TagStART(508)

The SEA Stakeholder Advisory Round Table (StART) held a meeting on October 23, 2024, covering key topics including an update on the Sustainable Airport Master Plan Draft Environmental Assessment, an analysis of aircraft go-arounds at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, and a vote to approve the State Policy Agenda. Additional agenda items included a presentation by the FAA on operational growth and safety, as well as updates on aviation noise programs. The meeting was conducted via Zoom, with the next session tentatively scheduled for December 18, 2024.

The Port of Seattle and nearby communities outlined five state legislative priorities for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) in October 2024, focusing on reducing the airport's impact on surrounding neighborhoods. Key goals include repairing noise insulation for affected homes, identifying future regional airport capacity, improving air quality, expanding sustainable aviation fuel use, and reducing ground transportation emissions. These priorities reflect a partnership between the Port of Seattle and the Washington State Legislature to address both community concerns and the airport's long-term growth challenges.

This FAA presentation, prepared for the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) Stakeholder Advisory Round Table, explains what missed approaches and go-arounds are and why they occur. A missed approach happens when a pilot cannot safely continue landing due to factors like fog, bad weather, an unstable approach, or an unclear runway, while a go-around is a routine safety maneuver initiated by either the pilot or air traffic control when landing conditions are unsafe. Both procedures result in aircraft climbing away from the airport and potentially flying over nearby communities, contributing to noise impacts in the area.

The SEA Stakeholder Advisory Round Table outlines five shared policy priorities for Washington State's 2025 legislative session, aimed at balancing Seattle-Tacoma International Airport's economic growth with the needs of surrounding communities. Key proposals include repairing noise insulation in nearby homes, improving regional air quality, expanding sustainable aviation fuel production, and reducing transportation emissions through electrification and transit investments. The document also calls for stronger state leadership and funding to plan for additional regional airport capacity.

The Port of Seattle is conducting an environmental review of near-term construction projects at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) under the FAA's National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process, with a public comment period running October–November 2024. Originally built in 1949 to serve half a million passengers per year, SEA now handles over 50 million annually and is projected to reach 67.2 million passengers by 2035 as the Central Puget Sound region's population grows. The Sustainable Airport Master Plan outlines infrastructure improvements needed to accommodate this long-term growth.

The StART (SEA Stakeholder Advisory Round Table) meeting held on August 28, 2024, focused on updates to the FAA's Noise Policy Review and the latest activities from StART's Policy Working Group and Aviation Noise Working Group. Key presentations were led by an FAA Environmental Protection Specialist and Port of Seattle staff, with time allotted for public comment. The meeting was conducted via Zoom, with the next session tentatively scheduled for October 23, 2024.