2026-09-26
A 'raw' episode to show progress on one of our main goals: establishing the first true aviation-specific air quality monitoring network in the United States. We took a big step last week with the opening of a new station in Des Moines. Sea-Tac is the only airport in America with coverage at both ends of the flight path! <strong>Learn how we got here and why this matters so much for the future of research and improving the health of everyone under the flight path.</strong>
2026-09-25
Clean Air Act preempts state claims over aircraft pollution After three years, a widely-promoted class action lawsuit on behalf of residents around Sea-Tac Airport has finally been heard in federal court. The September 23 opinion by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals is not good. The original complaint tried to hold the Port of Seattle,
2026-09-25
The sparsely attended meeting of electeds and administrators from the Highline Cities and Schools was held at the Des Moines Police Station and featured two updates of interest to readers: SAMP SEPA DEIS Summary Port Environmental Manager Steve Rybolt is charged with reviewing public the 490 comments provided. He stated that though this number is
2026-09-21
By Lauren Rosenblatt Seattle Times business reporter The Federal Aviation Administration last week granted Boeing’s 777 freighter a few more years of production, waiving looming emissions requirements for up to 35 new aircraft. Without that exemption, Boeing would have had to sunset production of the Everett-built 777 freighter in 2028 because the cargo plane would
2026-09-20
Targets all the right problems. Almost no chance of passing. On September 10, Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner introduced the DCA Air Safety Act, a response to the January 2025 midair collision near Reagan National that killed 67 people. It is the single most direct statement for rational airport management in four decades. It
2026-09-18
Nashville's suburbs are taking the FAA to court arguing against the same shortcut to changing flight paths used in so many previous community lawsuits: CATEX, challenging new departure headings and Performance-Based Navigation procedures at Nashville International Airport — an airport growing from 200,000 to an expected 300,000-plus annual operations by 2037.
At the heart of the case are troubling contradictions in the FAA's own paperwork: noise modeling that claims zero impact anywhere in the study area, while a separate FAA letter quietly acknowledges noise increases of more than 5 dB in two locations. Add in a categorical exclusion that deliberately splits one airspace redesign into smaller pieces to avoid public environmental review, and a nature preserve being modeled without accounting for terrain — and a familiar pattern emerges.
2026-09-14
Federal lawmakers will consider a proposal to reduce congestion around Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, one of the busiest aviation hubs in the nation. No survivors found in crash between military helicopter and jet over Potomac River near DC Virginia’s U.S. Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, both Democrats, announced the DCA Air
2026-09-10
By Angela Lim Seattle Times features reporter General screening passengers flying out of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport will see one fewer way to skip the lines at security checkpoints beginning this fall. The airport announced Thursday that its SEA Spot Saver program — which allowed travelers to book a TSA security appointment in advance for free,
2026-09-09
An update to listeners affected by sound insulation issues. You are not forgotten despite our heavy focus on the SAMP (Sustainable Airport Master Plan) throughout the year.
### Sound Insulation as a Basic Right
- Sound insulation as a **fundamental right**, not an afterthought
- The Port of Seattle conducted a **new Part 150 Study** as part of the SAMP
- That noise study has been used to **further expansion plans**
- A significant portion of SAMP advocacy has been directed toward securing **relief for affected residents**
### Port Package Update Program - Slow Progress
- The Port proposed a **Port Package update program in 2024**
- The process has been **slow-walked** since then
- Concerns raised about:
- **Window-dressing** by involved parties
- **Opposition from some affected city councils** (described as "beyond shameful")
### 📋 Legislative Action - What's Coming
2026-09-07
This **raw episode** serves as an update to listeners affected by sound insulation issues. You are not forgotten despite our heavy focus on the SAMP (Sustainable Airport Master Plan) throughout the year.
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## Key Topics Covered
### Sound Insulation as a Basic Right
- The host frames sound insulation as a **fundamental right**, not an afterthought
- The Port of Seattle conducted a **new Part 150 Study** as part of the SAMP
- That noise study has been used to **further expansion plans**
- A significant portion of SAMP advocacy has been directed toward securing **relief for affected residents**
### Port Package Update Program - Slow Progress
- The Port proposed a **Port Package update program in 2024**
- The process has been **slow-walked** since then
- Concerns raised about:
- **Window-dressing** by involved parties
- **Opposition from some affected city councils** (described as "beyond shameful")
### 📋 Legislative Action - What's Coming
2026-09-26
2026-09-25
2026-09-25
2026-09-21
2026-09-20
2026-09-18
2026-09-14
2026-09-10