Vandalism Poses Constant Safety and Operational Concerns for Airport-August 21, 1976

While vandalism has unfortunately become an accepted part of modern life—plaguing everything from local churches to historic cemeteries—such malicious mischief takes on alarming and critical dimensions when directed against aviation infrastructure. For Norwood Airport Manager Arnold Stymest, the constant, gnawing worry that vandalism could trigger a catastrophic aviation accident is an occupational hazard during an otherwise satisfying career. Having cultivated a passion for aviation since earning his pilot’s license in the 1940s, Stymest has managed the facility for seven years, navigating the persistent headache of property damage and equipment tampering.

Among the routine frustrations are recurring attacks on runway lighting. Vandals periodically smash high-intensity approach strobe lights and runway edge lamps, driving repair and replacement costs up to $2,000 annually—a financial burden absorbed by the airport management group, the Boston Metropolitan Airport Corp. More hazardous, however, is tampering with high-voltage lighting panels situated in isolated wooded areas. Despite prominent warning signs highlighting both deadly electrical risks and federal offenses, trespassers have forced open the doors of the Simplified Direction Facility (SDF) housing the runway guidance equipment, ripping out antenna wires and breaking meters. Additionally, vehicle tire tracks frequently scar the grass fields, parking lots suffer damage from partying teenagers utilizing nearby department store lots, and fuel farm equipment has faced isolated acts of vandalism.

The most critical safety vulnerabilities involve navigational aids essential for bad-weather instrument landings. During poor visibility, low-frequency homing beacons—such as the vital radio beacon located in Stoughton—serve as a pilot’s best friend by guiding aircraft from any direction toward the runway approach. If vandals disable the flashing approach lights or knock out the Stoughton beacon, an automated alarm instantly rings at the Stoughton Police Department, prompting a rapid police and managerial response. However, a dangerous window of vulnerability remains before a pilot is notified; a flier navigating on a “dead needle” indicator would see a straight runway-bound course and logically assume the beacon is operational when it is actually off the air. Stymest noted that the ultimate nightmare scenario would involve the simultaneous failure of both the Stoughton beacon and the SDF during a nighttime instrument landing.

Relief is on the horizon, however. Plans are underway for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to decommission the SDF and install a modern localizer instrument to provide precise steering along the middle runway course, while the FAA assumes operational control and security of the Stoughton beacon from the Massachusetts Aeronautics Commission (MAC). Furthermore, Stymest advocates for the installation of a perimeter fence along the entire length of Access Road to curb public trespassing. Despite these stress factors, Stymest maintains a balanced perspective on his profession, occasionally taking to the skies in his aircraft to inspect control tower operations, verify radio signals, and savor the inimitable freedom of soaring over the Neponset Valley. (Reporting by Barry N. Smith, The Patriot Ledger Staff Reporter).

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger