Image courtesy of VHB/MEPA Office

Developers are proposing a massive expansion of Hanscom Field’s private jet facilities including construction of nearly 500,000 square feet of hangar space.

Demand for private jet service at Hanscom is so strong that aircraft without access to hangar space fly in and out of the 1,125-acre field without passengers, developers said in an environmental notification form to the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act office.

“This practice results in extra flights (referred to as `ferry flights’) that would otherwise not be required with aircraft stored at Hanscom,” the filing states.

All three private companies that provide support services to jet operators at Hanscom, New England’s busiest general aviation airport, are over capacity and have waiting lists for their hangar space, developers stated.

Developers Runway Realty Ventures and North Airfield Ventures propose 27 new hangars, including 408,360 square feet of new construction. The remainder of the project would involve renovation of the 87,110-square-foot former Navy hangar building, which the developers own.

The project site spans 49 acres on the north side of the property at 154 Hartwell Road in Bedford.

Hanscom currently handles approximately 125,000 general aviation flights annually, six times the volume at Logan International Airport in Boston. The project would span 28 acres of land owned by Massport along with nearly 19 acres surrounding the Navy hangar.

The project is proceeding following Massport officials’ October approval of a land swap, which would give the proposed project access to Hanscom’s runways and taxiways.

Developers will transfer two parcels totaling 5.2 acres to Massport, in exchange for receiving 2.6 acres from Massport. The rest of the site consists of 28.1 acres which will be ground-leased from Massport.

Developers anticipate an 18-month permitting project and completion of the construction in 2026, according to the submission.