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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-02-17-HFAC-min Hanscom Field Advisory Commission (HFAC) Minutes 17 February 2026 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: Chair Margaret Coppe called the meeting to order at 7:04pm Announcements: th Chair Coppe recording HFAC Meeting; greeted all to Feb 17 meeting pursuant to MA Open Meeting Law Minutes: The January 2026 Meeting Minutes were reviewed for approval The January 2026 Meeting Minutes were approved unanimously with the following amendment: o Toby SacktonMegan Chapman the Minutes section o Chair Coppe will send approved HFAC meeting minutes to the respective Town Clerks for the four towns Monthly Noise Reports: presented by Amber Goodspeed In January 2025 as compared to January 2026: 7am - 11pm operations increased 7.0% in January 2026 Singles (including touch and goes) increased 17.2% in January 2026 Turbo activity decreased 12.4% in January 2026 Jet operations increased 6.1% in January 2026 Helicopter activity decreased 5.5% in January 2026 Night Operations (11pm-7am) decreased 2.3% with 172 in January 2025 compared to 168 in January 2026 Chair Coppe queried about how locations of Noise Monitor Terminals (NMTs) were originally determined o Amber Goodspeed explained how site selection for the NMTs was based on alignment with and distance from the runways, availability of commercial electrical power and reliability of communications. Capital Programs and Third Party Development Reports: Amber Goodspeed presented the Capital Programs and Third Party Development reports and noted that: Vegetation Management Plan work completed at both ends of Runway 05/23 o Work will recommence in the Spring of 2026 at the Runway 29 end Modular trailer delivered and placed at the Airfield Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF); project complete Massport will present an updated Taxiway (TWY) Echo plan and schedule at the March HFAC meeting North Airfield Ventures, LLC (NAV) plans to file the North Airfield Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Report (SDEIR) not until late May or early June 2026 Software used to calculate noise exposure is no longer supported and will be upgraded in 2026 o Massport is working with acoustic consultant Harris, Miller, Miller and Hanson (HMMH) on the upgrade o Link to video: https://www.facebook.com/massachusettsportauthority/videos/at-massport-our-mission-extends- into-the-communities-we-serve-supporting-partner/1586630329042478/ 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 requested input from HFAC on Overview for Hanscom Field o Discussion and comments are needed as public comment period closes on 6 March o Christopher Eliot reiterated opinion that Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is not a feasible fuel alternative o Terri Ackerman presented comments that were discussed at the January HFAC Meeting 1) Massport assumes Hanscom Field will grow; monthly reports show a decline in operations 2) HFAC wants definition of moving region forward 3) Economic impact stated as $22 billion; HFAC wants to know if that includes Hanscom Air Force Base and what the total regional employment impact is as well from just Massport assets 4) HFAC wants nomenclature for business jets and commercial aircraft to be updated based on new technology 5) Community Focus, to be a good neighbor and be a leader in sustainability and innovation; HFAC would like opportunity to provide input as voice of neighborhoods around Hanscom Field 6) HFAC fully agrees with safety and security 7) Community concerns include transparency and immigrant deportation; community is the customer o Christopher Eliot commented he would like to see electric aircraft added as a technological improvement o HFAC voted to appoint to Chair Coppe and Barbara Katzenberg to draft comments letter based on discussion Chair Coppe opened the discussion on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) flights at Hanscom Field o Terri Ackerman reported Megan Chapman, Terrance Parker and herself met with Massport Legal team o After two meetings she concluded that HFAC and Massport share the following common interests: 1) Comply with all applicable laws and regulations 2) Prioritize passenger safety 3) Avoid fault and liability 4) Remain attentive and responsive to community concerns o Christopher Elio points should be to simply build common ground; rest of HFAC agreed not to add o o HFAC voted to allow the subcommittee meeting with Massport Legal to come to an agreement on basic points of consensus o Toby Sackton wanted acknowledgement of State sovereignty added to the discussion; he believes Massport should support the Commonwealth of Massachusetts over the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) o Megan Chapman shared potential avenues group pursuing to possibly limit ICE flights at Hanscom Field if legal, passenger screening requirements, constitutional guarantees and 60 seat rule o Christopher Eliot asked if exemptions to 60 seat rule could be added to monthly report; Amber Goodspeed stated there are no scheduled, commercial air carriers operating at Hanscom Field so 60 seat rule is not being applied Citizen Comments: Jennifer Boles searched Jeffrey Epstein files and determined associates flew 44 times through Hanscom Field o Found multiple connections to local businesses and Hanscom Field Veronica Wirtz feels t align with current actions in regards to ICE flights Elizabeth Coules asked if HATS received a response after inviting Jill Valdes Horwood, Massport's first Chief Climate and Resilience Officer; Chair Coppe was going to check with Chair of HATS to coordinate Other Business: The date for the next HFAC meeting will be at 7:00 pm on 17 March, 2026. o Terri Ackerman will be out of the country o No HATS meeting scheduled for the near future Action Items: Amber Goodspeed will present the 2024 Hanscom Field Annual Noise Report at March HFAC HFAC will consolidate and submit comments on Massport Strategic Plan during the public comment period Massport set up a meeting with Christopher Eliot to discuss SAF Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 8:42 p.m. Attendees: Margaret Coppe, Terri Ackerman, Christopher Eliot, Thomas Hirsch, Barbara Katzenberg, Terrence Parker, Amber Goodspeed, Mike Vatalaro, Mark Wimmer, Tonya Alanez, Jennifer Boles, Megan Chapman, Bob Clouser, Cliff Cohn, Elizabeth Coules, Patty Dahlgren, Corinne Doud, Deborah Good, Titus Kao, Tom Kimball, Amy McCoy, Susan Morley, Patricia Piper Pavelich, Wendy Rovelli, Toby Sackton, Ann Sobol, Adam Schaefer, Stuart Trout and Veronica Wirtz.