TagFAA(793)

This 1981 organizational chart from Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co. outlines the project structure for an Airspace Study covering Sea-Tac International Airport and King County International Airport (Boeing Field). The study was jointly overseen by the Port of Seattle and King County, with a Project Management Committee chaired by J. Sims and a Project Coordinating Committee led by Project Manager J. Yamanaka, drawing participation from the Federal Aviation Administration and the Washington State Department of Transportation. Advisory input was provided by the Airspace Study Advisory Committee, the Sea-Tac Policy Advisory Committee, and interested members of the public and organizations.

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.

This 1980 Federal Aviation Administration order establishes noise abatement procedures for aircraft operating to and from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and Boeing Field. It directs turbojet aircraft to fly over Puget Sound and Elliott Bay whenever possible, sets altitude and distance restrictions before aircraft can turn toward populated shoreline areas, and defines preferred takeoff and landing runways to minimize noise impact. The procedures apply to both VFR and IFR turbojet flights, with stricter nighttime rules between 2200 and 0600 local time.

In April 1980, the Federal Aviation Administration ruled that Orange County, California's noise abatement policy at John Wayne Airport was unlawfully discriminatory because it blocked new airlines from entering while protecting existing carriers. The FAA warned the county to accommodate pending entry applications from airlines like Continental and Frontier without further delay, or face legal and financial penalties. While the FAA supported local noise control efforts, it made clear that such policies must treat all qualified air carriers equally and not place undue burdens on interstate commerce.

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.

Minutes from the August 2, 1979 second meeting of the North Clear Zone Recreation Plan Advisory Committee, held at the Highline Community Center, covering proposed recreational uses for land near Sea-Tac Airport's north clear zone. Topics discussed included an Earthworks Art installation, FAA density guidelines (1.5 people per acre), a possible 9-hole golf course, ATV facilities, use of Sunset Jr. High School, and passive park development around Tub Lake and Lake Reba. Lee Atwood was elected Chairperson, and the committee agreed to reconvene with the consulting firm to develop workable recreation plan recommendations within FAA constraints.

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.