TagBurien 250 Turn(18)

The Burien Airport Committee (BAC) met on October 16, 2018 to discuss aviation noise issues related to Sea-Tac Airport, including a review of Federal Way's Quiet and Healthy Skies Task Force recommendations and public comments on the Sea-Tac Airport Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) Environmental Impact Statement. The committee also received updates on the City of Burien's legal petition challenging the FAA's approval of a 250-degree flight heading over Burien, which was described as still in early litigation stages. Additional topics included FAA funding for noise mitigation staff, a Washington State Department of Commerce airport impacts study, and a regional aviation baseline study by the Puget Sound Regional Council.

The Burien Airport Committee met on September 18, 2018 to discuss ongoing efforts to address noise and environmental impacts from Sea-Tac Airport, including a legal challenge to the FAA's approval of a 250-degree flight heading over Burien and community engagement in the airport's Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) environmental review process. The agenda also covered coordination with neighboring cities, a Washington State airport impacts study, and updates on sound insulation programs. Draft minutes from the July 17, 2018 meeting were included, documenting a presentation on environmental justice concerns related to airport noise affecting minority and low-income communities.

This document bundle relates to a 2018 media inquiry from KING 5 Television to the City of Burien regarding an FAA flight path decision affecting the Seattle-Tacoma (Sea-Tac) Airport area, along with an FAA Air Traffic Initial Environmental Review from May 2016. The environmental review describes a proposed Letter of Agreement between Sea-Tac's Air Traffic Control Tower and the Seattle Terminal Radar Approach Control facility to standardize turboprop departure headings to 250 degrees during north flow operations, routing smaller aircraft westward to improve safety and reduce ground delays. The change was intended to de-conflict slower turboprops from faster jet traffic and Boeing Field operations, though it raised noise concerns for communities such as Burien located under the newly defined flight paths.

In April 2018, the FAA issued a Categorical Exclusion allowing Seattle-Tacoma International Airport's control tower (SEA ATCT) to automatically direct southbound turboprop aircraft to turn westward to a 250-degree heading within one nautical mile of the runway end, rather than waiting for the Seattle TRACON radar facility to issue the turn after takeoff. This procedural change, active between 6 am and 10 pm during north-flow operations, was designed to improve safety and efficiency by reducing delays in aircraft transitioning to their filed flight routes. The FAA determined the action would not significantly increase noise over sensitive areas and therefore required no further environmental review beyond this Categorical Exclusion.

FAA categorical exclusion document for updating a Letter of Agreement between Seattle-Tacoma International Airport’s Air Traffic Control Tower and Seattle Terminal Radar Approach Control to automate a 250° westerly turn for southbound turboprops during north-flow operations. The automated turn would be suspended between 10 pm and 6 am in response to comments from the City

A January 2017 legal memorandum from law firm Dentons to the Quiet Skies Coalition outlines potential claims against the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) over a new flight departure route introduced at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in summer 2016. The new route directs aircraft on a fixed low-altitude path over schools, parks, and residential areas in the City of Burien without prior public notice. The memo concludes that the FAA likely violated the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) by failing to conduct or document the required environmental review before implementing the route.