TagFAA(684)
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Biden nominates a former Obama official to run the Federal Aviation Administration
By DAVID KOENIGThe Associated Press President Joe Biden on Thursday nominated a former Obama administration official to lead the Federal Aviation Administration after his first choice withdrew in March after running into opposition from Republican senators. The White House said Biden nominated Michael G. Whitaker, a former deputy administrator at the FAA. He is currently -
2023-09-01Aviation Activity Forecast Update: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (2023)
This technical memorandum, prepared by Leigh Fisher for the Port of Seattle in September 2023, presents an updated aviation activity forecast for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. It includes constrained operating growth scenarios, FAA-approved forecast data, and airside simulation modeling documentation used to support environmental review planning at Sea-Tac. -
2023-09-01Aviation Activity Forecast Update: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (2023)
This technical memorandum, prepared by Leigh Fisher for the Port of Seattle in September 2023, presents an updated aviation activity forecast for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. It includes constrained operating growth scenarios (COGS), FAA approval documentation, and airside modeling data used to support environmental review planning. The forecast serves as a foundational planning tool for understanding future airport capacity and operational assumptions. -
2023-08-22F.A.A. density guidelines: North Sea-Tac Park
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. -
2023-08-22Sea-Tac/Communities Plan work program: Project overview and inventory
This document outlines the Sea-Tac/Communities Plan, a collaborative airport master planning study conducted by the Port of Seattle and King County with FAA funding, covering environmental, demographic, economic, and land-use impacts of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on surrounding communities. The $642,000 study, two-thirds funded by a $427,978 FAA planning grant, hired multiple consultants to examine issues including noise exposure, air quality, water quality, and public opinion. The inventory phase aimed to compile comprehensive existing-conditions data within the first six months of the project, starting March 19, 1972. -
Airline Close Calls Happen Far More Often Than Previously Known
FLIGHT RISKS By Sydney Ember and Emily SteelGraphics by Leanne Abraham, Eleanor Lutz and Ella KoezeAug. 21, 2023 On the afternoon of July 2, a Southwest Airlines pilot had to abort a landing at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. A Delta Air Lines 737 was preparing to take off on the same runway. The sudden maneuver avoided a possible collision by seconds. Near miss NEW -
Close Calls and the New York Times: What You Need to Know
The U.S. aviation system is the safest in the world, but one close call is one too many. The FAA and the aviation community are pursuing a goal of zero serious close calls, a commitment from the Safety Summit in March. The same approach virtually eliminated the risk of fatalities aboard U.S. commercial airlines. Since 2009, -
2023-08-16AAAE Response to DOT Request for Information on Advanced Air Mobility (Docket No. DOT-OST-2023-0079)
The American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) submitted formal comments to the U.S. Department of Transportation in August 2023 regarding the future of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), including electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The letter highlights key obstacles facing airports, such as limited electrical power supply, uncertainty about commercial viability, and a lack of FAA guidance on safely integrating these new aircraft into airport facilities. It also raises concerns about new safety risks, particularly the challenges of firefighting lithium-ion battery fires from electric aircraft, urging the FAA to provide clearer emergency response protocols. -
2023-08-15City of Los Angeles RFI Response: Advanced Air Mobility, Docket No. DOT-OST-2023-0079
The City of Los Angeles submitted formal comments to the U.S. Department of Transportation in August 2023 regarding Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), calling for stronger local government involvement in shaping national AAM policy. The letter emphasizes safety, equity, and environmental concerns, including the need for rigorous aircraft noise, vibration, and frequency analysis to protect communities already burdened by past transportation decisions. Los Angeles urges federal agencies to require independent environmental studies and ensure that low-income communities and communities of color are not further harmed by the rollout of new aerial vehicle technologies. -
2023-08-14FAA Jet Route Chart Centered on Seattle-Tacoma Area – 14/2202z
A National Weather Service (NWS)-branded interactive aviation map showing FAA high-altitude jet routes (J-routes) radiating from a central fix near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac), with surrounding cities including Seattle, Bellevue, Renton, Kent, Tacoma, and Olympia visible. The map is timestamped 14/2202z and displays multiple labeled jet airways (J20, J34, J90, J523, etc.) overlaid on a terrain basemap of the greater Puget Sound region.