TagAirports(140)

This July 2016 presentation by WSDOT's Aviation Division outlines an update to the Washington Aviation System Plan (WASP), covering the state's network of public-use airports. It reviews aviation system goals, airport classifications, and performance metrics across Washington State. The document does not specifically address Sea-Tac Airport noise policy.

A 2009 Washington Aviation System Plan capacity analysis found that Sea-Tac International Airport is expected to approach or exceed 100% capacity by 2030, facing constraints in aircraft operations, passenger facilities, and aircraft storage. The study examined five types of airport capacity statewide, including airfield capacity, commercial airline passengers, air cargo, aircraft storage, and airspace, measuring existing infrastructure against both current and forecast aviation demand. Exceeding airfield capacity can lead to increased delays, higher costs for airlines and airports, and greater air and noise pollution.

The Washington State Aviation Planning Council's 2009 Long-Term Air Transportation Study (LATS) presents recommendations to Governor Gregoire on the future of Washington's aviation system, which had shrunk from 141 to 138 public-use airports with at least two more at risk of closing. The study warns that over the next decade, 12 airports will approach or exceed capacity limits, while land use encroachment and limited resources threaten the system's viability. Public outreach showed strong support for investing in advanced technology and safety improvements, and greater efficiency in existing airports rather than building new ones.

This document is an appendix from Washington State's 2009 Aviation System Plan, listing detailed information about airports across the state. It catalogs each airport by site number, name, city, and service level classifications under both federal (NPIAS) and state systems, covering facilities ranging from major commercial airports like Seattle's Boeing Field to small rural seaplane bases. The table includes nearly 100 airports of varying types and service levels throughout Washington State.

This 2009 report from the National Academies examines how publicly-owned airports in the United States are governed and owned, covering the range of entities—from city governments to special airport authorities—that oversee the country's approximately 4,150 public-use airports. It analyzes the legal principles and state and federal laws that shape airport governance structures, and evaluates the advantages and disadvantages of different models, including privatization. The findings are intended to help communities assess whether their current airport governance arrangements are working effectively or could benefit from change.

This 2001 World Watch article by Ed Ayres examines the growing conflict between expanding airports and the cities surrounding them, highlighting the serious health, environmental, and noise impacts on nearby residents. It challenges the conventional mindset of simply building more airport capacity, noting that a 747 takeoff produces as much air pollution in two minutes as 3,000 cars, and that people living near airports face higher rates of illness and psychological harm. The article explores innovative design alternatives, such as inclined runways and energy-recovering landing systems, as more sustainable solutions to meeting rising air travel demand.