Stories

Not deep. But a few good insights Airport Interim Aviation Director Arif Ghouse was joined by SAMP Environment Manager Steve Rybolt and Landrum & Brown’s Sarah Potter for a one hour and fifteen minute Q&A on the FAA’s recent Sustainable Airport Master Plan Record Of Decision. Both have been working on the project for many

Modest progress with one glitch The last meeting of the Des Moines City Council introduced a first draft of their state airport legislative agenda. There were important positive steps, marred only by one glitch. The presentation slides reflected last year’s agenda, which still mentioned funding for a fixed-site Air Quality Monitor as a goal. That

The Airport Communities Podcast Last week we took the easy way out and provided a podcast version of our popular Part 150 for Dummies article. This week, we get even lazier, answering reader questions, in order to give the crew a chance to catch up, which is no small task Since we began in 2016,

Airport Committee recommendation highlights program failures At Monday night’s meeting, the Burien City Council will be asked to support and transmit to the Port of Seattle Commission the following letter. The letter is a specific response to the Port’s 2024 Sound Insulation Repair Replacement Pilot Program (SIRRPP), which was intended to begin addressing documented problems

The Airport Communities Podcast Last week we learned that, since the Third Runway, the Port of Seattle’s finances are the best in the state, due better management, the unique nature of how airports are financed, and the fact that the place was always too big to fail. This week we provide a podcast version of

Finding of no significant impacts. 60 day appeal clock begins After an almost nine year process the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued its long-awaited Finding of No Significant Impact / Record of Decision (FONSI/ROD) for the Port of Seattle’s Sustainable Airport Master Plan Near-Term Projects (SAMP NTPs). This clears the way for construction on

Highlights of the Port of Seattle's latest commission meeting include the planned transfer of North Sea-Tac Park to a permanent preservation trust, with SeaTac lobbying for ownership in what will likely end up as a cost-free solution for both sides. Community opposition was strongly against the closure of Salmon Bay Marina, one of Seattle's last remaining live-aboard and houseboat havens, with nearly a dozen residents testifying against the decision. The meeting also introduced the Port's 2026 budget process, revealing their aggressive borrowing strategy where every operational dollar saved generates ten dollars in capital project capacity. This "borrowing machine" approach explains why the Port remains restrictive with tax levy dollars for community grants—unrestricted funds provide crucial leverage for massive infrastructure projects. Our comment was to end the onerous grant requirements for those grants - especially with cities. The program has created tremendous PR value for the Port, but far less actual benefit for airport communities.