Category : News Stories(276)
-
2025-05-20
‘Vintage’ air traffic system to blame for near misses and outages, ex-FAA official says
By Geoff Bennett and Jackson Hudgins Air traffic controllers at Newark Liberty International Airport again lost contact with planes Monday, according to the FAA. It’s the fourth such incident at that airport in less than a month and the latest in a string of alarming incidents and close calls at airports across the country. Geoff -
2025-05-18Port Commission renews Noise Monitor contract, Airport Bonds, Environmental Sustainability Report
A lot of money. A master class in PR. The Port of Seattle Commission’s May 13, 2025 meeting (Packet) included a 10-year contract extension for airport noise monitoring, a proposed $950 million bond issuance for aviation projects, and updates on environmental and equity goals – including sound insulation replacement/repair. Noise Monitoring contract extended through 2035 -
2025-05-17Alaska Airlines planes clip wings near Sea-Tac Airport gates
By David Kroman Seattle Times staff reporter Two Alaska Airlines planes clipped wingtips at Sea-Tac Airport on Saturday afternoon, forcing the planes back to their gates and passengers to deplane. The contact occurred just after noon and was “minor,” according to Port of Seattle spokesperson Kassie McKnight-Xi. There were no injuries reported. The collision also -
2025-05-17Delta CEO says air traffic control systems are so outdated that some commercial flight routes were faster in the 1950s than they are today
Delta CEO Ed Bastian said air traffic control systems in the U.S. are so antiquated it actually takes longer to fly certain routes today than it did in the 1950s. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy even compared the old equipment to something you’d see on the set of Apollo 13. Duffy and President Donald Trump recently unveiled a plan -
2025-05-16EPA limits Its PFAS drinking water standard to PFOA and PFOS, delays compliance timeline to 2031
On May 14, 2025, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced via press release that it will reduce the scope of its April 10, 2024 National Primary Drinking Water Regulation to the two most prevalent per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) compounds, PFOA and PFOS, and extend the compliance timeline for public water systems by two years, from -
2025-05-15Help study childhood asthma and air quality near Sea-Tac. Receive a free HEPA filter!
UW studies links to improved indoor air quality and improved health outcomes for kids Families living near Sea-Tac Airport now have an opportunity to contribute to critical air quality research — and receive a valuable HEPA air filter for their home. The University of Washington is recruiting participants for the Airports, Air Pollution and Asthma -
2025-05-15Denver air traffic control center experiences 90 second communications outage
A portion of the Denver Air Route Traffic Control Center — which covers airspace in multiple states – experienced a 90-second loss of communications late Monday, the Federal Aviation Administration said. At approximately 1:50 p.m. local time on Monday, both transmitters that cover a segment of airspace went down, causing controllers to use another frequency -
2025-05-14
SeaTac City Manager announces offer letter for North SeaTac Park
We have questions At their May 13 Regular Meeting, the SeaTac City Council heard a very interesting comment from City Manager Jonathan Young, not included on their agenda: Next, I just want to reflect and extend my gratitude to city staff who put on a fabulous State of the City address last week—our first inaugural -
2025-05-13
Opposition to proposed revisions in FAA grant program, removing Environmental Justice, Climate, and Leaded fuel requirements
Re https://www.regulations.gov/docket/FAA-2025-0605 Our comment to https://www.regulations.gov/docket/FAA-2025-0605 on the negative impacts new FAA regulations will have on Sea-Tac and KCIA airport communities. Although the new regulations are confined to the AIP grant program, because they are being implemented via Executive Order, it is likely that similar features will be tacked onto all FAA programs concerning leaded -
2025-05-12DOGE canceled this UW scientist’s grant — to save just $866
As a scientist who depends on research grants, Elena Austin of the University of Washington can’t bear to look at the DOGE grant-slashing website. “I’ve been trying to avoid it,” she told me. It did not, however, avoid her. DOGE, the Elon Musk-headed Department of Government Efficiency, recently posted that a grant to Austin, an environmental health