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The airport is seeking interested applicants to serve on the Airport Roundtable. There are six open positions, including one for a representative from unincorporated King County, one from Magnolia/North Seattle, and one from Renton/Kent/South King County.
The Roundtable is an advisory board that makes recommendations to the airport's administrators, the King County Executive, and the King County Council. Its membership includes representatives of aviation-related businesses and communities interested in airport issues.
The Roundtable meets on the second Monday of each month. Meetings will be held virtually until further notice due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Positions are open until filled.
Get more details and find out how to apply.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing changes to published Visual Flight Rules (VFR) routes for arrivals and departures for King County International Airport – Boeing Field (KCIA). The airport was not involved in developing these routes and is providing information for the community at the request of the FAA.
The FAA is proposing to cancel the two existing Visual Flight Rules VFR routes for aircraft landing and departing King County International Airport-Boeing Field (KBFI) and replace them with newly defined routes (retaining some of the existing names).
According to the FAA, there have been Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) events involving VFR aircraft arriving and departing KCIA, and these routes are intended to reduce TCAS events and enhance safety.
The proposed routes follow existing air traffic flight tracks that are assigned by BFI ATCT and no new areas will experience new air traffic overflights. The proposed VFR arrival and departure routes would not introduce air traffic to any new areas.
Publication of the KBFI VFR routes is anticipated the end of April 2021 with implementation to follow. See the proposed routes and read background information on our website. For more information, contact the FAA.
Map above: One of the maps showing proposed north departures.
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The Puget Sound Business Journal (PSBJ) reported that the Boeing Seafair Air Show, featuring the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, is scheduled to return to Seattle for Seafair Weekend on Aug. 6-8.
“We are very hopeful that the Blues will be able to return for Seafair this year and look forward to hosting them at King County International Airport,” said John Parrott, KCIA director. “As for a viewing, we will plan to host a picnic/potluck during the week for King County employees to come out and watch them fly.”
Above, Blue Angels pilots at KCIA after the 2019 airshow.
Below, Blue Angels airshow from KCIA.
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The Puget Sound Business Journal reports that the Blue Angels “will have some thundering new hardware for the performances.” The pilots will fly Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornets, the first time in 35 years that that the team will fly new aircraft, according to the PSBJ.
Organizers told the PSBJ that the flight path will remain the same as in 2019, keeping the Interstate 90 bridge and Seward Park open.
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Through work on the Master Plan Update, airport staff built relationships with community groups. Above, Airport director John Parrott, airport employees Kevin Nuechterlein and Matt Sykora, and King County Councilmembers Girmay Zahilay and Joe McDermott met online with community members on Jan. 28. Alex Stone, from U.S. Representative Adam Smith’s office, also participated. They met to discuss issues related to the Master Plan and other issues. |
Three employees from Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) started the fire academy on Feb. 1: Sergeant Brian Angelo, Deputy Steve Williams and Deputy Joshua Carswell. Although they each have been law enforcement officers for about 14 years, they are considered firefighter recruits while in the academy. Upon graduation June 17, they will have Firefighter and EMT certifications.
“After a little more training here at the airport, we will be considered fully deployable and able to respond to anything (police, fire, or EMS) at the airport,” said Sgt. Angelo.
“I am excited to learn basically a whole new career field. We all are very excited and fortunate to be assigned to the airport. By going to the firefighter academy, we get a chance to learn a whole new set of skills to help us serve the airport in addition to the extensive law enforcement training, skills, and experience that we have.”
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Above, Deputy Carswell doing a “fit test” with his mask to make sure it fits and has a proper seal.
At right, Sgt. Brian Angelo during a test last year to get into the ARFF unit.
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An overnight windstorm that knocked out power around the region last month also affected King County International Airport. A power pole snapped and powerlines on East Marginal Way South at Ellis Avenue South near a Shell station were tangled for hours. Power was out for between six and 16 hours at various locations at the airport, beginning at about 1:40 a.m. on January 13.
The airport remained open, with the FAA tower, navigation lights and other critical functions running on backup generators.
Photo courtesy of The Seattle Times: A power pole snapped near the airport, knocking out power.
Storm impacts on the airport included:
- A temporary fence blew over. Maintenance staff took care of that right away.
- Certain gates were inoperable due to the power outage.
- Some signs were blown over at the terminal and were fixed that morning.
- Staff did a fire watch on the northeast T-hangars and the maintenance shop while the power was out, keeping a diligent watch for fires. A fire watch is usually required when the building's fire alarm, fire sprinkler, or fire suppression system is out of order.
- Employees did a general cleanup of branches and trash.
- The electricians checked gates, pumphouses and generators.
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