After a delay of nearly two years, the Norwood Airport Commission has voted to finalize its long-awaited master plan originally drawn up in October 1972, aiming to terminate its participation in the federally funded project and conclude contractual obligations with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and consulting firm Fay, Spofford & Thorndike.
While the board initially weighed simply rejecting or filing the report, member Pauline M. Grasso and FAA representative Vincent A. Scarano successfully urged the commission to review the document with state and federal officials to better align it with the commission’s no-growth orientation. The board voted unanimously to seek an October 16 meeting with officials from the FAA, the Massachusetts Aeronautics Commission (MAC), and the engineering consultants. Anticipated improvements include relocating the east-west runway threshold to direct landing aircraft 1,000 feet further up the tarmac—a change requiring Town Meeting approval.
Controversial Instrument Landing System Rejected
During the same meeting, the airport commission firmly rebuffed a proposal from MAC Director Crocker Snow offering to turn over existing state-owned landing equipment currently used at the airport to the town. The commission voted to reject the MAC offer, noting that the state cannot afford the $10,000 annual maintenance cost past November.
Furthermore, the board refused to reconsider its staunch opposition to installing an Instrument Landing System (ILS). Members of the Norwood Airport Association, led by former state aviation official Malcolm Woronoff, argued that the ILS would improve safety by keeping incoming aircraft higher during approaches. However, commission chairman William F. Collins and other opponents contended that the ILS would encourage heavier bad-weather air traffic and shift an unfair financial burden onto local taxpayers. Airport manager Arnold Stymest noted that the FAA may now choose to offer the federally funded $250,000 system to an alternative airport.
In additional actions, the commission voted to ask congressional representatives to resolve local jet-noise restrictions, criticizing the FAA and MAC for overriding local bans on noisy commercial aircraft exceeding federally prescribed noise limits. The board also formally approved raising the airport’s traffic pattern minimum altitude to 1,000 feet and approved a comprehensive noise level study around the airport to be conducted directly by the FAA.
Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger
More…
-
Emergency Taxiway Repairs Scheduled to Begin-August 21, 1980
Norwood Airport Commission Chairman Walter J. Grady secures $3,000 for emergency taxiway repairs ordered by the state after a bookkeeping mix-up.
-
Vandalism Poses Constant Safety and Operational Concerns for Airport-August 21, 1976
Managing Norwood Airport comes with the persistent worry of vandalism, as Airport Manager Arnold Stymest contends with damaged runway lights, tampered navigational aids, and federal security risks.
-
Norwood 747 Club Members Bring Hang Gliding and Air Surfing to Town-August 9, 1972
Members of Norwood’s 747 Club brought hang gliding to the East Coast by constructing their own bamboo butterfly glider and testing it at Norwood Airport.
-
Norwood Airport To Sponsor Open House-July 27, 1972
The year was 1972, and the town of Norwood was buzzing with excitement as it prepared to celebrate its centennial anniversary. As part of this momentous occasion, the Norwood Centennial Airport Committee had planned a three-day open house event at the local airport. This grand celebration would showcase the best of aviation, entertainment, and community…
-
Converted World War II Bomber Prepares for Transatlantic Flight to Athens from Norwood Airport-July 23, 1965
A converted World War II Grumman torpedo bomber is departing Norwood Airport for a 26-hour transatlantic flight to Athens, Greece.
-
10,000 Watch Norwood Air Show-May 25, 1964
On May 25, 1964, the heat soared into the high 90s, but the temperature did nothing to deter the estimated 10,000 spectators who streamed into Norwood Airport for the Norwood Lions Club Educational Air Show. For nearly five hours, the crowd was treated to a sweeping, full‑throttle celebration of aviation—from the earliest days of flight…
-
Airport Investments Here Over Million Dollar Mark-August 2, 1962
This Day In Norwood History-August 2, 1962-Airport Investments Here Over Million Dollar Mark
-
Airport Authorities Will Be Requested To Reconsider Norwood-August 15, 1947
Following a state funding rejection, Town Engineer Albert W. Thompson will petition the Massachusetts Airport Commission to reconsider matching funds for paving the impassable Metropolitan Airport access road off Neponset Street.
-
Airplane Crash Costs Milton Youth $800, Judge Rules-This Day In Norwood History-July 9, 1937
Discover the legal aftermath of a 1936 aviation accident involving S. Tudor Leland, whose violation of flight instructions resulted in significant damages to an E. W. Wiggins Airways aircraft.
-
Turn The First Sod For Norwood Airport-This Day In Norwood History-February 3, 1931
Work on the new Norwood Airport started with much activity yesterday morning, when two steam shovels began operations and a fleet of trucks were filling the large stretch of meadow land, off Neponset St. Many citizens, engineers and aviators were present when the ground was broken. After the proposed layout was shown by Robert S.…
Discover more from Norwood Historical Society
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.