Concord Journal
May 31, 2001

Facts and figures on Hanscom expansion

To the Editor:

Four new airlines are talking about Hanscom! Despite the frightening speed
with which this airport is being commercialized - we had no airlines here at
all just a year and a half ago - I still hear some Concordians still say
they feel guilty about not taking our fair share of aviation at Hanscom.

Here are some of the facts:

· Hanscom is already the second busiest airport in New England, second only
to Logan, with 214,759 operations (takeoffs or landings) in the year 2000.
On average, there were 582 operations a day between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. - 36
takeoffs or landings an hour over our heads, homes, schools, and historical
sites. We also have an average of six operations in the middle of the
night - usually by the bigger, noisier planes. About five operations a day
(or night) are military or medical. Although these are some of our noisiest
flights, we understated and accept their necessity, There is a reason
Massport refers to Hanscom as a reliever airport for Logan - it is the
biggest reliever airport in New England.

· The commercial flights here have not reduced even one flight at Logan.
Planes fly to the same destinations from Logan as they always did, often in
less than full planes. We have passenger service at Hanscom for two reasons.
One, Massport is using us politically to get its runway at Logan by saying
that it is regionalizing but still experiencing delays there. Secondly, we
are becoming a self-centered society In a hurry, with people who demand
personal convenience and instant gratification, no matter the long-term
consequences. Massport is greatly expanding the facilities for corporate
aviation at Hanscom to lure even more noisy corporate jets here. Already,
there has been a 111 percent increase in jets over the last five years - 26
percent last year alone.

The truth is, as a general aviation airport, Hanscom is already doing its
share for Logan and Greater Boston, and we have been doing it for years. If
we continue to allow and to expand commercial aviation here we will
devastate this area.

Ruth Chappell, Concord


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