HomeMy WebLinkAbout1988-10-18-HFA-min HANSCOM FIELD ADVISORY COMMISSION
MINUTES
OCTOBER 18 , 1988
In attendance Ken Klemmer Actor
Joe Hammond Beechcraft
Norm Fredkin Raytheon
Robert Domnitz Merriam Hill Assoc
Paul Roberts Concord
Michelle Matteo Bedford
LTC Harold Olson U S Air Force
Liz Banks Lex Minuteman
Henry Wifholm Digital
Bradley Davis FAA
Jack Taylor Lexinton
John McGovern Concord
Sara Arnold Massport
Barbara Patzner Massport
Robin Ellis Massport
Rick Bessom Massport
Joyce Hals Massport
1 Minutes Two corrections were made The reference to
aircraft flying for the Air Force change in command ceremony were
A-10s , not A-4s Michelle Matteo corrected the statement for the
Catskill Airways MEPA discussion to say that a MEPA representative
would be asked to attend an HFAC meeting
2 Announcements Chairman Paul Roberts reported that he sent a
sympathy card to the Farnsworth family and in response received a
notice that there will be a memorial service on Saturday, October
29th at 2 P M at the First Parish Church , Weston
Carlisle has appointed John Kurtak , 131 Virginia Farms Road , as
its new representative
Acton has appointed Ken Kiemmer , 70 Concord Road, as its new
representative
The Selectmen 's Room in Lexington will no longer be available for
HFAC meetings It was decided to request Room G-15 , in the same
building , for the meetings If a large crowd is expected then
Estabrook Hall will be requested
3 Massport Tree Clearing Project Rick Bessom advised members
that the project will begin in the winter of 1989 In order to
conform to the FAA 's primary slope clear zone requirements , it is
necessary to clear brush in approximately 10 acres and to cut
approximately 36 acres of trees , all in the vicinity of the
runways Sixty percent of the area was cut in 1978 , 1979 or 1981
and now needs to be recut Trees have penetrated the other forty
percent of the area where clearance is required Because some of
the land is located in wetlands , Massport is scheduled to review
the project with the Bedford and Concord Conservation
Commissions The proposed cutting is all on Massport property
In most of the areas the trunks will be left , and there will be no
use of herbicides Burnable wood will be cut in four foot
sections and stockpiled for public use A future announcement
will provide details on accessing the wood
In response to the concern that future cutting might be necessary
on non-Massport property , Bessom stated that he did not anticipate
this because there is Massport property surrounding the ends of
the runways , and with increased distance from the runway, the
clearance requirements are less stringent and thus less apt to
affect trees
4 Noise Subcommittee Report Bob Domnitz reported that on
September 28 , the subcommittee reviewed the plans presented by Bob
Berens of HMM, noise consultants hired by Massport Berens
discussed his recommendations for placement of the seven proposed
noise monitors His proposal recommends that one noise monitor be
placed at the end of the four runways to ensure capturing the
noise of each departure or arrival A fifth monitor would be
placed in the Black Duck Pond area of Concord and a sixth one at
the top of the hill in the Manor area of Lexington The fifth and
sixth monitors will provide information on the noise levels in
communities that are affected by the most heavily used runways , 11
and 29 His proposal also included one semi-portable monitor, to
be used in locations that may be experiencing problems with or
changes in airport noise
Domnitz reported that Berens also presented data which indicated
that the approximate ambient noise level at each proposed monitor
location ranged from 35 to 45 dB Several members stated their
appreciation to Massport for the plans to install the noise
monitors
5 J Planning and Statistics Sara Arnold distributed and
discussed the noise data for September of this year and compared
it to 1987 data She noted that complaints were lower , because in
1987 one person had registered many of the complaints Night
operations increased , reflecting in part the 20 or so monthly
traffic helicopter operations Operations of singles was up
slightly , and the number of jet operations was about the same
During September , the EXP for civilian aircraft without singles
was 2 7dB higher than in 1987 , reflecting the increased use of
jets in the noisier groups used to calculate EXP Arnold
explained that the Catskill Airways JT-31 is still classified in a
noisy turbo aircraft group because of its weight , which is over
12 , 500 pounds This weight puts the JT-31 in the category of
heavy turbo which has a noise level based on older , noisier models
and does not truly reflect the newer, less noisy types This is
having an impact on EXP Arnold explained that Hanson, Miller,
Miller and Hanson (HMMH) , Massport noise consultants , have
indicated that this aircraft belongs in a less noisy group
Domnitz objected to this suggestion, because EXP numbers should
riot be adjusted to only favor movement of aircraft from a noisy
group to a less noisy group Joyce Hals defended making this type
of adjustment when it is obvious that a new aircraft has begun
operating at Hanscom on a regular basis Hals stated that this is
always done when a new jet enters the market and should have been
done with the JT-31 Domnitz stressed that a consistent method
should be used to trigger changes both for noisier and quieter
aircraft
Hals advised the HFAC that Massport staff had met to discuss the
increase in EXP over the past four months and concluded that it
would ask Bob Miller from HMMH to review the reports for this
period and analyze the source(s) of the problem Once this is
accomplished , Massport will meet with the Noise Subcommittee and
report on the findings Further action will depend on the
information learned and discussions with the subcommittee
Greiner Report Roberts asked Massport for an update on
the Greiner Report , stating that Concord is interested in any
future projects Hals told Roberts that the budget process for
next year is just beginning , and the airport ' s needs will be
reviewed within the next few weeks Following the review , a
prioritized list of projects will be given to the budget office
for further review It will not be until the end of the fiscal
year that projects are approved for funding Roberts asked that
Massport provide copies of the Greiner Report to members who do
not have one and that an update and review of the report be
provided at the November meeting
Other LTC Harold Olson told HFAC that the Air Force
is planning a series of public meetings in the towns abutting the
Air Force Base to review their plans for additional development
Paul Roberts reported that he called MEPA and learned that the new
representative is Joleen Dubner She will be invited to attend
the next HFAC meeting to discuss the Catskill Airways ENF
Bob Domnitz asked whether anyone knew about the FAA s interest in
the railroad spur No member had , and he said he would look into
the matter
Barbara Patzner reported that a company, Sun World Airlines had
requested operating rights for a charter operation at Hanscom to
serve Atlantic City , using a DC-9 Massport has denied their
request , based on the Noise Rules and Regulations