Category : Explainers
Almost everything about every airport is complicated. And Sea-Tac Airport is more challenging than most. These short-form articles try to make things as simple as possible. Use them to branch off into deeper dives.
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2026-02-10 19:01Port Packages mapped: eligibility over time
Changes 1985-2032 The black outline depicts the 1985-2013 Part 150 noise contour. The light orange rectangle is the 92 sq mile area defined under State of Washington law (RCW 53.54.020) that is eligible for funding to mitigate noise impacts–but only those generated by Sea-Tac Airport. All sound insulated homes inside the original DNL65 (1985-2032). Sound -
2026-01-08 13:05
The Grant Explainer
The current Port of Seattle grant programs began in 2016 with a proposal by Commissioner John Creighton–responding to the uproar over the Flight Corridor Safety Program. As the name implies, the Airport Community Ecology (ACE) Fund (2016–2020) was meant as an environmental grants program. In late 2018 the Port created a separate, much broader South -
2025-10-29 23:31SAF Pathway Comparison Chart
A comparison chart showing different Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) pathways including HEFA-SPK, FT-SPK, Alcohol-to-Jet, and Power-to-Liquid/e-fuels. The chart compares feedstock sources, emissions reduction potential, scalability, and implementation notes for each pathway. -
2025-10-28 19:42Airport Capital Spending (2025 $)
Chart showing airport capital spending from 1998 to 2030 in 2025 dollars, displaying CPI index adjusted spending compared to average real spending 1998-2024. The chart shows significant fluctuations with peaks around 2002, 2018, and projected 2025, and notable lows around 2013. -
2025-10-07 13:03
The PFC Explainer
Every time you fly out of Sea-Tac, $4.50 of your ticket price goes directly to the airport. That charge, called a Passenger Facility Charge (PFC), is a multi-billion dollar fund, and one of the biggest single revenue sources for airport expansion. In the past it was used for noise-mitigation programs. Today? Not so much. -
2025-09-25 12:45Part 150 for Dummies
Read this, including the recent update, and then attend the upcoming Port of Seattle Part 150 workshops. -
2025-06-15 23:32The Sleepy Time Penalty Period Explainer
Why Fly Quiet programs are not great. And the magic of DNL Sleep disruption, specifically from aircraft, is very unhealthy, creating both acute and chronic illnesses. The FAA recognizes this and takes night time flights into account when establishing the noise boundary (DNL) determining which homes get sound insulation. But there is a lot more -
2025-05-17 00:57PFOA in Fire-Fighting Foams
EPA guidance leaflet explaining the problems with PFAS chemicals in fire-fighting foams, including PFOA and PFOS, which are harmful persistent chemicals. Details restrictions and controls on PFOA-containing AFFF (Aqueous Film Forming Foam) with timeline from 2020-2025 for phasing out use. -
2025-03-22 01:48SAF
A Dangerous illusion masquerading as a climate solution Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is being promoted as a climate-friendly alternative to traditional jet fuel. The term itself sounds promising—who wouldn’t support making aviation more “sustainable”? But beneath the marketing gloss lies a troubling truth: SAF is, at best, a distraction, and at worst, a calculated maneuver -
2025-03-06 00:21The Hidden Economics Behind Those $29 Flights
The perverse incentives for communities under the flight path The Seattle Times recently reported that Frontier Airlines will begin offering three new routes from Paine Field in Everett, Washington starting June 2. The budget airline will connect Everett to Denver, Las Vegas, and Phoenix with flights operating three times weekly. What caught many readers’ attention