This document compares a 1996 Expert Arbitration Panel's findings on aircraft noise at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport with the FAA's 2013-2018 Part 150 Noise Compatibility Program approval, revealing that many of the same unresolved noise abatement and mitigation issues identified decades ago remain unaddressed today. Communities surrounding Sea-Tac — including Burien, Normandy Park, and Des Moines — continue to experience increasing noise and air pollution as flight operations have grown from 387,000 in 1995 to over 438,000 in 2018. The document calls out regulators and the Port of Seattle for failing to make meaningful progress on commitments such as nighttime flight restrictions, engine run-up controls, and departure corridor compliance.Open full document
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This document compares the 1996 Expert Arbitration Panel’s findings on noise abatement at Sea-Tac Airport with the FAA’s 2013-2018 Part 150 Noise Compatibility Program approval, highlighting decades of unresolved noise issues. The author argues that the Port of Seattle has failed to make meaningful progress on noise abatement and mitigation for surrounding communities including Burien, Normandy Park, Des Moines, and Federal Way. Specific program elements such as nighttime flight restrictions, engine run-ups, and departure corridor compliance are compared side-by-side with requests for progress updates.