HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-04-18-HFAC-min
Hanscom Field Advisory Commission
Minutes – 18 April 2023
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 7:04pm
Announcements:
Chairman Eliot recording HFAC Meeting; welcomed all to 18 Apr meeting pursuant to MA Open Meeting Law
Chairman Eliot noted there was a change in nomination for the head of the Federal Aviation Administration
Chairman Eliot shared the provisional calendar for focus topics collaborated with Thomas Hirsch
Chairman Eliot confirmed the MA Legislature passed an extension on the Open Meeting Law till 31 March 2025
Minutes: The March 2023 Meeting Minutes were reviewed for approval
The March 2023 Meeting Minutes were approved unanimously with the following amendment:
o Add “North Airfield Project” to clarify bullet in Capital Program and Third Party Development Reports section
Cargo or Scheduled Commercial Passenger Services
Amber Goodspeed stated no heavy cargo or commercial scheduled passenger service has approached Massport
Clarified the FAA definition of scheduled passenger service is more than four round trips a week.
Monthly Noise Reports: presented by Amber Goodspeed
In February 2023 as compared to February 2022:
7am - 11pm operations increased 0.5% in February 2023
Singles (including touch and goes) increased 7.8% in February 2023
Turbo activity decreased 15.1% in February 2023
Jet operations decreased 6.2% in February 2023
Helicopter activity increased 5.6% in February 2023
Night Operations (11pm-7am) decreased 11.0% from 164 in February 2022 to 146 in February 2023
In March 2023 as compared to March 2022:
7am - 11pm operations decreased 0.1% in March 2023
Singles (including touch and goes) decreased 8.5% in March 2023
Turbo activity decreased 2.9% in March 2023
Jet operations decreased 12.3% in March 2023
Helicopter activity increased 0.3% in March 2023
Night Operations (11pm-7am) decreased 17.7% from 198 in March 2022 to 163 in March 2023
Barbara Katzenberg asked for an explanation of the math listed in the monthly report
Thomas Hirsch clarified that dBs shown on Page 2 of the report are modeled EXP values and not measured
Capital Programs and Third Party Development Reports: Amber Goodspeed presented the Capital Programs and
Third Party Development reports and noted that:
Scheduled updates and contact information for the Runway 05/23 Phase 1 rehabilitation project will appear on the
Massport website; link will be provided to the HFAC when available
o Amber Goodspeed clarified that construction vehicles will access Runway 05/23 via Gate 9 on Virginia Road to
avoid active aircraft movement areas
o Elizabeth Coules asked about aircraft operating on Runway 05/23 interfering with construction vehicles; Mark
Wimmer explained Runway 05/23 will be closed during construction
o Elizabeth Coules had questions about trucks being washed
Sue Wolff queried about trucks going to Atlantic Aviation at Pine Hill construction area; steel erection ongoing
Agenda Items: Topics discussed on published agenda:
Chairman Eliot defined a ferry flight as aircraft landing or departing airport without passengers.
o Chairman Eliot theorized that once new hangar space absorbs ferry flights, new flights may be attracted
o Thomas Hirsch explained that it is not profitable to fly aircraft empty and discussed the economic benefits of
aircraft sales, service and operation
Thomas Hirsch presented information on electric Vertical Take Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft
o Urban air mobility moves people around and advanced air mobility is delivery of packages, aerial inspecting, etc
o Aircraft use same parameters as helicopters and would not be hard to integrate into airspace
o Batteries limit electric aircraft to low speeds and short distances; not suitable for long flights
o May be future business opportunity for short flights to nearby destinations
Citizen Comments: Citizens commented on and/or asked about the following topics
No additional comments
Other Business: The date for the next HFAC meeting will be at 7:00 p.m. on 16 May 2023 via Zoom
On the agenda will be sustainable aviation fuel, forest and wildlife impacts and general private jet travel
Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m.
Attendees: Christopher Eliot, Margaret Coppe, Barbara Katzenberg, Mark Giddings, Thomas Hirsch, Amber Goodspeed,
Michael Vatalaro, Mark Wimmer, Terri Ackerman, Karen Beckley, Jennifer Boles, Anne Calhoun, Alex Chatfield,
Patricia Costello, Elizabeth Coules, Bob Domnitz, Magruder Donaldson, Corinne Doud, Steven Hagan, Carol Kelly,
Nancy Kerr, Christine Lundblad, Jeff Miller, Paul Mortenson, Patricia O’Hagan, Gail O’Keefe, Lydia Rogers, Mike
Rosenberg, Judith Sherman, Ralph Smith, Judy Stein, Kathleen Sullivan, Sue Swanson, Julie McCay Turner, Sabine Von
Mering, Kati Winchell and Sue Wolff. In addition, there were several unidentified attendees.