TagAir Traffic Control(133)

This 1988 Federal Aviation Administration report outlines the Airport Capacity Enhancement Plan, which aimed to increase airport capacity and efficiency across the U.S. air system without compromising passenger safety or environmental impact. It identifies causes of capacity and delay problems, forecasts the effects of growing air traffic over the following decade, and describes FAA projects targeting four key areas: airport development, airspace control procedures, equipment and systems upgrades, and capacity planning studies. Note that while this document addresses national airport capacity issues broadly, it does not specifically focus on Sea-Tac Airport noise policy.

This FAA Advisory Circular (AC 150/5060-5), issued September 23, 1983, provides procedures for computing airport capacity and aircraft delay for use in airport planning and design. It defines capacity as the maximum number of operations that can occur in an hour, and delay as the time difference between a constrained and unconstrained aircraft operation. The document updates and replaces earlier FAA capacity criteria circulars to reflect changes in the national aircraft fleet and improvements in air traffic control practices.

This draft chapter evaluates alternative measures to reduce growing aircraft delays caused by airspace interactions between Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac) and Boeing Field, which are projected to worsen significantly between 1990 and 2000. Three main approaches are examined: improving air traffic control (ATC) technology to allow reduced aircraft separations, expanding airport facilities through new runways or reliever airports, and managing demand through flight quotas or peak-period pricing. The chapter concludes that a combination of these measures will likely be necessary, and that action should begin immediately since implementation could take until 1990 when the delays are expected to become critical.

This draft chapter evaluates alternative measures to address growing aircraft delays caused by airspace interactions between Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac) and Boeing Field, which are projected to worsen significantly from 1990 through 2000. The measures examined include improved air traffic control (ATC) technology, airport facility improvements such as a new runway and reliever airports, and demand management strategies like flight quotas and peak-period surcharges. The chapter emphasizes that, despite delays not being critical until around 1990, immediate planning and commitment from various agencies is necessary given the lengthy implementation timelines involved.

This document presents forecasts of aircraft operations at Seattle-Tacoma (Sea-Tac) International Airport and King County International Airport from 1980 to 2000, broken down by aircraft classification and flight category including air carrier, general aviation, and military. It projects that total annual operations at Sea-Tac will grow from approximately 213,600 in 1980 to over 260,800 by 2000, driven largely by increases in larger Class D air carrier aircraft. Peak hour operation estimates are provided for both Visual Flight Rules (VFR) and Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions, offering planners a detailed basis for noise impact and capacity assessments.

Meeting minutes from the Airspace Study Advisory Committee discussing the study of airspace interaction between Sea-Tac Airport and Boeing Field. The committee reviewed the study’s purpose, organization, scope, and schedule, with presentations on air traffic control and local airspace structure.

This document is the agenda for a Port of Seattle Airspace Study Advisory Committee meeting held on November 5, 1981, at the FAA Building at Boeing Field. The meeting covered the study's background, scope of work, and an overview of air traffic control and airspace structure, including approach and departure procedures for Sea-Tac and Boeing Field. Progress updates on a general aviation survey and a Boeing Field control tower survey were also scheduled for discussion.