Implementation of an LDA/DME approach to Runway 16R in lieu of a third runway at Sea-Tac

This report challenges a 1995 environmental impact study that recommended building a third runway at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to handle bad-weather flight delays. It argues that poor weather actually restricts the airport to single-runway operations only about 17% of the year—not the 44% claimed in the official study—and that installing an LDA/DME instrument approach system to Runway 16R would be a sufficient and less disruptive alternative. The analysis draws on detailed hourly weather data from 1993 and 1994 to support the conclusion that a costly new runway is unnecessary.

Open full document

Notes

This report challenges the 1995 Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Master Plan Update Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), which concluded that a third runway was necessary to handle poor weather capacity. Using two years of detailed National Weather Service data (1993-1994), the report argues that poor weather requiring single-stream arrivals occurs only approximately 17% of the year, not the 44% claimed by the Port. The report concludes that implementing an LDA/DME approach procedure to Runway 16R would adequately handle projected 2020 traffic demand without constructing a third runway.

Notes

Message