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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-05-20-HFAC-minHanscom Field Advisory Commission (HFAC) Minutes — 20 May 2025 Prepared by Massport Staff Video of HFAC Meeting on the Lincoln, MA TV Page: Mips://clvLAI.c,asfu—y/vod/l11Owl n/1ala e=I I Oml"I HFAC Website:_ hflps://sites. m lexorn/view/hfac • Call to Order: HFAC Chair Margaret Coppe called the meeting to order at 7:02pm • Announcements: • Chair Coppe recording HFAC Meeting; greeted all to May 20th meeting pursuant to MA Open Meeting Law • New Hanscom Field Director Christopher Willenborg introduced himself to the HFAC; over 25 years in the airport management industry to include airport manager at Westfield -Barnes Regional Airport and the State Aeronautics director for MA Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Aeronautics Division • Minutes: The April 2025 Meeting Minutes were reviewed for approval • The April 2025 Meeting Minutes were approved 5-0 with the following amendments o Add "at Logan" in bullet for Sharon Williams in the Announcements section o Add more language to Amber Goodspeed's clarification on the scheduled passenger service in the Cargo or Scheduled Commercial Passenger Services section • 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 April 2024 as compared to April 2025: • 7am - l 1pm operations decreased 13.9% in April 2025 • Singles (including touch and goes) decreased 25.2% in April 2025 • Turbo activity decreased 253% in April 2025 • Jet operations decreased 0.8% in April 2025 • Helicopter activity decreased 5.1% in April 2025 • Night Operations (1 1pm-7am) decreased 5.0% with 219 in April 2024 compared to 208 in April 2025 Agenda Items: Topics discussed on published agenda: Rick Muse, Director of Operations for Runway Realty Ventures and North Airfield Ventures, and Ken Schwartz. Senior Vice President, Planning and Design Service Leader at VHB, presented Navy Hangar Renovation Project o The Navy hangar is part of a much larger project, the North Airfield Development Project at Hanscom Field o Merlin Labs wants to consolidate offices, research and development and testing of autonomous flight software with Cessna 20813s; operations would average one or two flights a day for short durations out of Hanscom Field o The research development company would revive the hangar after 25 years of vacancy and create 100 plus jobs o Project doesn't trigger any Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) office review thresholds but MEPA requested development team file a Notice of Project Change and a waiver request under 301 CMR 11.11 o Ken Schwartz updated HFAC on the Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) which will respond in accordance with the requirements that were laid out in the Secretary's Certificate o The Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) issues a Secretary's Certificate following the review of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR); certificate signifies the Secretary's determination regarding the adequacy and compliance of the submitted documentation with MEPA regulations o One item contained in the Certificate was a recommendation to bring on a 3rd parry consultant; InterVISTAS, Strategic Aviation and Mobility Consulting, will look at the demand, forecasting, ferry flight analysis, and project proponent as well as review the information and data that was presented in the EIR o Supplemental DEIR will be submitted with a target date of over the summer, early autumn 2025 o Barbara Katzenberg queried about Merlin's request for an exemption for experimental flights from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); Rick Muse indicated Merlin is still in the process of requesting the exemption o Terri Ackerman requested more information on the test flights; Rick Muse explained that there will always be at least one pilot on board all aircraft and Merlin would have to expound on their safety protocols o Chritopher Eliot asked about leased hangar space if Merlin pulls out; Ken Swartz elucidated the hangar would be purposed for research and development so any other use would require a new filing with MEPA office o Jeanne Krieger questioned about other potential medical uses for the Navy hangar; Rick Muse expounded that one potential activity could be an organ transport company operating one small j et on average of once per day o Katherine Lee Goyette asked if Merlin could use larger military aircraft for testing and location of prior testing; Rick Muse indicated no plans to use military aircraft for testing; prior testing in Mojave, CA and Quonset, RI o Terrence Parker wanted dates of past test flights; Rick Muse will get dates to Amber Goodspeed for next HFAC o Lara Sullivan questioned the benefit of real estate tax revenue for the renovated Navy Hangar; Rick Muse explained the property would remain a private parcel with a through the fence agreement with Massport o Corinne Doud asked about remaining 20% of Navy hangar usage; Rick Muse reiterated working with an organ transporter and a research and development company to lease remaining hangar space Merlin does not use o Thomas Hirsch commented that Merlin will not make any modifications to the test aircraft o Katherine Lee Goyette followed up with question about Superfand site cleanup; Rick Muse indicated working with local National Park Service representatives at Minute Man National Historical Park o Kati Winchell had three questions; Ken Schwartz clarified the through the fence agreement would have to be approved by the FAA, Rick Muse explained there will be no new fuel farm with Navy hangar renovation but still in plans with larger North Airfield Development Project and Rick Muse did not have any information on Merlin potentially changing its research and development mission to a cargo service at Hanscom Field o Jennifer Boles reported from her own research that Merlin had moved out of Mojave Air & Space Port in Dec 2024; Rick Muse will check what Merlin is moving from CA and provide to Amber Goodspeed for next HFAC o Jennifer Boles also asked if Merlin would be doing simulated engine fail training; Thomas Hirsch clarified that type of training is never done near Hanscom Field and Merlin's FAA proposal did not include pilot training o Chair Coppe requested a copy of Merlin's Special Airworthiness Certificate; Amber Goodspeed will send to HFAC and Rick Muse will research if it is Merlin's first time testing over a densely populated area o Heather Patterson inquired about Merlin operating times; Rick Muse specified flights between 8:OOam-5:OOpm o Kati Winchell had more questions; Rick Muse stated the Navy hangar renovation and the larger proposed development will both be funded by the private proponents who have submitted both state and federal tax credits o Terri Ackerman wanted clarification on test flight area; Rick Muse will follow up with safety protocols o Chair Coppe questioned why it took so long for HFAC to receive a copy of Merlin's request to fly over densely populated areas around Hanscom Field; Rick Muse will pose question to Merlin Capital Programs and Third Party Development Reports: Amber Goodspeed presented the Capital Programs and Third Party Development reports and noted that: The salt storage shed is near completion with an anticipated finalization date of 30 May Runway Realty Ventures, LLC (RRV) announced intentions to file a Notice of Project Change (NPC) in June with the MEPA office to request use of the Navy hangar for prospective tenants Massport is replacing the high mast poles on the airfield with more efficient LED lighting Summer into Fall 2025 • Citizen Comments: • Patty Dahlgren requested to go through the Action Items section from the April Minutes Other Business: The date for the next HFAC meeting will be at 7:00 p.m. on 17 June 2025 • Hanscom Area Towns Committee (HATS) will be 28 May 2025 via Zoom Action Items: • Identify location the contractors for the taxiway improvement and lighting projects are from • Research Air Force Family Camp lease end plans • Receive contract from Professor Neelakshi Hudda in order to invoice before funds expire on 30 June 2025 • Provide time period of past Merlin test flights • Confirm what Merlin operations are potentially moving from CA to Hanscom Field • Supply HFAC with a copy of Merlin's Special Airworthiness Certificate • Verify if Merlin's Special Airworthiness Certificate is their first for densely populated area • Clarification on flight test area • Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 8:31 p.m. Attendees: Margaret Coppe, Terri Ackerman, Christopher Eliot, Thomas Hirsch, Barbara Katzenberg, Terrence Parker, Amber Goodspeed, Mike Vatalaro, Christopher Willenborg, Alex Strysky, Rick Muse, Ken Schwartz, Rich Baughman, Christopher Boles, Jennifer Boles, Alex Chatfield, Patty Dahlgren, Steve Dahlgren, Corinne Doud, Linda Escobedo, Katherine Lee Goyette, Jeanne Krieger, Amy McCoy, Heather Patterson, Ann Sobol, Jenny Stewart, Lara Sullivan, Sue Swanson, Julie Turner, Todd Wallack and Kati Winchell.