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Danvers Lawmaker Seeks Mandatory Noise Reporting, ‘Good Neighbor’ Policy for Beverly Regional Airport
Summary
Representative Sally Kearns told the Joint Committee on Transportation that H3713 would require MassAeronautics to collect and publish touch-and-go and noise complaints and help Beverly Airport implement a good-neighbor policy to reduce flight-school impacts on nearby neighborhoods.
Representative Sally Kearns told the Joint Committee on Transportation that House Bill 3713 would require the Massachusetts Aeronautics Division to collect and publish noise complaints—including counts of touch-and-go maneuvers—and to assist Beverly Regional Airport in developing a “good neighbor” policy for flight schools.
Kearns, who represents the Thirteenth Essex District, said neighborhoods in Danvers and Wenham have endured repeated “touch and go” training flights that can “stop a conversation” and last for an entire day. She told the committee she would submit testimony from Danvers town officials and that residents report online complaints “go into a black hole.” “Collecting data is the first step,” Kearns said, adding that MassAeronautics should post noise reports so agencies and residents can see trends.
Kearns asked the agency to help Beverly Airport and local flight schools educate student pilots to comply with a good-neighbor policy and recommended measures aimed at sensitive times of day or year. She also raised safety concerns after a recent fatal single-engine crash near Beverly.
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association’s Eastern regional manager, Sean Collins, told the committee AOPA supports voluntary fly-neighborly programs but opposed H3713 as drafted, arguing that federal law—citing the Airport Noise and Capacity Act of 1990—preempts local flight restrictions and that some elements of the bill could require commitments beyond voluntary practice.
Kearns said Beverly Regional Airport is legally a municipal entity but does not receive city tax revenue; she and others told the committee the airport is seeking to expand hangar capacity to accommodate larger private aircraft. Senator Lovely said she is a Senate cosponsor and supported Kearns’ effort to obtain more noise data for residents.
No committee action was taken at the hearing; supporters urged the panel to require public reporting and to help airports implement voluntary programs to reduce neighborhood noise.
