jets, 13% helicopters; same percentages for 2021
o 2022 complaints were 56% jets and 13% singles. Chairman Eliot will ask for end of year data
Citizen Comments: Citizens commented on and/or asked about the following topics:
Jennifer Boles asked if the noise reports could be provided the Friday before the HFAC meeting
Thomas Hirsch indicated he was unaware Aero Club flights were included in the military totals
o Margaret Coppe would like to see better representation of the military aircraft; break into singles and jets
o Amber Goodspeed explained same totals need to be listed to maintain historical consistency; can’t list military
aircraft with civilian aircraft
o Suggestion to add notation to indicate military total includes Hanscom Aero Club aircraft; Massport will research
Jennifer Boles stated Waltzing Matilda was approved for scheduled passenger service.
o Amber Goodspeed replied that Waltzing Matilda does not have an operating agreement with Massport to provide
scheduled passenger service out of BED and has not requested one
Other Business: The proposed date for the next HFAC meeting is 18 October 2022 at 7:00 p.m.
Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 8:37 p.m.
Attendees: Christopher Eliot, Margaret Coppe, Barbara Katzenberg, Thomas Hirsch, Emily Mitchell, Amber Goodspeed,
Michael Vatalaro, Mark Wimmer, Christopher Boles, Jennifer Boles, Amy McCoy and Mike Rosenberg.