The Bedford Minuteman
November 29, 2001

HFAC learned Massport budget cuts will affect Hanscom Field

By BARBARA FORSTER
CORRESPONDENT

The Hanscom Field Advisory Commission last week learned that budget cuts at
the Massachusetts Port Authority will affect Hanscom Field.

At the Nov. 20 commission meeting in Bedford, Richard Walsh of Massport
reported at the that due to recent budget cuts at the agency several
proposed capital projects are being " deferred " indefinitely. Resurfacing
the parking lot and work on the maintenance shed and sand shelter are on
hold.

Another project to renovate areas in the Civil Air Terminal is also being
reduced. The terminal improvement project originally budgeted at
approximately $800,000 included an improved air conditioning system for the
first floor, outdoor landscape changes, various remodeling changes in
Shuttle America’s current waiting and departure areas, resurfacing the
parking lot, installing new double-pane windows on all three floors.
According to Walsh, only one part of the plan still stands: the second floor
will get new windows.

Although the parking lot is not getting a fresh top coat, those who park at
the air field can, once again, get up close to the terminal. Last month, the
Federal Aviation Administration issued revised parking guidelines for
smaller airports. Massport was allowed to remove the barriers that kept
parking 300 feet from the terminal.

While the National Guard and State Police patrols continue, Massport has
told Shuttle America to change its security provider, Argenbright. The
security company which was fired at Logan Airport also covers Hanscom.
Shuttle America has two weeks to find another security firm.

Noise report

Although the monthly noise report shows that the total number of operations
between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. went down 3.4 percent as compared to last year,
noise is up.

The civilian departure EXP for October increased to 114.3 decibels, up 0.8
decibels as compared to October 2000. According to Massport’s Sara Arnold, "
an increase of three logarithmically is considered to have doubled. "

EXP is a metric that evaluates changes in the fleet mix and number of
operations, distinguishes civilian noise from military noise, and indicates
changes in total noise exposure which reflect changes in the Day-Night
Average Sound Level (Ldn). The figures are the result of logarithmic
computations.

The largest decreases were in touch-and-go activity by non-local single
engine pistons and helicopters which were affected by FAA restrictions on
visual flight rule operations. No VFR activity was allowed until Oct. 6.
After that a flight instructor had to be on board.

Military activity dropped by 47 percent and noise complaints sunk from 1,611
to 553.

Night activity — operations between — 36 and 66 percent.

According to Tom Hoban, president of East Coast Aviation and an Hanscom
Field Advisory Commission member, the " why " has several answers. One is
that " business travelers are looking for options to standing in lines for
two hours. "

If four or five people from the same company travel together, corporate jets
are affordable, " especially when you look at the costs of short notice
travel. "

Another theory is that corporations that own planes are making them
available to lower levels of management.

HFAC atmosphere

Before the motion to adjourn was made, commission members took different
sides of a touchy issue — meeting behavior.

" I have observed the lack of civility between the board (and sometimes the
audience) and Massport, " said Chair Sheldon Moll of Bedford. " I think it’s
destructive to what we are trying to accomplish. It poisons the atmosphere
and we don’t get the information we want. "

Peter Enrich of Lexington almost agreed. " There is no question there is an
unfortunate level of friction, " he said. " But the level of frustration is
a response to long periods of unresponsiveness (from Massport); any
encounters are almost certain to prove frustrating. It’s causation. "

Massport representatives were not invited to respond.

© Copyright 1995-2001 - Town Online - All Rights Reserved
==========
**NOTICE: In accordance with 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is
distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in
receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.**
==========