KBED

Bedford Hanscom Field has been home plate for me for about ten years, off an on. It is a nice airport with good de-ice services and an instrument approach to three of four runways. There is one problem, however. I've had more TCAS resolution alerts at Bedford than all other places in the world combined. Keep an eye out for light airplanes.

Most of what follows are my personal observations, though I have used the references shown below.

Photo: Hanscom, from Eddie's cockpit.
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Time

Summer: UTC -4 EDT (Summer)

Winter: UTC -5 EST (Winter)

Curfew

Tower closed and surcharges are imposed between 2300L and 0700L.

If you want to get a status report on runway conditions you can call "Hanscom Operations" at 617-212-6592, you can also text them at that number. They will also respond to hanscomops@massport.com. They man these contacts 24/7.

Airport Diagram

Figure: Bedford airport diagram, from Jeppesen Airways Manual, page KBED 10-9, 1 May 09.
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Airport Operating Notes

The following was published in an email from Hanscom Airport Operations on Dec 6, 2017:

• If a runway is treated (plowed, swept, sanded, or de-iced) at any width less than the full runway width, you will see the treatment and width listed in the NOTAMs plus a condition for the remainder of the runway. For example:

BED RWY 29 FICON 3/3/3 100 PRCT 1/4IN DRY SN SWEPT AND SANDED 75FT WID REMAINDER 1IN DRY SN

• If a runway is chemically treated or sanded full width, you will see the treatment listed in the NOTAM, but no width. In other words, if no width is listed, the runway is assumed to have been treated full width. For example:

BED RWY 29 FICON 3/3/3 100 PRCT 1/4IN DRY SN SANDED AND DEICED SOLID

• If a runway is mechanically treated (plowed or swept) full width, you will not see any information describing such treatment, rather only the updated conditions of the runway after the runway was plowed or swept. For example:

BED RWY 29 FICON 3/3/3 100 PRCT 1/4IN DRY SN

• Additionally, when Rwy 5/23 is being used for taxi only, as a turnoff from Rwy 11/29, you will notice the following examples of NOTAMs:

Rwy 5/23 available for taxi between Rwy 11/29 and Twy E

BED RWY 05/23 CLSD EXC TAX BTN RWY 11/29 AND TWY E

BED RWY 23 FICON 3/5/3 100 PRCT 12IN DRY SN, 100 PRCT 1/8IN DRY SN, 100 PRCT 12IN DRY SN SANDED

*This will be read as the center third of Rwy 5/23 (between Rwy 11/29 and Twy E) was mechanically treated and sanded full width, leaving 1/8 inch dry snow with sand. The north and south thirds of Rwy 5/23 have 12 inches of dry snow.*

• Rwy 5/23 available for taxi south of Rwy 11/29

BED RWY 05/23 CLSD EXC TAX S OF RWY 11/29

• BED RWY 23 FICON 3/5/5 100 PRCT 12IN DRY SN, 100 PRCT 1/8IN DRY SN, 100 PRCT 1/8IN DRY SN SANDED

*This will be read as the southern 2 thirds of Rwy 5/23 (south of Rwy 11/29) were mechanically treated and sanded full width, leaving 1/8 inch of dry snow with sand. The northern third of Rwy 5/23 has 12 inches of dry snow*

• If a runway condition code is listed for a runway, but an aircraft is landing in the opposite direction, it is the pilot's responsibility to interpret the RCC backwards for the runway in which they're landing.
• For example, if there is a NOTAM showing RWY 29 FICON 3/4/5, but an aircraft is landing Rwy 11, the pilot will interpret this as RWY 11 FICON 5/4/3.

Airport Risk Analysis

There are ILS approaches to two runways, LPV approaches to three, but no instrument approaches to one. There tends to be a lot of small airplane traffic during fair weather days.

Noise Considerations

From the Gulfstream Noise Information Manual: "Nighttime operations permitted but an environmental operating fee will be assessed for each operation. Charges will be doubled for any nighttime operation by an aircraft in excess of five nighttime operations in a particular calendar year." For a G-450 in 2013 that amounts to $412 per event for the first five events and then $824 per event thereafter.

Class B Considerations

Photo: KBOS Class B Airspace
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The airspace below 3,000 feet from the center of the airport towards Boston underlies Boston Class B Airspace.  From the center of the airport to five miles west below 4,000 feet also underlies Boston Class B airspace.

Arrival Notes

Runway 05

Photo: KBED Runway 05, from Eddie's Glareshield Cam.
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Runway 05 is over a small hill and requires a steeper gradient, the VASI is angled at 3.75°. There are no instrument approaches to this runway.

Video: KBED Rwy 5 Visual Pattern (6 June 2014)

Runway 11

Photo: KBED Runway 11, from Eddie's Glareshield Cam.
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Video: KBED Rwy 11 (26 June 2013)

Runway 23

Photo: KBED Runway 23, from Eddie's Glareshield Cam.
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Runway 23 takes you over a residential area and a small hill, the VASI is angled at 3.5°. The only available approach is an RNAV(GPS) without LPV minimums, but it allows C073 OpSpec/MSpec/LOA holders to use VNAV DA in lieu of MDA.

Video: KBED Rwy 23 RNAV(GPS) (10 July 2013).

Runway 29

Photo: KBED Runway 29, from Eddie's Glareshield Cam.
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The visual to Runway 29 can be difficult in some lighting conditions because of the surrounding lights and three towers on base to final.

Photo: Runway 29 visual
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A normal two mile final will not work because of the towers. Adjusting the normal pattern math for a 2-1/2 mile final helps. Enter the pattern with a 2 mile offset, heading 110°, corrected for drift. 2,000' MSL works well. 200 KCAS and clean will work through midfield, then 180 KCAS (Flaps 10°), and finally 160 KCAS (Flaps 20°) when abeam the approach end.

Photo: Abeam waypoint BEDDS
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Look for the three towers on base, extend the landing gear.

Photo: Approach abeam the towers
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Turn smoothly to base when passed the towers, adjust pitch to achieve about 900 fpm descent. Roll out 200°, check altitude around 1,500 feet and look for runway to judge final turn.

Photo: Abeam the towers
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You are shooting to roll our on a 2-1/2 nm final about 1,000 feet MSL.

Photo: Base turn
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Pitfalls (mistakes I have made):

• Turning over the towers — creates uncertainty in the descent rate.
• Rolling into the base turn too briskly — can place the aircraft over the towers.
• Failing to roll out on base — placing the towers on your right gives you a healthy 2 nm downwind displacement. A constant turning base will roll you out well inside final.
• Failing to identify the runway end on base — the tower tends to run the lights at a low intensity; don't be afraid to ask them to turn them up. Knowing the relationship to Highway 128 can help too.

Here’s how it looks when done correctly...(Click for video)

How about left-hand traffic? (Click for video)

Departure Notes

The traffic into and out of KBOS impacts the departure corridor from KBED. Expect to fly north to MHT on the way west.

Contacts

ASOS, 781-274-9733

ATIS, 781-274-6283, 124.6

JetAviation, 781-274-0030, 131.525

Rectrix, 978-341-8400, 131.40

Signature, 781-274-0010, 130.8

Jeppesen Airways Manuals