ShhAir
P.O. Box 441
Concord, MA 01742
info@shhair.org
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Information compiled by ShhAir – December 1, 1999
Aviation
Data |
Hanscom
Field is the second busiest airport in New England
Logan
507,000 operations (1998)
Hanscom
197,302 (1999)
Bradley
175,000 (1999)
T.F.
Green 162,000 (1999)
Burlington
115,000 (1999)
Manchester
114,000 (1999)
Worcester
55,000 (1999)
Total
Operations (takeoffs and landings) in 1999 were up 7.7% (from 183,184
in 1998 to 197,302 in 1999)
Jet
operations increased 40% in last two years, from 11,248 operations
in 1997 to 15,749 operations in 1999. The first two months in 2000 saw
a 12% increase over comparable months in 1999.
Night
operations (from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.) increased 16.7% in 1999 (from 1390
to 1622)
Noise
Complaints were up 136.5% in 1999 (from 1552 to 3670). Read the
report of the noise workgroup here
.
Total
operations breakdown:
-Touch-and-go operations (Flight schools) 37%
-Single engine pistons 45% (Massport estimate)
-Civilian jets 8 %
-Twin engine piston and turboprop 5.4%
-Helicopters 3.6
-Military 1%
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History |
In 1940,
began as a small airport and used as a military airport during WWII.
After war, became a general aviation airport (private planes, flight
schools, charter operations, corporate jets, light cargo flights).
In 1974,
Massport took over ownership and maintenance.
In 1978,
Massport wrote the Hanscom Master Plan which said Hanscom was to remain
a general aviation airport allowing commuter flights only in planes
with fewer than 30 seats and 7500 lbs. payload. Since then, Massport
has often publicly affirmed and assured area towns that they planned
to abide by this Master Plan.
In 1990,
Continental Airlines sought to begin commercial operations to Newark,
NJ in 30-seat planes. Community opposition plus requirements of a full
Environmental Impact Report caused Continental to withdraw.
In 1998,
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Affairs weakened regulations
eliminating "increases in aviation" as a condition that would trigger
an environmental review.
From 1997
to 1998, jet aviation has increased 21% and in past 5 years, turbo prop
flights increased 31%; night noise levels are up significantly.
In the
summer of 1999, Massport granted a license to Shuttle America to begin
flying in 50-seat turbo prop planes between Hanscom and Buffalo, NY
and Trenton, NJ. To do so, Massport obtained a higher level ofcertification
(Part 139) for Hanscom from the FAA.
Hanscom
operations rose 7.5 % in 1999, from 183,000 operations a year to 197,000
operations. (An operation is a take-off or landing. For comparison,
Logan handles 495,000 operations a year.) The number of jet operations
has been up every year for the last five years, rising over 40% in the
last two years alone. Night operations were up 16.7 % last year and
noise complaints were up 134%.
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Airport
Size /
Annual Flights |
500 acres
with runways which can handle any sized plane made today.
Currently
is New England’s second busiest airport after Logan Airport with 180,000
to 200,000 operations annually (take-offs and landings) – about 500
per day.
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Shuttle
America |
50-seat
Bombadier Dash 8-300.
Flights go to LaGuardia Airport, NY, Buffalo, NY, Trenton, NJ, and Greensboro,
NC.
Began
operations at Hanscom with 8 flights (4 flights in and 4 flights out)
on September 28, 1999.
|
Westchester,
NY
Airport |
In
late 1980’s, said "yes" to commercial flights and now serves 1,000,000
passengers per year (almost 100 flights a day) on airlines like Northwest,
Continental, and USAirways.
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HATS
Lawsuit |
Lawsuit
alleges that when Massport granted a license to Shuttle America to operate
commercial flights:
Massport
did not follow the Hanscom Master Plan.
Massport
violated due process by not consulting with HFAC (Hanscom Field Advisory
Committee), which was established by the legislature to review issues
like this.
Commercial
flights will have a negative impact on the surrounding national parks,
historical sites and will irreparably damage local natural wildlife
refuge areas.
The judge did not grant our request for a temporary injunction
to prevent Shuttle America from beginning flights, and we have
subsequently decided to pursue other actions instead.
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Affected
Historic
& Environmental
Area |
Minute
Man National Park, Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, the Battle
Road, Lexington Battle Green ("Shot heard around the world"), Concord’s
North Bridge, Walden Pond, homes of Emerson, Hawthorne, Thoreau and
the Alcotts.
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2000
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