July 5, 2001

Hanscom debate has reached new low

To the Editor:

The debate over Hanscom has reached a new low. Save Our Heritage (SOH) has asked for permits to protest general aviation at the field’s two FBOs, Jet Aviation and Mercury Air Center. This seems odd coming from a community group when numerous community organizations and elected officials have publicly stated support for general aviation. I am sure SOH will say that they are not protesting general aviation, but just jet aircraft. They are wrong.

The two FBOs serve all segments of general aviation. Corporate pilots to private pilots all use their services and facilities. FBOs serve as the town common of general aviation. Their protests will serve to alienate all segments of aviation, from corporate executives to the private pilots. All pilots use these FBOs to get their fuel, weather briefings, maintenance, to use the rest rooms and to access their aircraft. Many of these local pilots have in the past supported the efforts of SOH; and now SOH runs the risk of starting a war against their very neighbors. There are over 500 pilots who live in the four towns and more than 12,000 who live in Massachusetts. Now these local pilots will have to walk through protesters to get to their aircraft.

These pilots are the same people who have advocated and supported the Flying Friendly Program that is about to be implemented. They have spent their own dues money to produce the Flying Friendly video for mass distribution and participated in the Noise Workgroup; they have worked with ShhAir and the communities to exchange information and ideas. Now SOH wants to protest them? Go figure. Why should the aviation community continue to work with community groups if they will be protested no matter what? It is the FBOs who have volunteered to distribute all the information for the program to work. Go ask them to do that now after the protests.

SOH says that there are too many jets at Hanscom. The fact is that people will come to Boston regardless. Federal law and the Constitution protects their right to come here anyway they want. The region is too vibrant to keep people away; they will come in every form of transportation, including jets. There are only two acceptable airports in Boston that can accommodate jets, Logan and Hanscom. If you take even a half of the jet traffic (which is the increase over five years to which SOH objects) and transfer it to Logan, massive delays will occur that would impact all of the traveling public and cost vast sums of money in direct costs and lost productivity and have negative downstream impacts in the national transportation infrastructure. How arrogant to say that millions of people will suffer so that wealthy towns can have fewer jets. This argument will be used against us for years to come. It is the wrong message to send.

Bradford L. von Weise

Carlisle

Stan Durlacher

Concord

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July 12, 2001

Picketing Hanscom is a right of people

To the Editor:

Last week's letter by Mr. von Weise and Mr. Durlacher objecting to the
ongoing picketing at Hanscom Field should disturb all persons concerned with
the future of our historic town. The letter ( " Hanscom debate has reached
new low, " July 5, Page 7) contends that picketing aviation expansion at the
airfield is wrong and that the jets (which double in number every five
years) will come " regardless. "

I assume we all support the constitutional right of people to petition
government, which clearly includes picketing a state-owned airport. This is
a fundamental right, which was obtained for us by Massachusetts citizens who
fought and died in the revolution that started right here in Concord.

Mr. von Weise wrongly contends that we cannot object to the expansion of jet
traffic because the " The Constitution protects their right to come here any
way they want. " In fact, the Constitution says no such thing and reserves
to states the right to plan, and limit the growth of, state owned facilities
like Hanscom. Furthermore, federal law provides that historic sites of
national significance be protected from adverse airport impacts.

The people of these communities have continued to express themselves
regarding the future of Hanscom Field. In an unprecedented event, the four
surrounding towns all unanimously passed warrant articles at town meeting
calling for a limit to Hanscom growth. Our selectmen, our congressmen and
our state legislative representatives have joined together to sign " Hanscom
at the Crossroads " calling for a moratorium on aviation expansion at
Hanscom until a rational long-term plan is developed. Court appeals have
been filed regarding FAA decisions. Demonstrations as large as 750 people
have taken place; and ongoing picketing has continued for almost two years.

This is the democratic process at work, and it continues to make a dramatic
difference. What will be left of this country and our heritage if the
profiteers are exempt from the process? The conversion of historic Concord
into an " airport buffer zone " is not inevitable and your voice will make
the difference.

Neil Rasmussen, Estabrook Road
President, Save Our Heritage

---------------------------------

Keep airport within 'responsible bounds'

To the Editor:

ShhAir (Safeguarding the Historic Hanscom Area's Irreplaceable Resources )
and SOH (Save Our Heritage) have been working together to stop commercial
aviation at Hanscom, as well as to limit overall expansion and changes in
fleet mix. While we have been focusing our attention on the recent
introduction of commercial passenger flights at Hanscom, we have also
noticed with growing alarm the increased activity of jets, the noisiest and
most environmentally polluting aircraft at the airport. (Jet operations have
more than doubled in the last five years.)

We believe that the impacts of this airport, uniquely situated adjacent to a
national park and surrounded by some of America's most important historical
places, must be kept within environmentally responsible bounds, and not be
allowed to grow incrementally to the point where it overwhelms its sensitive
and historically priceless environs.

Together with state and local elected officials from nine towns, the two
citizens organizations have called for a moratorium on any additional
commercial aviation, infrastructure development until a multi-state,
intermodal, regional transportation study is completed.

Gigi Estabrook, Cottage Lane
ShhAir board member

----------------------------------

Noise from jets on rise, affects area

To the Editor:

In response to the letter from Bradford L. von Weise and Stan Durlacher: Jet
operations at Hanscom have more than doubled since 1995. The noise level
around Concord from these jets has significantly increased. I am personally
affected by the increased noise, whether I am walking around my own
property, Minute Man National Historical Park or Walden Pond.

I understand that Mr. von Weise will profit from aviation expansion around
Hanscom. I hope he will take this opportunity to walk around Minute Man Park
or Walden Pond and contemplate whether making a profit is worth desecrating
our unique resources.

I am not the only person who feels this way. In fact, last year " Hanscom at
the Crossroads " was signed by our elected officials. It states that " this
area is a unique Massachusetts and American treasure. It must not be allowed
to be lost to the effects of incremental, unplanned growth that is currently
taking place. " I am proud of my elected officials and grateful that they
have come forward on this issue.

I will continue to protest any growth at Hanscom Field, be it commercial or
corporate aviation.

Sarah Goos, Shadyside Avenue

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