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Home My WebLink About2025-10-21-HFAC-min Hanscom Field Advisory Commission (HFAC) Minutes—21 October 2025 Prepared by Massport Staff Video of HFAC Meeting on the Lincoln,MA TV Page: _/A_-,k_)1 1—d ::1 1 .: OW .... ....................... HFAC Website: • Call to Order: Chnistoper Eliot called the meeting to order at 7:01pm • Announcements: • Christoper Eliot recording HFAC Meeting; greeted all to Oct 21st meeting pursuant to MA Open Meeting Law • Minutes: The September 2025 Meeting Minutes were reviewed for approval • The September 2025 Meeting Minutes were approved 3-0 with no amendments o Chair Margaret Coppe, Terri Ackerman and Terrence Parker were not present to vote • Monthly Noise Reports: presented by Amber Goodspeed In September2024 as compared to September 2025: • 7am - I Ipm operations increased 14.6% in September 2025 • Singles (including touch and goes) increased 20.6%in September 2025 • Turbo activity decreased 8.7% in September 2025 • Jet operations increased 12.4% in September 2025 • Helicopter activity increased 6.4%in September 2025 • Night Operations (I Ipm-7am) increased 12.8%with 218 in September 2024 compared to 246 in September 2025 • Amber Goodspeed explained increase in operations partly due to runway construction at Logan International Airport which started 02 September and is scheduled to run through 19 November 2025 • Capital Programs and Third Party Development Reports: Amber Goodspeed presented the Capital Programs and Third Party Development reports and noted that: • Vegetation Management Plan(VMP)will start first week of November; the plan is updated every five years to keep airport approach surfaces clear of trees • Mandated by the Federal Aviation Administration(FAA) to keep airways safe • VMP brought before each of the four Town's Conservation Commission for input and approval • Solar panel installation on one north T-hangar has been completed with additional panels to be added in the future • Cargo or Scheduled Commercial Passenger Services • Amber Goodspeed stated there have been no requests for future scheduled passenger or cargo service • Agenda Items: Topics discussed on published agenda: • Thea Wurzburg gave a presentation on Beta Technologies, an aerospace manufacturer developing electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) and Conventional Take-Off and Landing (CTOL) aircraft • In the process of certifying both the Alia VTOL A250 and Alia CTOL CX300 electric aircraft • Expanding electric charging infrastructure with aviation specific 320kW charge cubes; less than an hour charge • Transport of passengers, cargo and medical as well as interest within the Department of Defense • Barbara Katzenberg asked about kilowatt usage; Thea Wurzburg did not have specific kilowatt per hour usage figures but did explain each aircraft has 4-5 battery packs that each are equivalent to a Tesla car battery • Thomas Hirsch queried on current and future number of aircraft and backlog of orders; Thea Wurzburg reported currently six aircraft have flown 80,000 miles; VT facility can produce 300 aircraft a year, employing 900 people • Christopher Eliot asked about range, certification and batteries; Thea Wurzburg stated 215 nautical miles is starting range; targeting certification of CTOL late 2026/early 2027 and VTOL late 2027/early 2028 • Thomas Hirsch asked about battery production; Thea Wurzburg affirmed Beta does not produce batteries • Anne Sobol asked about the cost of aircraft; Thea Wurzburg could not speak about the cost of the aircraft 1 • Christopher Eliot presented letter Massport sent in response to the letter HFAC originally sent Massport requesting information on Immigration and Customs Enforcement(ICE) flights at Hanscom Field o In the response letter, Hanscom Field Director Christopher Willenborg stated Massport is legally obligated to allow all types of aircraft operations without unjust discrimination and suggested that HFAC reach out directly to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for the specific information requested • Christopher Eliot shared draft letter to ICE written during a special meeting about operations at Hanscom Field o HFAC voted unanimously 3-0 to send the letter with necessary formatting to be corrected o Thomas Hirsch wanted to note letter purely requesting information and not proposing restriction of flights • Megan Chapman,human rights lawyer,provided presentation on potential legal grounds for airport authorities to refuse cooperation with ICE; engaged with Pease Development Authority in Portsmouth,where ICE flights have ceased o Recommended using the anti-commandeering doctrine of the 10th Amendment,which prevents the commandeering of state and local resources for federal purposes;protects balance of power o Imposing unrelated immigration enforcement conditions or coercive action by the federal government, such as withholding federal funding, is unconstitutional and violates the Administrative Procedures Act • Christopher Eliot provided recap of 14 Oct rally against Sustainable Aviation Fuel(SAF) at the MA Sate House o Presented report that analyzed the possibility that SAF will reduce the climate impact of aviation fuel use o Report called MA SAF Working Group recommendations flawed and not beneficial in reducing emissions o Organizations submitting report want MA Governor Healy to understand the drawbacks associated with SAF production and use,better research if it is technologically feasible and will reduce emissions and determine if state funds are better invested into green infrastructure and affordable ground transportation o Amber Goodspeed stated Massport's support of SAF is a commitment to start reducing emissions;not a total replacement of all aviation fuel but a percentage until more practical technologies can be developed o Christopher Eliot believes SAF is a distraction that will require enormous amounts of energy and money and not solve the problem; wants complete elimination of private.]ets and public money spent on high-speed rail o Anne Sobol proposed that it is the public's responsibility to fly less to protect the environment • Citizen Comments: • Jennifer Boles thought Massport's ICE request response letter was courteous,informative and moderately friendly • Other Business: The date for the next HFAC meeting will be at 7:00 pm on 18 November 2025 • Action Items: • No actions items put forward • Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 9:02 p.m. Attendees: Christopher Eliot, Thomas Hirsch, Barbara Katzenberg,Amber Goodspeed, Mike Vatalaro, Mark Wimmer, Thea Wurzburg, Chris Boles, Jennifer Boles, Megan Chapman, Abby Cox, Bambi Good, Charlie Homer, Tom Kimball, Margaret Leeson, Amy McCoy, Trish O'Hagan,Piper Pavelich, Anne Sobol, Kati Winchell and Veronica Wirtz. 2