TagFAA(514)

FAA Northwest Region letter to Port of Seattle providing review comments on the second draft forecast of aviation demand for Boeing Field (BFI) proposed for use in the SEA/BFI Airspace Study. Comments focus on aircraft mix data requirements, forecast assumptions, and the need for high and low forecast ranges.

Federal Aviation Administration final rule implementing DOT/FAA policy to guide the future operation and development of Washington National and Dulles International Airports. The rules address aircraft operations, scheduling, passenger limits, noise restrictions, and the perimeter for nonstop service at National Airport.

Organizational chart showing the project structure for the Airspace Study of Sea-Tac International Airport and King County International Airport. Shows the management hierarchy including Port of Seattle, King County, FAA, and Washington State Department of Transportation involvement.

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.

A November 1979 FAA letter to the Port of Seattle expresses support for a 'Modified Passive 2' conceptual plan for the proposed North Sea-Tac Park, while urging that any final park plan carefully weigh adverse impacts on adjacent residential neighborhoods and airport operations. The letter emphasizes that residents in the immediate study area should have meaningful input into the final park plan, and calls for close collaboration among the Port, King County, consultants, and citizens to minimize conflicts between park uses and the unique challenges posed by proximity to a major airport.

In this August 6, 1979 letter from the FAA's Northwest Region to Jongejan Gerrard Associates, the agency provides guidelines on acceptable crowd density levels for recreation planning near Sea-Tac Airport. The FAA outlines four zones around the runway, each with specific limits on peak-time people per acre, ranging from no intensive use in the clear zone closest to the runway to no more than 40 people per acre in outlying areas. The letter also discourages any recreation development that could create bird hazards, incompatible lighting, or electronic interference with airport operations.

A July 1979 FAA memo summarizes the first advisory committee meeting on a proposed recreation plan for the North Clear Zone near Sea-Tac International Airport. The meeting, attended by about 40 community members, consultants, and Port of Seattle representatives, centered on what types of recreational uses—such as soccer fields, golf courses, and bike trails—would be compatible with airport safety guidelines, with the FAA cautioning against intensive uses and large fixed spectator facilities in the clear zone. The group requested more specific, quantitative FAA guidelines on acceptable land use, and a follow-up meeting was scheduled for August 8, with the full study expected to take six months and potentially set precedents for recreational land use near major airports.