May 2023 Plane Talk: Lots of news at the airport!

King County International Airport-Boeing Field has an open position on the Roundtable Advisory Committee to represent off-site commercial enterprises that provide services or support at the airport.

The Roundtable is made up of 16 voting members that make recommendations to the airport's administrators, the King County Executive, and the King County Council. Its membership includes community members, representatives of aviation-related businesses, and others interested in airport issues. Term length is three years, with a maximum of two consecutive terms.

The Roundtable meets on the second Monday of each month at 5 p.m. Meetings are held in hybrid format (in-person and online via Zoom).

This position is open until filled. For more information and to apply:

• Read about the Roundtable
• Call 206-605-7156
• Email to request an application

For the first time, King County International Airport is offering containers for pilots to dispose of cast-off airport fuel. Up until recently, pilots were responsible for disposing of the fuel themselves. Cast-off fuel results when the pilots test their fuel for water.

“We are offering the containers to provide an easy and safe way for the pilots to dispose of their cast-off fuel, which is usually a very small quantity,” said Paula Cracknell, Environmental Scientist at the airport. “This benefits both the pilot and the environment.”

Pilots should use the Avgas containers in a safe manner to minimize the possibility of spilling. Spill kits will be provided. In case of a spill, call 911 and then notify Airport Operations at 206-296-7334. The stormwater system at KCIA is connected to the Duwamish waterway, so potential fuel spills may enter the river unless cleaned up properly.

The containers are for aviation fuels only. Cracknell explained that if other liquids are introduced to the containers, hazardous conditions could occur as aviation fuel is both flammable and a petroleum product that can contaminate the stormwater system.

There is a separate location where hazardous waste oil is disposed of and the fluid types should not mix, she added.

Keeping an airport open and in tip-top shape is like managing a city, requiring many employees with different skills and experience. At King County International Airport – Boeing Field (KCIA), a team of nine airport Duty Managers (ADMs) are key to day-to-day operations. Their jobs are complex, involving many wide-ranging duties.

“We’re the landlord, the enforcer and the accountant,” said Sean Moran, Airport Operations Manager. “We wear many different hats.”

Ensuring safety for the 1560,000 annual takeoffs and landings at KCIA requires a team that covers the airport 24/7. Airport duty managers work 10-hour days on one of three shifts, each with overlap to the previous and next shift. They do multiple inspections (day and night) that include security, striping and markings, electrical and lighting, among many other things.

On a drive along the perimeter of the airfield, Cruz explains what he looks for to be sure the airport is secure.

“I’m looking at doors, gates, vehicles,” Cruz said. “I’ll take a mental note and see why is that car parked here. We keep an eye on that and verify with the (security) cameras.”

ADM Aaron Ison is the security lead for Operations. Larson, who has experience working for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), is the secondary.

“We always have a primary and secondary on a project,” Moran explained.

“Security is a big deal,” Cruz added. “Anyone on the airport has to be badged.”

That requires a visit with Anoop Dhillon, Access Control Specialist and member of the Operations team.

“I’m making sure people on airport property are supposed to be here,” Dhillon said. “Badging not only helps Operations but it really helps every single one of our tenants.”

Security ramps up when VIPs visit or fly out headed to Washington, D.C. Operations also coordinates with U.S. Customs to be sure they have the information they need for Customs flights.

Operations also coordinates review and compliance of construction projects at the airport. ADM Sam Priest is the construction liaison.

“Anytime an entity has a construction project, they come to Airport Ops for review of their plans and compliance,” Moran said. “We’re also the ones who are notifying all the other tenants and we’ll be issuing Notices to Air Missions (NOTAMS)” of construction impacts. NOTAMS are posted on the airport website as well.

Larson added that construction coordination includes things like closing a runway to make it safe to do pavement repairs.

In addition to security and construction, Operations inspects landscaping and coordinates with Maintenance to keep grass mowed, for example.

“We manage the landscaping to reduce the amount of wildlife,” said Manny Cruz, Airport Duty Manager.

George Pierce, Airport Operations Specialist, and fellow ADM Kevin Donahue are the leads on wildlife management. Pierce recently helped trap and relocate a hawk that was getting too comfortable on the airfield.

“Part of our job is wildlife hazing with pyrotechnics,” Larson said, grabbing an (unloaded) fireworks gun from a container in the back seat. “Ours is just birds and bunnies. In Florida they have gators on the runway.”

Then there are tasks related to the weather, like ramping up before snow and ice hits. Operations develops a strategy ahead of each storm, providing direction and coordination with Maintenance.

“We can’t do anything without Maintenance,” Larson said. “They’re involved in almost everything.”

ADMs also serve as the initial incident commanders in an emergency, from fuel spills and flat tires on incoming aircraft to a breach in the security fence, or worse. If a state of emergency is declared, KCIA needs to be ready to provide support for the U.S. military, for example.

“We have to think about things within 30 seconds,” Cruz said. “It’s a lot of responsibility. If you like working under pressure, it’s great.”

“Everyone here is at the top of their game when something happens,” Larson added.

“I love the job,” Cruz said. “You need a team, it’s not just a one-person show.”

The airport welcomes Ryan Hubbard, the newest Airport Duty Manager. Hubbard returns to Washington from San Jose International Airport (SJC) where he served as a Senior Airport Operations Specialist.

From 2018 to 2022 he worked as an Airport Operations Specialist at Auburn Municipal Airport (S50). He also brings experience through internships at Alaska Airlines in 2017 and Renton Municipal Airport (RNT) in 2018.

Hubbard is a proud Pacific Northwest native.

“I was born just 30 minutes south of BFI in Auburn, Washington and attended Central Washington University in 2014, studying Aviation Management with a minor as a Professional Pilot,” Hubbard said.

In his free time he enjoys the outdoors through hiking, skiing, and practicing his landscape photography skills.

“I am excited to be back a part of my Pacific Northwest family and look forward to working with everyone at King County!” Hubbard said.

Claire Anderson

Claire Anderson is interning with the Operations Team through August. She started her internship in March. So far she has job shadowed various employees and is getting an in-depth look at how everything operates behind the scenes at an airport. Anderson is taking all training that Airport Operations Specialists complete.

“The work Claire is doing at the KCIA provides her with the perfect opportunity for her to see real-world examples of what she is learning in her college aviation classes,” said Andrea Lopez, social worker with Career LaunchPad, of the Department of Community and Human Services. The LaunchPad program places students in internships.

Lopez added that Anderson loves hearing personal stories from airport staff which is helping her decide on a career plan.

Anderson is attending Green River College and pursuing a degree in Aeronautical Science. Her goal is to become a commercial airline pilot. She is also over halfway to earning her private pilot’s license.

Claire is the youngest four children. She loves Facetiming with her two nieces and two nephews. In her free time, she enjoys reading, playing tennis, and flying.

Jaydyn Saporito

Jaydyn Saporito began interning with the Maintenance Team in April and likely will be at the airport through August.

“She is learning a lot of new skills from various KCIA employees,” Lopez said.

Some of Saporito’s job tasks include priming walls for painting, weed whacking, spray marking cracks for re-paving, picking up litter and hooking up the sweeper attachment for runway cleaning. Saporito did not have any previous experience in aviation, but as a result of this internship, is now considering working at an airport or for King County.

Saporito is currently attending Federal Way Open Doors and is working toward her high school diploma.

Her career goal is to become a welder or electrician. She is exploring options for college or apprenticeships.

Saporito has two younger brothers who she loves hanging out with at the park or outdoors. In her free time, she enjoys swimming, playing soccer, being around animals and landscaping.

The Airports Council International Airport@Works conference, hosted in Seattle this year, invited KCIA director John Parrott to present at the opening plenary session last week. 

“It was an opportunity to showcase and discuss what makes the Pacific Northwest, which has a rich and historic aviation history, a leader in the aviation industry into the next century,” said Parrott.

Vanessa Chin, Innovation Manager at KCIA, attended the conference and listened to Parrott’s remarks.

“John definitely showcased how dynamic, diverse and nimble our airport is,” Chin said. “He was also able to demonstrate how we can be world class.”

In discussing his remarks in an interview after the conference, Parrott explained further.

“We want to be ready for electrification, get sustainable aviation fuel, get rid of the lead in general aviation fuel, and be ready for hydrogen fuel,” Parrott said.

“We are the unique airport in the region,” he added. “We’re the only airport that can and does take all the different kind of airplanes from flight schools to the 777X . We can and do handle everything.”

“We’re doing all that while moving forward on the equity and social justice front,” Parrott added.

Photo credit: ACI-NA