TagFAA(514)
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1990-01-08FAA role in use of land at Sea-Tac
★A January 1990 FAA briefing document outlines the agency's role in land use at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, explaining that federal involvement stems from approximately $115 million in federal funds spent on the airport since 1970 for planning, land acquisition, construction, and noise insulation. The FAA supported the concept of a park on airport land, provided the Port of Seattle maintained ownership and control, airport funds were not used for the park, and only compatible uses were allowed. The document also details Sea-Tac's noise mitigation efforts, including over $50 million in federal grants to acquire roughly 750 noise-impacted land parcels and more than $7 million to insulate 323 homes near the airport. -
City of Burbank v. Lockheed Air Terminal
★ 32In one of the most maddening examples of airport law, the United States argued for reversal (ie. allowing for local airport control) of curfews. The FAA, which had previously supported the ban, adopted a neutral position when the The Department of Transportation, filed a Friend of the Court brief arguing for reversal. Summary Holding that -
1970-12-31Clean Air Amendments of 1970 (Public Law 91-604)
★The Clean Air Amendments of 1970 (Public Law 91-604) strengthened the federal Clean Air Act by expanding research into the health and environmental effects of air pollutants, increasing grant funding to state and regional air pollution control agencies, and establishing a framework for national ambient air quality standards. The law required the EPA Administrator to publish and maintain a list of harmful air pollutants and issue scientific criteria for each within 12 months of listing. It also directed states to take primary responsibility for meeting national air quality standards within their borders through mandatory implementation plans. -
2026-07-30
August Plane Talk: Boeing Seafair Air Show, New VFR Routes, and Airport News
Boeing Seafair Air Show runs today through Sunday The U.S. Navy Blue Angels during practice yesterday at King County International Airport-Boeing Field. The Boeing Seafair Air Show kicks off today and runs through Sunday. Along with the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, performers include Torrey Ward’s Microjet and the U.S. Marine Corps F-35B, a vertical takeoff -
2026-07-29FAA NextGen for airports
This Federal Aviation Administration document describes how the NextGen air traffic modernization program benefits both general aviation and commercial airports through improved GPS-based approach procedures, ADS-B surveillance technology, and more efficient departure queue management systems. Key upgrades include WAAS/LPV approaches that allow aircraft to land in low-visibility conditions without expensive ground equipment, and surface surveillance tools to better track aircraft and vehicles on the ground. The document also outlines plans to optimize airspace procedures across 21 metropolitan areas to reduce delays and improve safety. -
2026-07-25Connecting flights would be less of a gamble with this data
There are nearly 20,000 airports in the United States with more than 16 million flights handled by the FAA annually, the author writes. Pictured are travelers at Washington Dulles International Airport on May 22. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images North America/TNS) By Sheldon H. Jacobson Special to Tribune News Service The summer travel period is here, with -
2026-07-21Quiet Communities, Inc. et al. v. United States Environmental Protection Agency et al., Case No. 23-cv-1649 (JMC) — Memorandum opinion and order
A federal court ruled in 2023 that the EPA had unreasonably delayed for over 40 years in carrying out its legal duties under the Noise Control Act of 1972, which requires the agency to regulate environmental noise, publish noise-related reports, and help state and local governments develop noise control programs. Although President Reagan defunded the EPA's noise office in 1982, Congress never actually repealed the Noise Control Act, meaning the EPA's obligations under the law remained in force. The court granted partial summary judgment in favor of the plaintiffs, finding the EPA's inaction on four key counts unlawful. -
2026-07-21
Quiet Communities, Inc. et al. v. United States Environmental Protection Agency et al., Case No. 23-cv-1649 (JMC) — Memorandum opinion and order
A federal court ruled in 2023 that the EPA had unreasonably delayed for over 40 years in carrying out its legal duties under the Noise Control Act of 1972, which requires the agency to regulate environmental noise, publish noise-related reports, and help state and local governments develop noise control programs. Although President Reagan defunded the EPA's noise office in 1982, Congress never actually repealed the Noise Control Act, meaning the EPA's obligations under the law remained in force. The court granted partial summary judgment in favor of the plaintiffs, finding the EPA's inaction on four key counts unlawful. -
2026-07-182026.07
A legal review of the FAA's new Aircraft Noise Advisory Committee (ANAC) finds that while the committee includes community representatives, aviation industry members are likely to outnumber and outvote them, limiting residents' real influence over noise policy decisions. The review also raises concerns that key technical work done in subcommittees may happen outside public view, with no requirement for minority reports when community members are overruled. The author recommends the FAA adopt clearer voting rules, guaranteed community seats on subcommittees, and routine public disclosure of meeting records and competing recommendations.