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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-09-16-HFAC-min Hanscom Field Advisory Commission (HFAC) Minutes 16 September 2025 Prepared by Massport Staff Video of HFAC Meeting on the Lincoln, MA TV Page: https://cloud.castus.tv/vod/lincoln/?page=HOME HFAC Website: https://sites.google.com/view/hfac Call to Order: HFAC Chair Margaret Coppe called the meeting to order at 7:01pm Announcements: th Chair Coppe recording HFAC Meeting; greeted all to Sep 16 meeting pursuant to MA Open Meeting Law Dr. Neelakshi Hudda will present her findings on particulate matter at the Bedford Town Hall on 30 Sep at 6:30pm Thomas Hirsch shared potential for Beta Technologies, an aerospace manufacturer developing electric vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) and electric conventional aircraft, to present at the October HFAC Minutes: The July 2025 Meeting Minutes were reviewed for approval The July 2025 Meeting Minutes were approved 5-0 with the following amendments: o Chair Coppe asked for additional verbiage to clarify that the Merlin Pilot was an autonomous operations system and not a human in the Citizen Comment Section o topher in Citizen Comment Section o Barbara Katzenberg was not present to vote Monthly Noise Reports: presented by Amber Goodspeed In August 2024 as compared to August 2025: 7am - 11pm operations increased 25.2% in August 2025 Singles (including touch and goes) increased 43.8% in August 2025 Turbo activity decreased 3.9% in August 2025 Jet operations increased 6.8% in August 2025 Helicopter activity increased 1.4% in August 2025 Night Operations (11pm-7am) increased 17.5% with 189 in August 2024 compared to 222 in August 2025 Terri Ackerman asked about increases in operations; Amber Goodspeed explained most of the August increases for the civilian side were driven by single-engine pistons because the weather was very good and military aircraft increase were due to Marine Week activities in the Boston area 21-25 August Terri Ackerman also asked about the three days that recorded sound over 70 decibels; Amber Goodspeed informed HFAC all three events were from US Navy F-18A multi-role combat aircraft operations near Hanscom Field Question from the chat queried if private jets were included in the Jet operation numbers; Amber Goodspeed confirmed that all jets operating at Hanscom Field are included in the Jet category Capital Programs and Third Party Development Reports: Amber Goodspeed presented the Capital Programs and Third Party Development reports and noted that: Atlantic Aviation fuel tank installation at existing fuel farm has been completed High mast pole lightning replacement is ongoing; pole replacements will take place in October Secretary Rebecca Tepper of Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) issued the Final Record of Decision (FROD) for the notice of project change on 29 August for the former Navy Hangar; Runway Realty Ventures LLC (RRV) will continue with their local permitting prior to construction activities o Chair Coppe wanted confirmation all permits must go to the Town of Bedford; Amber Goodspeed confirmed that was correct since the old Navy Hangar is located on private property in the Town of Bedford Parking lot work and American Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible van curb drop-off has been completed at the Hanscom Field Civil Terminal; exterior stair work as well as interior reconstruction has begun o Christoper Eliot asked about elevator improvements; Amber Goodspeed indicated it will be later in the project Rehabilitation work and geometry compliance as mandated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of Taxiway Echo and addition of Taxiway Echo Five now targeted for the Spring of 2026 o Secretary of EEA issued an Expanded Environmental Notification Form (EENF) as a combined Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR); 30-day public comment period will run through 10 October 2025 o Public comment period open until 10 Oct on Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) office website North Airfield Ventures, LLC (NAV) announced plans to file their Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Review (SDEIR) in late 2025 Massport will be constructing a Vehicle Service Road (VSR) on the north side of the airfield; bid for the project is out until 24 September; a Massport Project team will attend a future HFAC meeting to give a presentation o Patty Dahlgren requested a map of new VSR; detailed maps will be provided by the Massport Project team o Jennifer Boles queried about VSR surface, construction haul routes and funding; construction details will be provided by Massport Project team; Amber Goodspeed explained funding is coming partially from land swap 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: Chair Coppe opened discussion on draft HFAC position letter on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) missions at Hanscom Field o Terri Ackerman wrote draft; had initial questions on who to address letter to, tone and end purpose o Christopher Eliot thought putting pressure on ICE would be more helpful than on Massport with a strong tone o Terrence Parker suggested a two-prong approach with first letter to Massport and a stronger letter to ICE o Christopher Eliot believes nothing concrete will be achieved by sending letters but brings attention to the flights o Margaret Coppe suggested proposed letter to local newspapers and Massachusetts State Representatives o Amber Goodspeed stated Hanscom Field is a federally obligated airport and cannot legally discriminate against any aircraft operations and that Massport does not receive advanced notification of ICE or Federal flight activity o Thomas Hirsch stated he would not want anyone monitoring his flight activity nor restricting flights o Anne Sobol raised the question of public record requests for ICE flights into Hanscom Field o Tom Kimball witnessed daily ICE operations at Hanscom Field; sent request to Massport and Fixed Base Operators (FBOs) under a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to garner information about ICE flight activity o Julie Hirschler felt it is important that HFAC document the details for the public to better understand the scope o Marsha Turin wanted HFAC to know that the surrounding communities are supportive of the letters o Alex Chatfield made connection that Massport is complicit as the railroads transporting Jews in the 1930s-40s o Sandy Kendall supported sending the letter to take immediate action, as well as any stronger actions to follow o Leif Taranta is with group in Burlington, Vermont trying to stop illegal transportation who suggested ensuring all security documentation is correct with ICE operations as a means of deterring airport access; Amber Goodspeed stated that security at all three Massport airports is managed by the Massachusetts State Police, Troop F o Megan Chapman is human rights lawyer and recommended using the anti-commandeering doctrine of the 10th Amendment, which prevents the commandeering of state and local resources for federal purposes o Bambi Good, part of an Indivisible group, offered to set up an email list for people who want to take action o Willa Bandler volunteered to be admin for group in Signal, a secure messaging app; link provided in chat o Andi Wang suggested Massport use airport regulatory process to possibly slow ICE operations; the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulates airport operations, certification and safety in the U.S. o Aaron Toffler offered that the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) Community Advisory Committee (MCAC) will very likely discuss ICE flights and determine what actions to pursue o Wendy Rovelli, member of the Hanscom Area Town Select Boards (HATS), will get ICE flights on their agenda o HFAC voted 4-1 to send first letter to agencies discussed, as edited by Terri Ackerman; Thomas Hirsch dissented Chair Coppe asked for comments on the Taxiway Echo Rehabilitation and Geometry Compliance project o FEIR posted in the Environmental Monitor on the MEPA website; public comment period open through 10 Oct o Christopher Eliot suggested a three-person subcommittee write a HFAC response; Terri Ackerman, Terrence Parker and Christopher Eliot will meet on 23 September at 7:00pm to formulate a letter o HFAC voted 4-0 to authorize subcommittee with Christopher Eliot as Chair; Thomas Hirsch abstained Citizen Comments: No further comments were made Other Business: The date for the next HFAC meeting will be at 7:00 pm on 21 October 2025 EEA issuance of FEIR for Taxiway Echo Project; public comment period open through 10 Oct on MEPA website Dr. Neelakshi Hudda presentation at the Bedford Town Hall on 30 September at 6:30pm Action Items: HFAC second letter on ICE flight operations at Hanscom Field HFAC Subcommittee formulate letter in response to EEA issuance of FEIR for Taxiway Echo Project Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 9:02 p.m. Attendees: Chairman Margaret Coppe, Terri Ackerman, Christopher Eliot, Thomas Hirsch, Terrence Parker, Amber Goodspeed, Mike Vatalaro, Mark Wimmer, Ray Andrews, Dakota Antelman, Amy Austin, Maria Bates, Willa Bandler, Jennifer Boles, Jean Callahan, Megan Chapman, Alex Chatfield, Patty Dahlgren, Evelyne Delori, Tica de Moor, Adrian Dewinter, Rev. Kendra Ford, Bambi Good, Deborah Good, Austin Gaffney, Tom Gramaglia, Nancy Gresham, Matthew Helman, Julie Hirschler, Elinor Jarrell, Peter Kerr, Sandy Kendall, Tom Kimball, Sarah Lance, Margaret Leeson, John Lemly, Sally Lincoln, Patricia Lynch, Amy McCoy, Cecilia Mercado, Jesse Mills, Bob Parker, Piper Pavelich, Jean Rabovsky, Maureen Richichi, Wendy Rovelli, Ellen Scheiner, Kathleen Slover, Anne Sobol, Sue Swanson, Leif Taranta, Marsha Turin, Aaron Toffler, Stuart F. Trout, Adam Wang, Andi Wang and Kati Winchell. Julia, ccloud, mary beth, Carolyn, Marsha, Carolyn & Dick were not identified with a last name.