Neighbors grill autonomous flight firm over Hanscom ambitions

With talk of pilotless planes and populated flight paths, locals had plenty of questions and comments for executives seeking to test autonomous flight software at Hanscom Field.

At a public meeting last month, project supporters repeated assurances that their plans won’t bring an air traffic surge to the skies over Acton.

Mark Ward, Merlin Labs’ vice president of flight operations, touted his company’s safety record and said it’s never had a crash. 

Some residents still weren’t sold.

Merlin executives want to develop programs to replace crew members — potentially including pilots. For now, every Merlin test flight has a pilot on board.

The late June meeting between Merlin, area residents, and developers came as Runway Realty Ventures and North Airfield Ventures seek to pull renovations for a vacant former Navy hangar out of their larger proposal to build 17 new hangars. 

Weeks after developers announced lease negotiations with Merlin, the session was neighbors’ first chance to grill company officials. 

Air traffic

Merlin would be the Navy hangar’s anchor tenant. Environmental consultant Lauren DeVoe said the fully reoccupied hangar would generate roughly six daily flights. Supporters say Merlin would bring jobs to Hanscom. 

Among the concerned area residents, Elizabeth Coules asked about the threat of an accident. “There’s lots of people that live directly under these simulated flights,” she said. 

As a pilot who rides aboard Merlin’s autonomous test flights, Ward said, “I’ll endeavor in every way not to crash the planes that I fly.”

Uncrewed operations won’t “be happening overnight,” he said, and Merlin would need federal approval to take pilots out of the cockpit. 

AI concerns

Planes would take off and land locally, but Ward said Merlin doesn’t plan to have its craft linger in the air over Hanscom. He said the company could run tests along the New Hampshire seacoast. 

Merlin uses some artificial intelligence. As advocates flag concerns about AI’s climate footprint, Senior Policy Analyst Sophie Jantz said, “We are not a quote-unquote AI company.” She said Merlin doesn’t use large data centers or server farms.

Russ Arena, executive director of the Massachusetts Business Aviation Association, shared his support. 

“I know there’s a lot of negativity against this project, but I think you’ve got to look at the bright side of this,” he said. Among perks, Arena said, the renovations will bring research and development back to a hangar that historically housed that type of work.

Developers are asking state regulators for a waiver to fast-track Navy hangar work.

If state regulators approve the waiver, Runway Realty Director of Operations Rick Muse said, developers could have the building ready for Merlin in as soon as 10 months.

If the project stalls, Muse said, Merlin would probably head elsewhere.

Public comments on the waiver request are due July 25. 

Jet disruptions

At Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge the day after the public meeting, visitor Alex Liazos said jets “destroy the silence.” 

Advocates say a spike in jet traffic from hangar development would hurt the environment and further disrupt places like Great Meadows. While the proponents project minimal impacts from the Navy hangar refit, some skeptics at the recent meeting pushed for stronger flight count commitments and said they fear an uptick once the project gets approved. Advocates are also focused on the large-scale hangar project and a supplemental draft environmental impact report that developers expect to submit this year.

Steven German plugged his ears, in the meantime, as another plane cruised above the wildlife refuge. 

“It’s annoying,” he said.