HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-06-20-HFAC-min
Hanscom Field Advisory Commission
Minutes – 20 June 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 7:03pm
Announcements:
Chairman Eliot recording HFAC Meeting; welcomed all to 20 June meeting pursuant to MA Open Meeting Law
Chairman Eliot does not support civil disobedience approach for the North Airfield; personal opinion
Chairman Eliot presented a guide explaining use of common flight tracking tools
Chairman Eliot dropped document into the chat about fossil free fuels just for general information on the topic
Chairman Eliot provided a draft letter to the Department of Transportation on Advanced Air Mobility (AAM)
o Thomas Hirsch commented that electric airplanes are cost prohibitive for training at this time
o Chairman Eliot would like residents on the ground and environment to be considered when regulations written
o Margaret Coppe and Emily Mitchell gave some grammatical edits
o HFAC unanimously voted that edited version of the letter be submitted to the Department of Transportation
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Chairman Eliot noted he attended the May 22 Concord Select Meeting; discussion on North Airfield
Chairman Eliot suggested weekly meetings during draft Environmental Notification Form (ENF) comment period
Minutes: The May 2023 Meeting Minutes were reviewed for approval
The May 2023 Meeting Minutes were approved unanimously with no amendments
Cargo or Scheduled Commercial Passenger Services
Amber Goodspeed stated there have been no requests for future scheduled passenger or cargo service
Monthly Noise Reports: presented by Amber Goodspeed
In May 2023 as compared to May 2022:
7am - 11pm operations increased 9.3% in May 2023
Singles (including touch and goes) increased 16.4% in May 2023
Turbo activity increased 11.5% in May 2023
Jet operations decreased 1.1% in May 2023
Helicopter activity increased 5.5% in May 2023
Night Operations (11pm-7am) decreased 17.3% from 278 in May 2022 to 230 in May 2023
Chairman Eliot asked Barbara Katzenberg to formulate draft HFAC input letter for FAA’s Noise Policy Review
o Emily Mitchell shared letter Bedford submitted stating their recommendations
Capital Programs and Third Party Development Reports: Amber Goodspeed presented the Capital Programs and
Third Party Development reports and noted that:
Massport Hanscom Maintenance Department currently testing an electric transit van
Signature is moving into the new FBO facility and will begin demolition of the old FBO facility in summer 2023
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The Runway 05/23 Phase 1 rehabilitation project commenced on June 5; no construction concerns received
Emily Mitchell wanted to clarify difference between North Airfield and Atlantic Aviation at Pine Hill projects
Agenda Items: Topics discussed on published agenda:
Amber Goodspeed presented the Hanscom Field 2022 Annual Noise Report
o Reviewed all chapters, highlighting history of Hanscom Field, operational numbers, nighttime operations, noise
exposure levels, noise abatement policy, noise calls to Massport, DNL levels and the Noise Monitoring system
o The entire report is posted on the Massport website
o Chairman Eliot mentioned the public comment period for the FAA’s current use of Day-Night Average Sound
Level (DNL) as the national noise metric for assessing cumulative aircraft noise exposure
o Emily Mitchell discussed the nighttime field use fee
Chairman Eliot met with aide for Representative Katherine Clark’s office; suggested HATS arrange meeting with
town select boards and State/Federal legislators
Citizen Comments: Citizens commented on and/or asked about the following topics
Jennifer Boles had questions about helicopters and the tenant list for Hanscom Field
Anne Calhoun asked about the noise differences between a helicopter and an airplane
o Thomas Hirsch described characteristics of both aircraft during landings
Emily Mitchell reminded HFAC that HATS meeting will be on 18 June at 7pm via hybrid Zoom
Other Business: The date for the next HFAC meeting will be at 7:00 p.m. on 18 July 2023 via Zoom
On the agenda will be Bedford Infrastructure Impacts
Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 8:51 p.m.
Attendees: Christopher Eliot, Margaret Coppe, Barbara Katzenberg, Thomas Hirsch, Emily Mitchell, Amber Goodspeed,
Mike Vatalaro, Mark Wimmer, Lindsey White, Terri Ackerman, Jennifer Boles, Anne Calhoun, Patty Dahlgren, Jeanne
Krieger, S. Lance, Julie McCay Turner, Amy McCoy, Gail O’Keefe, Neal Rasmussen, Todd Rhodes, Brad Rosse, Anne
Sobol, Kathleen Sullivan and David Sykes. In addition, there were several unidentified attendees.