Bedford Minuteman
Thursday, May 29, 2003

Town fears consequences of airport fee increase

By Natalie Goodale / Staff Writer

New fees at Hansom Field are no longer just a proposal by Massport; the fees were announced to Hanscom Field Advisory Commission at last week's meeting and will take effect July 1.

Massport representative Richard Walsh said the rate increases include those for base aviation pilots (those who house their planes at Hanscom) to lease T-hangers and tie-down spaces. There are also new landing fees for transient commercial and private pilots who land their planes there.

Walsh said the landing fee for commercial pilots has been raised from 50 cents to $1.50 per 100 pounds. The aviators who base their planes at Hansom don't pay a landing fee. Also, there is a new flat fee for small aircraft landing at the airfield; prior to this, there was no landing fee for small aircraft to land there.

"We've expanded the landing fee to include transient flights," Walsh said.

Sheldon Moll, selectman and Bedford's liaison to HFAC, said he is worried the new fees will dissuade smaller planes from landing at Hanscom and increase the number of commercial flights.

"The reason HFAC is interested in this is because it could have an impact on the mix of business that goes on there," Moll said. "It could promote jet flights over private."

Earlier this spring, when Massport announced to HFAC it may be raising fees, Moll said the commission requested to know what the new numbers would be so they could provide feedback, but Massport denied them the information. Moll and others saw the new fees at last week's meeting.

"We requested information prior to them voting so we could give a comment or advise them, but Massport did not inform us of the numbers prior to them being voted in," Moll said. "We have now been informed after the numbers are installed."

Walsh said Massport provided the committee many opportunities to give its input.

"We notified them in September of 2002 to raise the charges, and then again in March of 2003. The board voted in May 2003," he said. "They had to opportunity to provide input."

Moll said Massport has no obligation to make any decisions based on HFAC's preferences. But Massport has to provide a monthly report to HFAC, and HFAC must be the first to know about changes such as this.

Walsh said Hanscom provides many more services to pilots than other airports do, and that makes the rate increases more justifiable. Walsh doesn't think the rate increases will affect the type of business the air field gets.

"Hanscom Field offers amenities to pilots that other places don't provide, amenities that now these transient pilots will help pay," Walsh said. "This way, we are spreading out the cost of operating the airport - it is more equitable."

Moll agrees that Hanscom does provide more amenities.

"They are required to have these services because it is an airforce base and they have to keep the runways clean," he said. "Only 10 percent [ED: probably a typo, correct number is one percent] of the operations is Air Force traffic. When Massport took the field over in 1977, they agreed to keep the runways in accordance with regulations. So it is a better kept field, but for private pilots the fees are higher."

Moll said there are many private pilots who attend HFAC meetings, and many of those who have spoken up said that, although the fees may be higher, they like the services.

"But there was one person who presented a letter who is not happy, as well as others," said Moll. "So it is a mixed bag."

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