Hanscom Field debate resumes

By Kerry Drohan, Globe Staff, 10/21/2001

BEDFORD - As Shuttle America prepares to launch service Wednesday from
Hanscom Field to Philadelphia, there are signs that ''normalcy'' has
returned to the debate about commercial air traffic at the state's busiest
general aviation airport.

Spirited arguments are raging about the new business relationship between
Shuttle America and US Airways, and about the timing of public hearings for
Hanscom's Environmental Status and Planning Report and Vegetation Management
Plan.

The hearings were postponed because of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Massport presented a new schedule to the Hanscom Field Advisory Commission
Tuesday night, prompting a long and bitter debate. The schedule was called
''outrageous'' by two commissioners, and two members of activist groups.
They said the schedule was unreasonable because it required the towns to
deal with two major issues - the environmental and vegetation management
plans - by having public comment periods that ended the same day.

''I'm delighted to see that Massport is following the president's
exhortation to get back to business as usual,'' said Marty Pepper Aisenberg,
projects director for the historic preservation group Save Our Heritage.
''This is outrageous. We have pressed you before on the timing of these
issues, and you have said we would have plenty of time. Now it's business as
usual for Massport, and the towns can like it or lump it.''

Added Selectwoman Sara Mattes of Lincoln, ''The cancellations and change are
not our initiative, but yours [Massport]. The old schedule has much more
time between the ESPR and the VMP. This is not reasonable consultation with
us. This is an insult.''

Massport spokesman Richard Walsh responded that the towns have had ample
time to review documents and get public input.

''The towns have had the ESPR scope since June,'' he said. ''They've had
many months to review it. The VMP was made public in August, and there has
been one public meeting already. I am taken aback by people's anger. Nothing
new has been presented.''

Massport and Hanscom Field Advisory Commission later announced a compromise
on the schedule of meetings. (See box.)

Shuttle America's new ''code-sharing'' agreement with US Airways also came
under fire. Under this arrangement, announced two weeks ago, the airlines
share customers, who can purchase their tickets online from US Airways for
one international destination, with joint baggage-handling and service in
Philadelphia.

Shuttle America spokesman Mark Cestari said that even though the airline's
three new planes have ''US Airways Express'' in large letters on their
sides, a small decal by the door indicates they are flying for Shuttle
America. Shuttle America pilots and crew will fly the Philadelphia routes,
he said.

Some commissioners pressed Cestari on the relationship, questioning why US
Airways now would enter service at Hanscom after it had declined to offer
service there, citing community opposition. At the June Hanscom Field
Advisory Commission meeting, more than 400 activists, some with bullhorns,
shouted down airline representatives from US Airways, Boston Maine Airways,
and Midway Airlines.

''The branding, uniforms, livery, and colors are all US Airways, but Shuttle
America is the operator,'' Cestari said. ''There is no corporate
relationship other than a marketing agreement. This is common in the airline
industry.''

That led to an sharp exchange between Mattes and Cestari.

''To anyone with common sense, what you're saying is pure nonsense,'' Mattes
said. ''Customers see `US Airways' in huge letters. How are they going to
know from one little decal by the door?''

Cestari: ''Three hundred communities in the US are served by entities like
Shuttle America. It's a well-known fact. It's commonplace.''

Mattes: ''It's not common knowledge. If you took a random poll at Logan, no
one would understand, unless you talk straight. If it walks like a duck and
quacks like a duck...''

Sheldon Moll, Bedford selectman and chairman of the advisory commission,
said he would invite a US Airways representative to appear before the
commission to answer questions about the business relationship with Shuttle
America.

''I will do that, but I'm in no rush, because our agenda is full through the
end of November,'' he said. ''I also don't want a repeat of the June
meeting, which was an opportunity lost to gather information. I will ask
people to check their megaphones at the door.''

Cestari said the code-sharing agreement is an ''independent event'' from
Shuttle America's takeover by Wexford Capital of Greenwich, Conn., which is
in the process of bailing out the airline from bankruptcy, declared in
April. He said the financial firm, which owns several airlines, is scheduled
to complete the takeover in December.

There is some confusion over the issue of new operation specifications for
Shuttle America, required by the Federal Aviation Administration when an
airline seeks service to a new destination, in this case Philadelphia.
Cestari answered ''Yes'' when asked if Shuttle America had received FAA
approval. But FAA spokeswoman Arlene Salac said those operation
specifications were still under review as of Thursday.

Massport spokesman Walsh gave commissioners an update on security at
Hanscom. Among the major changes are that State Police are posted 24 hours a
day, and National Guardsmen are on duty from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., the hours of
Shuttle America's operations. In addition, Massport security personnel are
escorting people onto the field through central check-in at the main parking
lot, including recreational pilots and airport tenants.

''We are also checking photo IDs and asking people to log in and out,''
Walsh said. ''Even FAA personnel at the tower have to be escorted onto the
field becuase their gate is closed. We are escorting everybody on and off
the field.''

This story ran on page W9 of the Boston Globe on 10/21/2001.
© Copyright 2001 Globe Newspaper Company.
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