Lincoln Journal
August 1, 2001

Airport neighbor shares conditions

To the Editor:

The July 18th article Hanscom neighbor offers purchase details" implies that every Battle Road Farm condo owner signs an "acknowledgment that [I/we live] adjacent to an airport and should expect noise equal to a Cessna 172 aircraft on average." Such a disclaimer was not a part of my "closing" package or signed by me.

When looking to live in Lincoln, did I know Hanscom was nearby? Yes, but I was not aware that 707s, 727s and 737s routinely land at Hanscom; they are "parked" where you’re not likely to see them. Nor could I have foreseen the horrific events of Sept. 11 (days after my offer to buy) or predict the resulting, dramatic increase in corporate and charter jet travel. As for "Hanscom being one of the 100 smaller airports targeted for expansion," that ’s not exactly "common" knowledge.

Massport statistics show more than 2,600 private and charter jet operations fly in and out of Hanscom each month. If these flights occur between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. — observing the generally acknowledged, frequently ignored 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. overnight moratorium — that means, on average, 87 flights per day, 6 flights per hour or 1 flight every 10 minutes, one after another, for 16 hours! It doesn’t happen that way; sometimes takeoffs are a minute apart, other times, farther apart. But we’re still not talking about an occasional Cessna! And, it is this relentless barrage, especially from louder and lower-flying corporate jets and helicopters, that has become so disturbing and disruptive and detrimental.

Despite the "moratorium," I am regularly awakened, as are many of my neighbors, by nighttime landings and takeoffs and maintenance that includes banging, clanking and run-ups: intermittent, variable RPMs or sustained RPMs which can last as long as 10-12 minutes. Massport claims to have no control over such occurrences, yet Massport acknowledges it authorizes these activities.

Fines for reported, investigated and acknowledged noise infractions are small, $50 or $60, sometimes $250 — hardly a significant monetary deterrent to corporations, teams, organizations or individuals that own, lease or charter their own jet.

As for the future, if Massport is allowed to cut trees, re-engineer the landscape and reconstruct the natural habitat, it clears the "runway" for ever larger, noisier aircraft! If Massport approves, as expected, additional commercial flights in its new Environmental Status and Planning Report, that ’s precisely what we will get.

Hanscom is more than a Battle Road Farm or North Lincoln issue!

It’s a question of whether we really want to encourage Hanscom to become a " hub for corporate and private jets " or a commercial passenger facility — the suburban, alternative airport of choice to Logan. It’s a question of whether we want decisions that impact our town, our environment, our historic landmarks, and yes, our quality of life determined by an outside agency and its commercial interests.

Nancy Thomas
South Commons, Lincoln

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