TagFAA(684)

FAA Order JO 7110.659C, effective February 29, 2016, updates air traffic control procedures for Wake Turbulence Recategorization (Recat), which changes how aircraft are grouped for safe separation purposes. Instead of the traditional three weight classes (heavy, large, and small), Recat introduces six categories based on wingspan, takeoff weight, and an aircraft's ability to withstand wake turbulence, allowing for more precise separation distances and improved airport efficiency. Facilities must obtain authorization, train personnel, and submit weekly wake encounter reports for the first eight weeks after implementing these new procedures.

This February 2016 document contains FAA responses to noise complaints from Federal Way residents affected by Sea-Tac Airport flight operations. The FAA explains why departures are concentrated to the south 65% of the time due to wind and runway configuration, why flight paths cannot simply be rerouted or 'fanned out' to spread noise across neighborhoods, and why aircraft may appear lower than in the past despite following all published procedures. Any proposed changes to flight routes or procedures must be submitted through the FAA Instrument Flight Procedure (IFP) Gateway for safety, feasibility, and environmental review.

This 2016 report by Palo Alto resident Mark Shull examines how the FAA's NextGen 'Optimization of Airspace and Procedures in the Metroplex' (OAPM) program, implemented between 2012 and 2015, led to dramatically increased aircraft noise over residential communities by redesigning flight paths to be lower, straighter, and more concentrated. The author argues that while the program was publicly marketed as improving efficiency, reducing fuel use, and lowering environmental impact, its primary purpose was increasing airport capacity by reducing separation between aircraft and simplifying flight corridors. The report traces the legislative, regulatory, and industry decisions that shaped the program, concluding that communities were left worse off and that genuine air traffic modernization will be harder to achieve going forward.

This document outlines the Highline School District's completed and planned school construction and renovation projects funded through a combination of Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grants, Passenger Facility Charges (PFC), and Ad Valorem (local tax) funds. The 15 schools listed, located in SeaTac, Des Moines, and Burien — communities surrounding Sea-Tac Airport — received noise mitigation and facility upgrades, with total project costs approaching $100 million. Completed projects through 2013 accounted for approximately $61.4 million in spending, with additional schools scheduled for construction through 2030.

This FAA notice (effective August 2015) updates the rules for how air traffic controllers manage aircraft making simultaneous approaches to parallel runways. It introduces new diagonal radar separation distances between aircraft based on how far apart the runway centerlines are, ranging from 1 mile of separation for runways 2,500–3,600 feet apart to 2 miles for runways 4,301–9,000 feet apart. While focused on controller procedures rather than noise policy directly, these standards govern how closely aircraft can be spaced during parallel runway approaches, which is relevant to arrival patterns affecting communities near airports like Sea-Tac.

FAA Order 1050.1F, effective July 16, 2015, establishes the Federal Aviation Administration's policies and procedures for complying with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), covering actions such as grants, construction, rulemaking, and NextGen airspace improvements. The order outlines when environmental reviews, assessments, or full impact statements are required, and defines responsibilities for the FAA, applicants, and contractors. It is relevant to noise and environmental impact considerations at airports like Sea-Tac, as it governs how the FAA evaluates and documents the environmental effects of aviation-related actions.

In 2015, FAA officials exchanged emails explaining how federal Airport Improvement Program grant funds were used to replace the Olympic Elementary School in the Highline School District near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Because Olympic fell within the airport's 65 DNL noise zone but was deemed not worth insulating, the FAA allowed approximately $3.9 million in noise-mitigation funds to offset construction of the new Marvista Elementary School instead. The exchange was prompted by a Washington State Auditor inquiry questioning whether Davis-Bacon Act and other federal compliance requirements applied, given that the grant was awarded after the construction project had already been completed.

This document describes a Port of Seattle ground lease (Lease #000273) with the FAA/TRACON facility located on the west side of the airfield in SeaTac, Washington. The lease covers approximately 832,011 square feet, was set to expire on September 30, 2022, and includes two renewal options extending until 2062, each for a period of 20 years. The facility serves an aeronautical terminal radar function and is subject to bond and Airport Improvement Project (AIP) funding restrictions that require coordination with Airport Finance & Budget before any changes in property use.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a grant to the Port of Seattle to fund noise mitigation work at Olympic Elementary School near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, with a maximum federal contribution of $3.9 million covering 80% of allowable project costs. The grant (AIP Grant Number 3-53-0062-131-2013) was formally closed out on December 9, 2014, with a final paid amount of $3,879,406 after all work was confirmed satisfactorily completed and costs verified as reasonable and eligible. The Port of Seattle is required to retain all supporting project documentation for a minimum of three years from the final reimbursement request, in accordance with Federal Regulation 49 CFR Part 18.42.