The Airport Communities Podcast Welcome to the first episode of the Airport Communities Podcast. In this episode, we discuss why we began STNI by mentioning a few of the many initiatives that get half the way there – but are never followed up on. It’s a pattern; one that creates a cycle of frustration. Every
Stories
Shocking plunge by Southwest flight from Southern California was to avoid another aircraft
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Passengers aboard a Southwest Airline jet that took a dramatic plunge to avoid an oncoming aircraft were told by the pilot that they nearly struck another plane before landing safely in Las Vegas. The Boeing 737 jet dropped hundreds of feet in a little over 30 seconds during a flight on Friday, according
Greenhouse gas accounting procedures may overlook bio-derived aviation fuel
by University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign edited by Sadie Harley, reviewed by Andrew Zinin Editors’ notes Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Low carbon fuel policies are intended to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from transportation. However, rigid carbon intensity (CI) accounting procedures in current policies may limit CI responsiveness across candidate sites and facilities. Work published in the journal ACS Sustainable Resource
Alaska Airlines Asks to Ground Its Fleet, F.A.A. Says
The reason for the grounding, late on Sunday, was not immediately clear. Alaska Air said on its website that it was “experiencing issues with our IT systems.” Alaska Airlines requested a ground stop for hundreds of aircraft, FAA said on Sunday. Credit…M. Scott Brauer for The New York Times By Yan Zhuang Alaska Airlines requested a
Money Balls
Using ‘bird deterrents’ to think about airport community compensation On November 21, 2024 the Des Moines City Council voted to spend $124,191 of Des Moines taxpayer money for Bird-X (brand) ‘bird balls’. This was not a discretionary purchase. According to FAA Advisory Circular 150-5200-33C a property owner of a retention pond near an airport is
Burien City Council proposes cancelling SIRRPP?
It costs no more to do it right. At the July 14, 2025 Burien City Council meeting Councilmember Linda Akey made this proposal. I would like to request the city council take two actions. One, authorize city staff to work on a letter to the Port of Seattle requesting an end to the Port Package
For Some Airport Users, ADS-B is a Four-Letter Word
The aviation industry has long relied on Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) data to provide real-time tracking and monitoring of aircraft for collision avoidance, weather awareness and routine air traffic management. However, the technology can also be used to assess and bill aircraft owners for landing and other airfield fees, which has caused an outcry of
Delta Flight Diverted to Fort Myers After Onboard Battery Fire, FAA Notes Rise in Lithium Battery Incidents
A Delta Air Lines flight made an unscheduled landing yesterday in Fort Myers, Florida, due to a portable battery catching fire on board. Flight 1334, en route from Atlanta to Fort Lauderdale, was diverted when flight attendants noticed and extinguished flames from what seemed to be a personal battery, Delta confirmed in a statement reported
Significant Changes to the National Environmental Policy Act Affecting Airport Projects
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) has seen seismic changes in the past several months. On June 30, 2025, FAA rescinded its previous NEPA procedures and issued new Order 1050.1G, Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures, to address the recent rescission of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) NEPA regulations, recent Executive Orders, and a recent
TSA to End Shoe Removal Rule for All Travelers
Happy 4th of July. I wasn’t planning to send this before Monday, but this exclusive couldn’t wait. According to multiple credible sources, the White House is preparing to announce a major shift in TSA protocol: all travelers, even those without TSA PreCheck, will soon be allowed to keep their shoes on during airport screening. This would








