TagFAA Density Guidelines(6)

This document presents FAA density guidelines for the North Sea-Tac Park area near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, showing recommended population limits per acre across different zones. Areas closest to the runway are designated as a 'Clear Zone' allowing only 1.5 people per acre, while an 'Extended Clear Zone' permits 2 people per acre, and surrounding residential areas are limited to 20–40 people per acre. A gymnasium on the map is noted as accommodating 60 people during games, illustrating how the guidelines account for concentrated gatherings near airport flight paths.

This map illustrates the F.A.A. density guidelines for the North Sea-Tac Park area, showing recommended population limits per acre across different airport safety zones. The Clear Zone nearest the runway allows the fewest people (approximately 1.5 per acre), while the Extended Clear Zone permits around 2 people per acre, and surrounding residential areas are guided toward densities of 20 to 40 people per acre. A gymnasium is specifically noted at 60 people during games, reflecting how land use intensity is regulated based on proximity to airport flight paths.

In a 1982 letter to the editor titled 'Clear Zone Rules Have a Purpose,' Seattle resident Virginia E. Dana defended FAA density guidelines restricting how many people could gather on land north of Sea-Tac Airport, arguing the area was acquired to serve as a safety zone for aircraft, not a public park without limitations. She noted that the Port of Seattle purchased the land partly with federal funds to address severe noise impacts on residents, and that the FAA's people-per-acre restrictions had already been approved by community organizations, Port commissioners, and King County Council. State Senator Phil Talmadge responded with a letter commending Dana's well-reasoned position on the FAA guidelines and the Sea-Tac Communities Plan for the runway approach area.

In this January 21, 1981 letter to Janice Troubleshooter of Seattle, resident Virginia E. Dana raises concerns about the Port of Seattle's land acquisition near Sea-Tac International Airport for clear zones and safety areas. She questions whether FAA density guidelines and land use compatibility guidelines for aircraft noise environments are enforceable regulations or merely voluntary guidelines, and whether a proposed regional park plan is appropriate for these safety-sensitive zones. Dana calls for state legislation to give these guidelines regulatory teeth.

This 1976 Federal Aviation Administration report documents the data library underlying the FAA Integrated Noise Model (INMPROG), a computer program used to calculate various noise exposure indices around airports. The library contains both acoustic measurements and operational flight procedure data for standard aircraft types. The report serves as a reference for analysts seeking to reproduce noise studies or customize the model with their own flight procedures.