September 28, 2019July 31, 2026

JO_7110

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FAA Order JO 7110.126A, effective September 28, 2019, updates the rules air traffic controllers use to maintain safe distances between aircraft based on wake turbulence — the invisible air disturbances generated by planes in flight. The order introduces a nine-category system that groups aircraft by size and wake behavior, replacing older weight-only classifications, and reduces required separation distances in cases where science has shown greater spacing is unnecessary, such as when one heavy aircraft follows another of lower wake intensity. Facilities like Sea-Tac must obtain FAA authorization, train all personnel, and update their systems before applying these revised standards.

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FAA order providing procedural guidance for Air Traffic Control regarding Consolidated Wake Turbulence procedures and separation minima. The order incorporates select wake turbulence separation minima from previous FAA orders and requires facilities to receive authorization and training before implementation.

As the source for federal transportation grants, the Puget Sound Regional Council was charged with developing a system to meet the growing need for commercial aviation. When the search for a second airport failed, they authorized the Port of Seattle to build the Third Runway, with a mandate to develop a noise abatement and mitigation program. In their effort to stop the Third Runway, the ACC argued over every detail of the Port's efforts--including property buyouts and sound insulation. The dispute was meant to be settled by a three member Expert Arbitration Panel. This is their final report. It finds 2-1, that the Port's program was insufficient in several respects. Despite that, funding for the Third Runway was approved by the PSRC, and the 'Port Package' program, proceeded largely unchanged. Expert Arbitration Panel's final decision finding that the Port of Seattle had not shown sufficient reduction in real on-the-ground noise impacts to satisfy noise reduction conditions required for approval of a third runway at Sea-Tac International Airport. The majority decision concluded the Port's noise abatement programs were insufficient despite being impressive in scope.

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