TagFAA(797)

A federal appeals court ruled in 2017 that the FAA acted arbitrarily when it changed flight routes at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in 2014 without adequately consulting city officials or thoroughly reviewing environmental impacts. The new routes increased air traffic over historic neighborhoods and public parks by 300%, yet the FAA conducted consultations only with low-level employees who lacked the authority to speak on the city's behalf. The case highlights the legal obligations federal agencies have to meaningfully engage local governments and assess noise impacts before implementing major flight path changes.

A federal appeals court denied a challenge by Oregon residents and an aviation watchdog group against a new runway project at Hillsboro Airport near Portland, Oregon. The court found that the Federal Aviation Administration acted properly in concluding the project would have no significant environmental impact, including only a minimal effect on air traffic and air quality. This case, a follow-up to a 2011 ruling, may be relevant to discussions of how environmental reviews are conducted for airport expansion projects in the Pacific Northwest.

The Washington Aviation System Plan (WASP), completed in July 2017 by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), is a statewide assessment of Washington's public-use airports covering both commercial and general aviation facilities. The plan evaluates how individual airports perform and interact as a system, identifies needed improvements, and develops policy recommendations to support communities, economic activity, and emergency services across the state. Funding was provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the plan builds on the earlier 2009 Long-term Air Transportation Study (LATS).

This FAA form (ARP SOP No. 5.1, effective June 2, 2017) guides airport sponsors through the process of requesting a Categorical Exclusion (CATEX) determination for projects that may have extraordinary environmental circumstances. It requires sponsors to document potential impacts across key resource areas, including historic and cultural resources under the National Historic Preservation Act and protected lands under Department of Transportation Act Sections 4(f) and 6(f). Sponsors must consult with their FAA Airports District or Regional Division Office and submit all required documentation before a CATEX can be approved.

In April 2017, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) presented a NextGen briefing to the Port of Seattle Commission, outlining the agency's initiative to modernize the U.S. air traffic system. NextGen aims to improve safety, reduce flight delays, cut fuel consumption and emissions, and handle growing air travel demand. The briefing is relevant to Sea-Tac Airport stakeholders as these airspace changes can directly affect flight paths and noise impacts on surrounding communities.

A petition to the Port of Seattle Commission requesting the addition of two noise monitors on Vashon Island to monitor aircraft noise from new FAA NextGen flight procedures. The petition cites concerns about focused flight paths over Vashon Island at low altitudes affecting approximately 250 arrivals per day in Southflow operations.