Category : Explainers(53)
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.
-
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. -
Part 150 for Dummies
Read this, including the recent update, and then attend the upcoming Port of Seattle Part 150 workshops. -
The 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 -
2025-05-17PFOA 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. -
SAF
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 -
The 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 -
2025-02-14Washington State Air Pollution Map – Airport Communities
A map of Washington State identifying 16 communities with elevated cumulative criteria air pollution levels, including locations such as Spokane, Tacoma, Seattle, Yakima Valley, and Vancouver. The map uses a shading gradient to indicate highest to lowest pollution levels, with numbered red markers pinpointing each named community. -
The SAMP Draft EA Public Comment Explainer
A presentation on the Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) Draft EA Comment Period. How to write an effective comment and why that really matters. Remember: you have until December 13, 2024 to send in your public comment to the FAA. -
SAMP Draft EA: How to provide a great public comment
1How to provide effective public comment by December 13, 2024 Because new ways for you to participate will likely become available, this article may be subject to updates. Introduction This is the second of a two-part article concerning the Sustainable Airport Master Plan Draft Environmental Assessment (SAMP Draft EA). If you’re looking for the short -
The SAMP Comment Period Explainer (Intro)
Preparing for the October 21st Comment Period This is the first of a two-part article concerning the SAMP comment period. We’re including a few paragraphs of background because the process has been so lengthy–with many years of delay. The feedback we’ve received thus far has been confusion, partly because the information on the Port’s official