HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-09-17-HFAC-min
Hanscom Field Advisory Commission (HFAC)
Minutes – 17 September 2024
Prepared by Massport Staff
Video of HFAC Meeting on the Lincoln, MA TV Page:
https://cloud.castus.tv/vod/lincoln/?page=HOME
Call to Order: HFAC Chairman Christopher Eliot called the meeting to order at 7:02pm
Announcements:
Chairman Eliot recording HFAC Meeting; greeted all to Sep 17th meeting pursuant MA Open Meeting Law
Chairman Eliot announced new Concord representative, Teri Ackerman, from the Concord Select Board
Chairman Eliot raised issue of three or more HFAC members attending Hanscom Area Towns Committee (HATS)
making a quorum; Emily Mitchell suggested including agenda line indicating a quorum may be present
Amber Goodspeed confirmed that Richard Davey is Massport’s new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) as of August
Cargo or Scheduled Commercial Passenger Services
Amber Goodspeed stated there have been no requests for future scheduled passenger or cargo service
Minutes: The July 2024 Meeting Minutes were reviewed for approval
The July 2024 Meeting Minutes were approved 5-0 with no needed amendments
o Terri Ackerman abstained as she was not a HFAC member in July
Emily Mitchell asked for update on Amy McCoy’s request for 2019 Meeting Minutes; Massport Legal handling
Barbara Katzenberg has still not received old Meeting Minutes; Chairman Eliot will post on website
Monthly Noise Reports: presented by Amber Goodspeed
In July 2024 as compared to July 2023:
7am - 11pm operations decreased 7.2% in July 2024
Singles (including touch and goes) decreased 12.0% in July 2024
Turbo activity increased 2.5% in July 2024
Jet operations decreased 6.4% in July 2024
Helicopter activity decreased 3.4% in July 2024
Night Operations (11pm-7am) decreased 4.9% with 226 in July 2023 compared to 215 in July 2024
In August 2024 as compared to August 2023:
7am - 11pm operations decreased 5.4% in August 2024
Singles (including touch and goes) decreased 12.5% in August 2024
Turbo activity decreased 3.9% in August 2024
Jet operations decreased 13.8% in August 2024
Helicopter activity increased 2.5% in August 2024
Night Operations (11pm-7am) decreased 14.9% with 222 in August 2023 compared to 189 in August 2024
Amber Goodspeed explained portions of the noise report for new HFAC member Terri Ackerman
Jennifer Boles suggested replacing the MobileVue and PublicVue Massport systems with Airnoise.io Button
o Amber Goodspeed explained both programs are features of the Noise and Operations Monitoring System
(NOMS) and not stand-alone products
Capital Programs and Third Party Development Reports: Amber Goodspeed presented the Capital Programs and
Third Party Development reports and noted that:
BETA Technologies have a national contract with Atlantic Aviation and plan on installing electric chargers for
electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft at Hanscom Field
The former salt storage shed building has been demolished with parking lot being paved within the next week
o Construction on the new salt storage shed is in progress
Massport has acquired a Ford F150 Lightning electric pickup truck for use on the airfield
Atlantic Aviation expects to install their fuel tank at the existing fueling facility in October
Paving for Runway 05/23 Rehabilitation Project was completed on August 30th
o Some pavement millings remain on the airfield and will be removed the week of September 23rd
o After a curing period, the runway will be grooved and painted the week of October 7th
o Emily Mitchell noted Bedford received one resident complaint on first day but overall things went smoothly
o Amber Goodspeed reported contractor and Bedford public safety officials responded to public concerns quickly
Emily Mitchell queried about timeframe of when the North Airfield Ventures, LLC (NAV) will submit their
Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Review (SDEIR); Amber Goodspeed had no update
Agenda Items: Topics discussed on published agenda:
Terri Ackerman elucidated request for a no fly zone on 19 April 2025, over the northern half of Concord
o Celebrations and dignitaries from 9:00am to 12:00pm for the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution
o Margaret Coppe asked about medical flights; Tom Hirsch clarified medical and police exempted
o Barbara Katzenberg asked about airport operations; Tom Hirsch explained control tower would regulate area
o Lindsey White will submit a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) request for air traffic over the ceremonies
o HFAC voted unanimously to support TFR for 250th celebration and events
Hanscom Field Environmental Planning and Status Report (ESPR) public comment period extended to Oct 4th
Chairman Eliot solicited ideas for aviation compatible and community friendly airport expansion
o Emily Mitchell asked if revenue generation required; Amber Goodspeed explained that most entities will need to
generate revenue in order to fiscally operate their business at Hanscom Field
o Barbara Katzenberg enquired about MIT Lincoln Laboratory looking to expand
o Terri Ackerman inquired about solar or wind farms; subject matter experts would have to measure benefits
Chairman Eliot and Amber Goodspeed shared data portal to lookup waste site & reportable releases
o MA Energy & Environmental Affairs (EEA) Data Portal: https://eeaonline.eea.state.ma.us/portal/dep/wastesite/
Chairman Eliot invited discussion on MA Statewide Airport Economic Impact Study (EIS) from 2019
o Chairman Eliot felt it was disappointing in that it provided output numbers but not any methodology of data
o Emily Mitchell pointed out that the economic impact for Hanscom Field includes the Air Force Base
o Amber Goodspeed explained EIS was just an executive summary and that there is typically a full technical
report; Chairman Eliot will request full document from MA Department of Transportation (DOT) which includes
the methodology and breakout of Hanscom Field and Hanscom Air Force Base revenues
Chairman Eliot provided an update on HFAC website; HFACMA.gov has been approved but not implemented
o Annual Reports consolidated into Google sheet; Agenda and Meeting Minutes can be set up in similar format
o Members and HFAC History pages added; Google Calendar public can subscribe to also available
o HFAC members determined to postpone adding public article section on website
Chairman Eliot and Amber Goodspeed relayed information after discussions with Vitol about unleaded AvGas
Chairman Eliot reported the MA State Legislature ended the 2023-2024 session without the passage of a climate
Omnibus Bill, S.2838 An Act Upgrading the Grid and Protecting Ratepayers
o MA Senator Michael Barrett wrote letter to his constitutes indicating he believed the MA Legislature will
hopefully pass the Bill in the future
Citizen Comments: No Citizen Comments were discussed
No additional Citizen Comments
Other Business: The date for the next HFAC meeting will be at 7:00 p.m. on 15 October 2024 via Zoom
Stop Private Jet Expansion is conducting a meeting 19 September at 7:00pm
Massport Board Meeting will be held 19 September at 9:00am
Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 8:39 p.m.
Attendees: Christopher Eliot, Terri Ackerman, Margaret Coppe, Thomas Hirsch, Barbara Katzenberg, Emily Mitchell,
Amber Goodspeed, Mike Vatalaro, Lindsey White, Cindy Baxter, Jennifer Boles, Alexandra Eliot, Mike Rosenberg and
Erin Tiernan.