TagStART(441)

This document summarizes a February 10, 2020 meeting of the StART Aviation Noise Working Group, which advises the Port of Seattle on noise issues around Sea-Tac Airport. Topics covered include an update on a Ground Noise Analysis study, additional findings from a Noise Abatement Departure Profiles study recommending airlines adopt the quieter 'Distant NADP' flight procedure, and 4th-quarter results from the Late-Night Noise Limitation Program, which identified EVA Air, FedEx Express, and China Airlines Cargo as the top noise threshold violators. Notably, EVA Air agreed to switch one of its nightly Boeing 777 flights to a quieter Boeing 787 starting May 2020 in response to community concerns.

The Highline Forum held its January 22, 2020 meeting at SeaTac City Hall, focusing on the 2020 Legislative Session and shared policy agendas among local governments and the Port of Seattle. Key agenda items included updates from the City of SeaTac, discussions of state legislative priorities, and StART (Sea-Tac Airport Roundtable) updates related to airport noise and community impacts. The document also outlines six scheduled 2020 meeting dates at rotating venues including Highline College, the Port of Seattle's International Conference Center, and the City of Burien City Hall.

This January 2020 update from the Sea-Tac Stakeholder Advisory Round Table (StART) Noise Working Group covers three main areas: a Ground Noise Study collecting 2019 operations data from airlines, an Aircraft Departure Profiles Analysis showing that the 'distant departure' procedure reduces noise the most for nearby communities, and a Late Night Noise Limitation Program identifying EVA Air, FedEx Express, and China Airlines Cargo as the carriers with the most noise violations in Q4. The study was scheduled to produce a final report with mitigation options by October/November 2020. The update was presented at the Highline Forum on January 22, 2020.

The Burien Airport Committee met on January 21, 2020 to discuss key aviation issues affecting the city, including advocating for a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) from the FAA rather than a less comprehensive Environmental Assessment (EA) related to Sea-Tac Airport's growth. The agenda also covered topics such as the Port's fuel dumping policy, updates on community re-engagement efforts through StART, and a planned trip to Washington, DC to address airplane noise concerns. Draft minutes from the December 2019 meeting reflect ongoing debates about air quality, health, and safety impacts stemming from airport expansion projects like the International and North Terminals.

The SEA Stakeholder Advisory Round Table (StART) 2020 Annual Report, presented by Port of Seattle staff and a consultant, outlines the group's activities and achievements for the year, including work by the Aviation Noise Working Group and the Federal Policy Working Group. The report covers 2020 highlights and accomplishments, facilitator reflections, and tentative priorities for 2021 meetings. StART serves as a community advisory forum focused on addressing aviation noise and related policy concerns at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

The Burien Airport Committee met on December 17, 2019 to discuss ongoing concerns related to Sea-Tac Airport, including the city's legal findings against the FAA, the status of a University of Washington ultrafine particles study, and safety issues raised by Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air. The committee also reviewed progress on the Sea-Tac Stakeholder Advisory Round Table (StART) and a Washington State Department of Commerce study, while planning priorities for 2020. Draft minutes from the November 18, 2019 meeting were included, detailing earlier discussions on noise reduction, environmental impacts, and a potential meeting with the EPA.

The Sea-Tac Stakeholder Advisory Round Table (StART) Aviation Noise Working Group drafted a Near-Term Aviation Noise Action Agenda in December 2019 outlining four key initiatives to reduce airport noise: limiting late-night flights between midnight and 5 AM, revising the Runway Use Plan to minimize use of the 3rd Runway during late-night hours, raising the glide slope on Runway 34R to reduce approach noise for communities south of the airport, and analyzing airfield ground noise sources. These measures involve voluntary air carrier participation alongside coordination between the Port of Seattle, the FAA, and airline operators. The plan also includes tracking compliance through the Port's existing Fly Quiet Program and publishing results on a regular basis.

This is the meeting agenda for the Sea-Tac Stakeholder Advisory Round Table (StART) held on December 11, 2019, at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Conference Center. The meeting covered key topics including the results of a Noise Abatement Departure Profiles Noise Analysis, an update on the FAA's end-around taxi procedure, and recaps of the Aviation Noise Working Group and Federal Policy Working Group sessions. Representatives from the Port of Seattle, FAA, and community stakeholders participated in discussions aimed at reducing airport noise impacts on neighboring communities.

The December 11, 2019 StART meeting focused on a Noise Abatement Departure Profiles Analysis, which found that using the 'Distant NADP' flight departure procedure would reduce noise for certain communities near Sea-Tac Airport. The meeting also covered updates from the Federal Policy Working Group, including proposed noise-insulation legislation and a planned Washington D.C. advocacy trip, as well as a report that the FAA determined an end-around taxi procedure was not feasible due to safety concerns. Additionally, the Aviation Noise Working Group reported progress on reducing late-night runway use, with nightly landings on the third runway dropping from 10–30 to an average of 2 per night.

This December 2019 report by ESA for the Port of Seattle analyzes two standard Noise Abatement Departure Profiles (NADPs) used at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport: the Close-in profile, which reduces noise near the runway end, and the Distant profile, which reduces noise farther along the departure path. The analysis finds that the Distant NADP provides the greatest noise relief to the residential and developed communities surrounding Sea-Tac Airport. The report includes background on departure profiles, noise analysis results, and recommendations for the airport's noise abatement policy.