Lincoln Journal
Wednesday, June 23, 2004

Commentary: Jet traffic overhead seems to crowd the skies

By Julian Bussgang and Mary Derbyshire

The jet traffic over our homes and Minute Man National Historical Park is
escalating. According to Massport, jet operations at Hanscom Field Civilian
Airport have more than tripled between 1993 and 2003, with a 13 percent
increase per year. If this trend continues, we can project 100,000 jet
operations by 2013, or a jet overflight every few minutes.

Hanscom traffic is changing dramatically from single engine overflights to
jets. We can hear the difference. Our windows shake and vibrate, and the
roar of the engines wakes us up. With summer here and outdoor activities
increased, the impact is even worse.

Jets, landing under instrument control, begin descent further from the
airport than single engine planes. Also, because of our proximity to Logan,
jets taking off from Hanscom must stay low longer than at other airports.
Both factors increase noise impacts.

After 9/11, as security measures increased at Logan, corporate executives
increasingly turned to private jets for their convenience. Air taxis and
shared-ownership jets are making private aviation available to still more
high-end travelers.

However, there are many disadvantages to the private jet operations flooding
the skies.

Air Traffic Control (ATC) and airport capital improvements are mainly funded
by the airport and Airway Trust Fund. On May 28, Aviation Daily reported
that commercial passenger and cargo airlines bear 98 percent of ATC costs.
General Aviation, which includes private jets, accounts for 40 percent of
aviation traffic, but contributes only 2 percent of the cost. Thus, while
fairness dictates that each user should pay its fair share, private jet
operations are heavily subsidized by taxpayers.

This January, the Department of Transportation announced that because of the
growth of aircraft operations, air capacity will have to be tripled: more
runways, more air traffic controllers, more hangars and more noise.
Government finances and subsidizes airport expansion. Should taxpayers be
paying for the luxury for a few executives, who don't want to stand in line
at the airport?

The flood of jets contributes to world fuel shortage and the rising prices
of gasoline.

Another consequence of these jets is air pollution: carbon dioxide, other
greenhouse gases, and particulates. These emissions present a real danger of
global warming, effects that contribute to more extreme weather events.
Recent NASA research reported that condensation trails from jet exhausts
create cirrus clouds that may trap heat rising from the earth's surface.

According to a June 1 article in The Boston Globe, the American Heart
Association and American Cancer Society agree that fine particulates in the
air increase the risk of heart disease. The public should be aware that as
private jets crowd the skies, health impacts on the communities around
airports will increase.

Security is another issue. The Los Angeles Times alerted us in April that
security at smaller airports is badly lacking. There is little passenger and
baggage screening for privileged passengers using the private jets. The
Transportation Security Administration continues to tighten screening
procedures at major airports, but little is done at airports such as Hanscom
at the hangars where private jet passengers board.

A new air taxi service at Hanscom, LinearAir, advertises it will "offer the
best in this fast-growing trend, including a new class of personal business
jets, a private terminal, no security lines, and personal service. Hassles
are greatly reduced..." Poor security to reduce hassle for a few privileged
passengers is an alarming development, not something to boast of.

The historic heritage of Minute Man National Historical Park, where the
American Revolution began, and of Walden Woods and Pond where the
environmental movement began, deserves protection from further airport
growth. Hanscom is already the second busiest airport overall, and the
busiest airport for noisy corporate jets, in New England. The National Trust
for Historic Preservation designated Minute Man Park and its environs as one
of America's 11 most endangered historic places, specifically because of
ongoing airport expansion. To protect these nationally important resources,
limits on that growth must be established and enforced.

Officials of a local insurance company, Liberty Mutual, are not only
permitted trips in private jets, but the company is expanding its activity
at Hanscom. Should a company that provides workers compensation insurance to
many of our businesses have its officials travel in private jets?
Maintaining a fleet of jets can only lead to higher insurance premiums.
Should responsible companies bill customers to finance the costs of luxury
travel?

It is sad that a company like Liberty Mutual, which prides itself that its
mission is to "help people live safer, more secure lives" and advertises on
television the beauty of Minute Man Park, is building a large new hangar at
Hanscom to accommodate its fleet of private jets; clearly a step in wrong
direction

--The above column was submitted by Lincoln resident Mary Debyshire and
Lexington resident Julian Bussgang. Debyshire is a member of Save Our
Heritage.

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