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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1977-09-20-GHTF-min.pdf 7 October 1977 GOVERNOR'S HANSCOM TASK FORCE Minutes of the meeting of 20 September 1977 The meeting was opened at about 7 45 in Estabrook Hall in Lexington Attendance - see list 1 Master Plan Activity Dan Greenbaum of the Massport Planning Division reported that during the summer, the Massport planning staff had conducted the user survey required for the planned economic impact study It has also inventoried Massport- owned properties at Hanscom. Now Massport intends to develop a draft master plan To this end, the Mass- port Board has designated a Master Plan Subcommittee comprising Board members Arthur Gelb, Chairman, Michael Christian and Ann Hershfang It is antici- pated that the subcommittee will confer with the Task Force on the resolution of policy issues The schedule for completion of the formal master plan is Distribution of draft to Task Force about 20 October Review by Task Force Tuesday, 1 November Review & approval by Massport Board Thursday, 17 November Publication late November Task Force meeting Tuesday, 29 November Public Hearing - Monday, 19 December Cary Memorial Hall, Lexington, 7 to 11 p m. (Dates as given by Cathy Donaher on 6 October 1977) 2 Summary of Analysis - Activities Greenbaum presented a "Summary of Hanscom Field Master Plan Analysis", Septem- ber 1977 The summary gives smaller projections and a later time for attain- ment of capacity levels of operations at Hanscom than those shown in the consultants' report The basis for the reduced projections, which will be used in the master plan, is the new FAA national and regional projections Greenbaum predicted that when the airport reaches capacity in the late 1980's the noise levels will be less than at present Since the consultants' uncon- strained (960,000) forecast was used for comparison, and the new forecast is constrained, it was agreed that the consultants' constrained (320,000) fore- cast should be used instead In discussion of this point, Bard Crawford stated that last summer noise and flight frequency increased It was reported that base users felt the airport was at capacity in July Whether July operations were over previous years could not be ascertained at the meeting Increases in transient jet usage could account for the additional noise per- ceived 3 User Analysis In the User Analysis the planners have established that two-thirds of the 20 September 1977 meeting minutes 2 operations are by based aircraft There were 2000 operations on the highest day Crawford stated that we could end up with a noisier Hanscom Field Mike Goulian pointed out that the current new designs of aircraft will be around for ten years; there is no new generation of corporate jets in development Grumman abandoned plans to manufacture the Gulfstream III The noise reduc- tion package for the Jetstar costs $200,000 4 Land Use Greenbaum reported that the land use part of the study would not be included in the summaries to be distributed in October; the mapping is not complete The land use study will examine the aviation, environmental and zoning restraints on land use Greenbaum noted that Concord has approached Massport on releasing land in Concord for conservation/recreation purposes This proposal will be consid- ered in the Master Plan. Massport will not, however, specify a grand plan for land use in the draft Master Plan stage Arthur Barnes pointed out the need for joint inter-town planning, especially where transportation issues are involved 5 Summary - General Discussion In further discussion on the summary, Mike Goulian pointed out that, contrary to the predicted trend toward reduced training activity, the number of flight schools at Hanscom had doubled, from 3 to 6 in recent years Further, he said that Massport was saying to the fixed base operators that the fuel supply con- tract would go to one conducting a full-range fixed base operation including maintenance, hangaring, parts supply and flight school Mike predicted that the based fleet would double by 1980 There were several caveats as to the 320,000 operation per year "capacity` figure It is an elastic figure above which delays will face users, but it is by no means an absolute capacity limit The Massport Board Master Plan Subcommittee will draft a set of policy state- ments These will be given to the Task Force for discussion. Based on the Task Force interaction, Massport would take the policies to public hearings The subcommittee will serve as a channel for revisions 6 Task Force Policy Committee Report The Task Force reviewed the report, considering the Concord and Lexington state- ments received, considering the statements received from the Concord and Lex- ington Boards of Selectmen. Senator Amick suggested that statements be obtained from Bedford and Lincoln before the Task Force takes a vote on the report e3�g�1 20 September 1977 meeting minutes 3 In a review of the report members suggested some additional rewordings (attached), and raised some questions Under No 7, Bard Crawford asked whether it is intended that the Federal Express type of operation continue It is not intended to shut down any existing operation, but introduction of additional larger types of jet, such as DC-9's should not be permitted at Hanscom It is our understanding that should Federal Express do so, they would have to move to Logan Crawford also questioned whether the policy on preventing growth of noise had any meaning unless there could be baseline measurements 7 Baseline Noise Measurements In spite of the inclusion of noise measurements in the statement of work for the master plan study, none were made, and the noise contour data given in the report is derived analytically Since it has been generally agreed that itis the number and intensity of actual peak noise events that bothers resi- dents, and not the weighted average over a year of the theoretical noise expo- sure, the need for measurements to establish present conditions is vital It was suggested that the four towns be asked to appropriate money for such a program. The idea of an automatic noise monitoring station installed in the attic of a house near a flight path projection was suggested The meeting was adjourned at 10.15 POLICY COMMITTEE REPORT June 21, 1977 (Revised Sept 20, 1977) TO' GOVERNOR'S HANSCOM FIELD TASK FORCE FROM. A Barnes M. Nolan L Wales E Semerjian, Chmn T Campbell, E 0 D Greenbaum, E 0 ✓ Scarano, E 0 The Committee submits the following policy recommendations for review by the Task Force The Committee is unanimous in all of its recommendations except with respect to a night curfew The first twelve policy recommendations are identical with those adopted by the Task Force at its April 12, 1977 meet- ing for the public meeting discussions 1 The character and integrity of the surrounding communities should be protected and preserved 2 Land uses around the perimeter of the airport should be compatible with uses in neighboring towns and with the present use of the airport Uses on both sides of the airport boundaries should be planned in mutual cooperation. 3 The noise over the surrounding communities should not increase beyond what is today, and every effort should be made to progressively reduce noise and other pollution resulting from present use Baseline noise measurements are requisite to implement this policy 4 Those responsible for airport operation and those responsible for operation of aircraft should continue to work diligently to reduce noise and other pollution resulting from present use 5 There should be no substantial changes in general aviation using the airport which would result in more frequent flights or noisier types of air- craft without consultation with the surrounding communities Note Concord 8/22/77 p 2 paragraph 2 6 The utility of the airport as a transportation facility to the eco- nomy of the region should be preserved, including its use by the Electronic Systems Division of the Air Force 7 Certificated air carriers should be excluded from use of the airport 8 Helicopters should not be excluded from use of the airport, provided that adequate assurances can be obtained from Massport and helicopter operators that proper flight patterns and noise abatement procedures will be followed to prevent disturbance to the surrounding communities 9 The present capacity (estimated to be 320,000 operations at the pres- ent mix) should not be increased C\ -2- 10 There should be no expansion of airfield facilities for the purpose of increasing capacity or aircraft operations 11 A noise abatement committee should be established by Massport and the Governor's Hanscom Task Force or its successor to work with the communi- ties, aircraft operators and FAA personnel in establishing proper noise abatement program. 12 All proposed changes in ground traffic to and from Hanscom Field through the surrounding towns should be discussed and planned with the towns and Federal agencies involved, i e USAF and MMNHP 13 Aircraft which exceed certain noise emission ratings should be ex- cluded from use of Hanscom Field beginning in 1980 It is intended that this policy should not exclude those aircraft which serve the military operations at Hanscom or those infrequent events such as the arrival and departure of aircraft in which such area industries as Raytheon are installing or shipping equipment 14 Noise emission ratings should be adopted for Hanscom Field which tend to prevent any increase in the overall average noise emission character- istics of aircraft using the airport and which encourage a reduction in such overall average This policy includes the consideration of phased implementa- tion of noise emission standards 15 The presently operational informal curfew system should be continued in effect Only if night operations become more numerous so as to be judged objectionable by a Hanscom Noise Abatement Committee should the curfew be made mandatory In that event, however, the hours should be from 11 P.M. to 7 A.M. The airport manager and Noise Abatement Committee should discuss additional methods of reducing night operations, including additional differential land- ing fees The practice of turning the lights off at 11 P M. should be con- tinued (Barnes, Nolan, Wales Yes; Semerjian. No) (Note Lexington and Concord selectmen favor 15A ) 15A. A curfew from 11 P M. to 7 A.M. should be established for all air- craft operations at the airport (Semerjian. Yes; Barnes, Nolan, Wales No)