Preface: Monday, March 15 is the deadline to answer FAA’s call for public comments on its research concerning: aviation noise impacts on the public; efforts to mitigate such noise exposure; and public perception of aviation noise.
Public comments on this research – in addition to the FAA’s ongoing study of air noise relationship to sleep disturbance and cardiovascular disease – may eventually influence FAA air noise policy.
To learn more, click
https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/policy_guidance/noise/survey/
To submit comments to the FAA, click https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/01/13/2021-00564/overview-of-faa-aircraft-noise-policy-and-research-efforts-request-for-input-on-research-activities#open-comment
The long-running complaint by residents of Ayer and Groton about aviation noise harassment from pilots based at Hanscom Field is starting to head back toward the Federal Aviation Administration, this time with support from the Hanscom Field Advisory Commission.
Residents have repeatedly demanded action from the Massachusetts Port Authority, which leases facilities to flight schools that are linked to many daytime air noise complaints. Massport has maintained that the FAA alone is responsible for pilot flying behavior. However, residents say local FAA officials have repeatedly ignored their pleas for assistance.
At the February 16 meeting of members of the Hanscom Field Advisory Commission, Chair Christopher Eliot of Lincoln said, “Anything that resembles a pilot harassing people on the ground—that’s unacceptable. Everybody agrees on it. The question is: ‘Who’s responsible for handling that?’ ”
“I do think the existing regulatory environment has some problems,” Eliot continued. “It sounds like the FAA has sole authority to regulate airplanes in the air, and then they don’t really do it. And I think that’s what’s driving some of this frustration from people in the neighborhoods and the communities around Hanscom Field. The people that should be the cops on the beat, aren’t really protecting them. And that’s a problem.”
HFAC and Bedford Select Board member Emily Mitchell suggested a new course for the commission to consider regarding residents’ air noise complaints about some local flight school pilots’ practice sessions over neighborhoods: “sending letters and complaints to the regional directors of the FAA – so at least we have a paper trail that [says], ‘This is a problem in our communities. We would like to see some changes.’ ”
“I’ve said fairly explicitly that I think there is a problem here,” Eliot said, adding, “But this is bigger than we are. And it needs to go to the Mass Legislature or to Senator Markey or Senator Warren or the federal representatives.” HFAC member Margaret Coppe cautioned that crafting legislation takes time and effort, and suggested that State Rep. Ken Gordon be consulted.
Mike Vatalaro, Massport’s new community relations representative for Hanscom Field, said he will attempt to arrange a visit from the new FAA noise ombudsman to an HFAC meeting.
Vatalaro also mentioned that in his prior experience representing Logan area communities, Mitchell’s idea of commission letters to the FAA [about local flight school and air noise issues] is a good starting point for getting the FAA’s attention.
Coppe reminded commission members that HFAC has been asking Massport for two years “to improve the way they communicate back to people who file noise complaints. I don’t know if that’s been done. According to what I’ve been hearing here, it hasn’t been done. And that’s something I think we could work on without going any sort of legislative or financial route.”
Eliot agreed, suggesting HFAC consider advising Massport not only to close the noise complaint feedback loop with local pilots, but to have Massport share all noise reports and complaints with the FAA. “We need to be sure that the FAA hears about the level of complaints that get generated.”
Ayer resident Amy McCoy said she believes it would be helpful if Massport Legal could provide a document to HFAC spelling out exactly “what Massport’s willing to do and not willing to do with regard to being a partner and trying to mitigate noise complaints that are coming from residents and people out in Ayer and Groton, plus the surrounding towns at Hanscom.”
McCoy also reminded members that the commission previously requested Massport:
- provide a list of tenants currently found at Hanscom airport
- verify if minutes are kept at the quarterly Massport meetings with Hanscom-based pilots and flight schools about touch-and-go practice.
Vatalaro told the commission he will try to get the list of Hanscom Field tenants, and he is certain that Massport does not keep minutes of its quarterly meetings with local pilots and flight schools about touch-and-go practice sessions.
Coppe suggested it would be beneficial if the head of Massport [CEO Lisa Wieland] could make time to meet periodically with HFAC as she already does with the Hanscom Area Towns Committee (HATS).
HFAC members clarified their concept of the Commission’s mission and scope during the meeting. Coppe explained, “We are an advisory commission. We are a conduit between the community and Massport. And there are times when that works well. And then there are times when it doesn’t, and I would wish we could get it to work better.”
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