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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-11-18-HFAC-min Hanscom Field Advisory Commission (HFAC) Minutes—18 November 2025 Prepared by Massport Staff Video of HFAC Meeting on the Lincoln,MA TV Page: blips://clou�dRIe__1 ME HFAC Website:_hflps://sites.roo lexon/view/hfac • Call to Order: Chair Margaret Coppe called the meeting to order at 7:02pm • Announcements: • Chair Coppe recording HFAC Meeting; greeted all to Nov 18th meeting pursuant to MA Open Meeting Law • Concerned citizen contacted HFAC about Hanscom FamCamp; land owned by Massport but leased to Air Force o Complaints were regarding ethical and safety breaches, financial irregularities and abuse of power; Amber Goodspeed will investigate who has jurisdiction at the FamCamp and inform the Air Force • Minutes: The October 2025 Meeting Minutes were reviewed for approval • The October 2025 Meeting Minutes were approved 3-0 with the following amendments: o Fix the spelling of Chair Coppe's first name in the Minutes section o Change the word"peculate"to "require"in the Agenda Items o Remove double comma in the Attendees section after Barbara Katzenberg o Chair Coppe, Terri Ackerman and Terrence Parker abstained as were not present at the October meeting o Chair Coppe reminded town representatives they need to send approved minutes to their respective Town Clerks • Monthly Noise Reports: presented by Amber Goodspeed In October2024 as compared to October 2025: • 7am - I Ipm operations decreased 3.5%in October 2025 • Singles (including touch and goes) decreased 11.5%in October 2025 • Turbo activity decreased 2.4%in October 2025 • Jet operations increased 11.0%in October 2025 • Helicopter activity increased 6.1%in October 2025 • Night Operations (I Ipm-7am)increased 0.8%with 252 in October 2024 compared to 254 in October 2025 • Amber Goodspeed explained increase in jet operations mostly due to runway construction at Logan International Airport which started 02 September and ended 16 November 2025 and government shutdown limiting factors • Terri Ackerman asked if the HFAC webpage could provide information on how to submit a noise complaint • Capital Programs and Third Party Development Reports: Amber Goodspeed presented the Capital Programs and Third Party Development reports and noted that: • 360-degree rotating beacon replaced on the air traffic control tower with a high intensity LED light • High mast pole lighting replacements have been paused for the winter and will resume in Spring 2025 • An additional water line will be added at the West Ramp to add redundancy; older pipes also being replaced • A modular trailer will be added for additional sleeping quarters at the Airfield Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) facility; utility connections and a concrete pad will be added mid-November 2025 • Interior and first floor restroom renovations are ongoing at the Hanscom Field Terminal building; elevator will be out of service beginning mid-December 2025, continuing for approximately three months • North Airfield Ventures (NAV)plans to file the Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Review (SDEIR)in March of 2026; representatives will attend a HFAC meeting to provide update prior to March submission • 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: • Chris Celozzi,public affairs representative for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement(ICE) Boston, took notes on queries from HFAC and local citizens to relay to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) leadership o Confirmed DHS leadership was in receipt of HFAC letter; will address it with written response in coming weeks o Chair Coppe queried about the safety and location of detainees while ICE aircraft are being refueled o Christopher Eliot requested monthly accounting of ICE flights and number of detainees on each aircraft o Chair Coppe would like to know if ICE detainee numbers are included in the Hanscom Field enplanement numbers by Massport; Amber Goodspeed will research compilation of statistics o Terri Ackerman wanted to ensure items in the letter were understood by DHS; also asked whether the Fixed Base Operators (FBOs) are receiving the dates, times, and type of aircraft from ICE and to confirm ICE actions legal o Thomas Hirsch asked if ICE flights counted as Hanscom Field operations; Amber Goodspeed confirmed yes o Terrence Parker asked about timeframe of ICE flights and if US citizens, legal,permanent residents and or holders of valid visas have been wrongfully detained and brought to the airfield to be transported o Jennifer Boles asked about location on Hanscom Field where detainees are being enplaned • Megan Chapman,human rights lawyer, reiterated summary on potential for using the anti-commandeering doctrine of the 10th Amendment,which prevents the commandeering of state and local resources for federal purposes o Christopher Eliot shared that he sent a letter to the Massport Board of Directors requesting Massport's position on ICE operations but did not receive any reply; Amber Goodspeed will forward and ask for acknowledgement o Megan Chapman suggested Massport institute rigorous screening procedures to ensure detainees are not being denied due process of law, or perhaps being transported in violation of court orders or human trafficking laws o Amber Goodspeed agreed to try and facilitate a meeting with Massport legal department to discuss options o Toby Sackton reported public campaign to write letters to Massport leadership, Massport Board of Directors and various political actors in Massachusetts focusing on ensuring state due process protections are being followed o Anne Sobol advocated for Megan Chapman to present the facts about what other airports have done in response to citizen concerns about ICE flights to the Massport Board of Directors o Tom Kimball noted Freedom of Information Act(FOIA) obtained email of Hanscom Field Director Christopher Willenborg that gives appearance of advance notice of ICE flights;believes Massport is being disingenuous • Christopher Eliot provided brief Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)update; referenced Institute for Policy Studies (IPS)report that described several problems if Massport wanted to pursue SAF • Citizen Comments: • Jennifer Boles requested HFAC invite Christopher Willenborg to the December HFAC to discuss the FOIA request • Other Business: The date for the next HFAC meeting will be at 7:00 pm on 16 December 2025 o ICE leadership has been formally invited to the December HFAC for follow-up questions • Action Items: • Massport to investigate jurisdiction at FamCamp • Massport to research if ICE detainees are included in Hanscom Field enplanement numbers • Massport to facilitate a meeting with legal department when Megan Chapman emails inquiry • Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 8:32 p.m. Attendees: Margaret Coppe, Terri Ackerman, Christopher Eliot, Thomas Hirsch, Barbara Katzenberg, Terrence Parker, Amber Goodspeed, Mike Vatalaro, Mark Wimmer, Chris Celozzi, Dakota Antelman, Jennifer Boles, Megan Chapman, Cliff Cohn, Abby Cox,Patty Dahlgren, Deborah Good, Carol Haines, Jo Jordan, Tom Kimball,Patricia Lynch, Amy McCoy, Elizabeth Merica, Susan Morley,Piper Pavelich, Ethan Raye, Renea Reddish, Toby Sackton, Maggie Scales, Trace Salzbrenner, Anne Sobol, Stuart Trout, Thomas Wanderer, and Veronica Wirtz.