Protecting the Birthplace of the American Revolution,

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and the Home of the American Literary Renaissance

Frequently Asked Questions regarding Shuttle America

Are the Shuttle America airplanes quiet as has been claimed by Massport?

No.  Shuttle America flies Bombardier Dash 8 50 seat aircraft.  These aircraft have a published EPNL noise level on approach that is the same as a Boeing 737-300 commercial jetliner (EPNL is the noise level measured by the FAA when certifying the aircraft). The aircraft manufacturer admitted this in a public meeting in Bedford in August 1999.  Massport has fabricated this "quiet" claim as part of their disinformation campaign.

How will the communities be harmed by Shuttle America's few flights?

The communities will be harmed in 3 key ways.  

1) These flights represent the tip of the iceberg, as a far reaching change in status of Hanscom into a commercial airport.  There is no cap on the number of commercial flights as demonstrated by the current growth rates.

2) the impact of the noise, traffic, and pollution on the historic and natural sites surrounding the airport will result in degradation of these sites and ultimately lead to a loss of tourism as well as an incalculable loss of the heritage that makes Massachusetts special.

3) The increased traffic will dump into the already overloaded roadways of the communities, which will change their character forever.  The growth of car trips in the first year of Shuttle America operations is expected to be an increase of over 500,000 car trips per year. 

Won't Shuttle America flights reduce the loading on Logan Airport?

Not significantly.  Shuttle America's business model as stated in news interviews is that their main passengers are people who would either drive or otherwise might not take the trip.  Not one flight at Logan has been eliminated by the Shuttle America flights.

Isn't there a Master Plan for Hanscom Field, approved by the communities, which plans for and permits Shuttle America flights?

No. The Hanscom Field Master Plan specifically states that "Certificated Passenger Service will not operate at Hanscom Field".  Shuttle America provides certificated passenger service and is therefore not permitted under the master plan.  The Master Plan is a policy statement of Massport and is not approved or controlled by the local communities.

Isn't Shuttle America helping the economy of the communities or the state?

No. Shuttle America provides only a few tens of jobs in Massachusetts.  Shuttle America pays no taxes to the communities. The profits from Shuttle America, if any, go to a group of New York, Texas, and Connecticut investors.  The activities of Shuttle America are in fact likely to have a serious negative economic effect, including damage to tourism through the damage of the historic sites, significant community costs to handle the increased traffic, and serious reductions in real estate values resulting in the loss of millions of dollars to homeowners as well as millions of dollars of lost tax revenues of the towns.  By damaging the character and quality of life of the towns, Shuttle America operations are going to impact the very thing which a recent BankBoston study showed was the primary reason why high tech companies site here.

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