November 2023 Plane Talk

With freezing temperatures already hitting the region this fall, King County International Airport is getting ready for the winter ahead. Airport staff held the annual review of the Snow and Ice Control Plan (SICP) late last month and is readying equipment.

Airport staff stay in close contact with the Northwest Weather Service and stay abreast of severe weather forecasts. As soon as adverse weather conditions such as snow or ice are forecast, Airport Operations activates the SICP and notifies airport leadership. The Airport Duty Manager continuously monitors airfield conditions and coordinates staffing for the Snow Control Center as needed. Airport Maintenance supervisors coordinate and prepare equipment, staff and supplies.

KCIA recently acquired new snow removal equipment, including five Multi-Tasking Equipment (MTEs). Training is underway and the MTEs may be partially deployed by this winter season. The equipment deploy a 20-foot-plus plow, a mid-centered broom and rear blower. The airport may experience short runway closures lasting up to 90 minutes throughout the week to allow equipment operators to train along the priority routes. Route changes for the 2024-2025 season are being reviewed due to the increased snow removal capabilities.

The airport also took delivery of a Continuous Friction Measuring Equipment (CFME). It is a white Volvo XC60. It lowers a fifth wheel in the back to measure breaking coefficients continuously, providing a real-time, accurate surface readings. The friction measurement is conducted in both winter and summer (rubber build-up).

Due to limited resources, snow and ice are cleared from priority areas first.
Tenants or Fixed Base Operators with questions about the SICP can get more details:

• On the website under "Inclement weather operations"
• By email from Airport Operations’ Snow Desk at airportops@kingcounty.gov or
• By phone with the Snow Desk at 206-296-7334 or 206-915-1415.

On a sunny day late last month, King County International Airport – Boeing Field set the scene for a re-creation of a famous marriage proposal from the 1982 romantic movie, An Officer and a Gentleman. The groom-to-be, Fred Swindells, Jr., selected KCIA primarily for practical reasons, but also liked its look.

"The first time that I saw it in person (I made three trips in preparation for the big day), I was impressed with the building's character," said Swindells, Jr. "The lobby is quite pleasant with a number of features for a small airport."

Swindells, Jr. donned dress whites for the proposal, which took place in the main terminal lobby. A string quartet played themes from romantic movies, culminating with “Up Where We Belong” from the movie. Debbie Labbe, his intended, was in regular clothes, as was Paula Pokrifki in the movie, filmed primarily in Port Townsend.

Similar to the end of the film, the bride’s fans (her parents) as well as the groom’s (his sister, brother-in-law and nephew) looked on as the proposal unfolded. Everything was filmed by Seattle Videography, as if it were on a movie set.

Other movie themes were woven into the narrative, as the groom-to-be is a widower and met his now-fiancé for the first time in Manhattan, just like the Sleepless in Seattle couple, Sam and Annie. He lives in Burnaby, British Columbia, and Labbe lives in Connecticut.

Swindells had hoped to tour the filming locations of both movies via helicopter with the help of Helicopters Northwest. Unfortunately the winds were too strong but the couple had photos taken in a helicopter, thanks to pilot Ken.

Airport employees Matt Sykora and Lorenzo Clara helped make the proposal possible by granting permission for the use of the space and providing armless chairs for the quartet.

Labbe said yes. The wedding date is yet to be set. Congratulations to the happy couple!

Photo: Fred Swindells, Jr. and his fiancé, Debbie Labbe, in the main terminal lobby, shortly after the proposal.

Mohamed Nimeri, KCIA’s Managing Engineer, has left the airport to become State Pavement Engineer for the Washington State Department of Transportation.

“I am a pavement guy so I always knew I was going back to pavements,” Nimeri said. “It’s a fantastic opportunity. I get the opportunity to apply my knowledge and influence the pavement policy of the state and how the state does pavement designs.”

Nimeri started at KCIA in August 2019 as a pavement engineer.

“When we hired Mohamed we anticipated we would only have him for a limited time due to his extraordinary qualifications,” said John Parrott, airport director.

Later, Nimeri was promoted to Managing Engineer. He supervised a staff of eleven, including six capital project managers, two environmental scientists and three interns.

“The hardest thing is leaving my team here at the airport,” Nimeri said.

“During his tenure he has led the Engineering section in establishing processes that will serve the airport well for years to come,” Parrott added. “His impact to the airport has been enormous not only due to his technical knowledge but thanks to his personality and willingness to share his outlook on many different topics. He will be missed but we wish him all the best.”

His last day at the airport was Oct. 31 and he started his new job the very next day.
“I enjoy my work here and I’m super excited about the new job,” Nimeri said. “I didn’t feel like I needed any time off."

He will work primarily remotely for the WSDOT pavement office in the materials lab in Tumwater, near Olympia. Congratulations!

Photo: Mohamed Nimeri, KCIA's Managing Engineer, with a photo of the airport signed by friends and colleagues. 

The Washington Airport Managers Association (WAMA) usually holds its board meetings virtually. But Dave Decoteau, deputy director at King County International Airport and WAMA vice president, suggested that the board improve its outreach to college students by holding its recent meeting at Central Washington University.

“The purpose of meeting in person was to familiarize us with Central and the staff but really an opportunity for students to spend some time with us and see what we do and be able to provide them opportunities in the future,” Decoteau said.

Why Central Washington University?

“Central has a strong aviation management program,” Decoteau explained. “I reached out and they were really excited to host us.”

“We had our board meeting there, received a tour of the facility, spent time with their aviation students, and provided information on scholarships and internships,” he added. “It was a huge benefit to be able to spend the time with students and the faculty, introducing a pipeline for the students to have employment opportunities or internships.”

After the tour, according to the recent WAMA newsletter, “they stepped outside just as a fleet of Piper Archers with student pilots at the controls landed one by one on the Bowers Field runway.”

In addition to the WAMA connections, KCIA’s Sean Moran, Airport Operations Manager, was asked if he could serve as an industry liaison for CWU’s student chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives. Moran has offered his support as the liaison.

Photo: Members of the WAMA board of directors and Central Washington University staff on the tour of CWU's aviation program.

Courtesy of King County Sheriff's Office Weekly newsletter

Deputy Benjamin Johnson of the Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) Unit was recently honored with a Commander’s Award, presented by Chief Flohr.

On August 12, 2023, Deputy Johnson, on his way back home from work, spotted smoke emerging from the Heather and Hope Adult Family Home. Despite being off duty, he promptly intervened, reporting the incident on the radio, and assisting in the evacuation of the home.

With remarkable courage, he grabbed a garden hose to tackle the fire, sustaining burns on his upper right arm in the process. Deputy Johnson provided a comprehensive briefing to the arriving fire department before departing the scene.

Incredible work by Deputy Johnson, the recognition is well deserved!

- Captain Jonathan Youngblood / ARFF

Photo: Deputy Benjamin Johnson, right, with Chief Flohr, left.