Snow preparation at sunrise thanks to new equipment
 A view of Mount Rainier from the airfield during a winter training exercise.
 A parade of snow removal equipment travels north along the runway during a snow removal training exercise last month.
Cargo deliveries and passengers alike depend on reliable flights, regardless of challenging winter weather. To make sure the airport stays open as much as possible, airport employees have been preparing for potential snow and ice. One day last month starting at sunrise, maintenance staff participated in a hands-on training exercise with new snow removal equipment.
The airport landed about $5.3 million in new snow removal equipment, thanks to a grant from the Federal Aviation Administration. The equipment includes five “MTEs” or multi-tasking equipment.
“It plows, it brooms, and it has an air blower to blow the fine stuff,” said Donald McClendon. “We used to have one truck that would plow and one that would broom. Now we get the same job done more efficiently.”
The airport also bought a new, 4,000 gallon de-icer truck with $336,000 in airport funds. The old truck was 1,100 gallons.
“To do the whole airport, we used to have to re-load once,” McClendon said. “Now we can do the whole airport and still do it again without having to re-load.”
“It’s making the airport safer, not having so much equipment out there at one time,” McClendon said.
“Having the new equipment online has created a great synergy with the team ensuring everyone is fully trained and holding safety to a high standard,” added Manny Cruz, Airport Duty Manager. “It’s going to be super exciting to see all the new snow removal equipment in action and maintaining the world class airport operation for our customers.”
In addition to the hands-on training, the Snow Team conducted a tabletop exercise in December. The Snow Team includes both Maintenance and Operations staff who develop snow response plans and spring into action when snow is forecast. During the exercise, they held a roundtable discussion around a large aerial map of the airport, discussing the details of snow removal plans.
Electric chargers coming to the airport
Starting later this month, five new dual (level 2) electric charging stations will be operational south of the former Flight Service Station (FSS) building at 6526 Ellis Avenue South, ready to charge the four new all-electric vehicles on order for the airport. The chargers are intended for airport fleet vehicles only.
"The airport is committed to doing our part to reduce carbon emissions in support of the King County Strategic Climate Action Plan and Fleet Electrification,” said John Parrott, director of King County International Airport (KCIA). “Replacing internal combustion engine equipment with electric vehicles and providing adequate charging facilities is a significant step."
KCIA has a plan to reduce carbon emissions from county-owned vehicles, as well as the airport’s Carbon Accreditation Plan. As part of the first phase of the Carbon Accreditation Plan, staff learned that almost half of the airport-owned emissions come from the airport’s vehicle fleet. As vehicles are being replaced, electric vehicles are considered when appropriate.
The project to install chargers includes a second phase, which will install four more dual (level 2) chargers. Level 2 chargers can charge a battery electric vehicle (BEV) to 80 percent from zero in four to 10 hours and a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) in one to two hours.
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UW Huskies fly via KCIA to Sugar Bowl, National Championship
 Husky fever is everywhere, and it starts here at King County International Airport!
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The hometown University of Washington heroes head out today, January 5, from KCIA for the national championship game in Houston.
The Huskies flew into KCIA after their 37-31 win over the Texas Longhorns in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.
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Screenshots from a KING5 YouTube video show the Huskies arrival at KCIA earlier this week after the Sugar Bowl.
Welcome Bradley Falcetti
Bradley Falcetti joined the Operations Team as an Airport Duty Manager on December 11.
Brad comes to King County International Airport from Grand Canyon West Airport where he managed the airport on behalf of the Hualapai Tribe (People of the Tall Pines).
He has spent much of his career in the southwestern United States working for airports and airlines alike. He graduated from Embry-Riddle in Prescott, AZ with a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautics, and a Master of Science in Safety Science.
Brad was born and raised just east of Bellingham in the foothills of Mount Baker and is happy to be back in his home state.
He has a wife and three children (a 10-year-old, a two-year old, and six-month-old baby). His hobbies include enjoying local cuisine while traveling, SCUBA diving, and being a cinephile.
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Brian Bartley earns Certified Member designation
Brian Bartley earned the Certified Member (C.M.) designation from the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) last month. According to AAAE, this designation signifies that the member has a diverse knowledge of the primary functions of how an airport operates and can provide the opportunity to progress up the ranks in a close knit community.
To become a C.M., a member must successfully complete a rigorous 180-question, multiple-choice examination. AAAE provides electronic study materials, as well as special training courses to help people prepare for the exam.
Congratulations, Brian!
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Airport collects donations for Georgetown Food Bank
KCIA participated in the fourth annual Fly Washington Passport Food Program this fall, collecting 203 pounds of food. To date, KCIA has collected 942 pounds of food through this program. All food collected will be donated to the Georgetown Food Bank. |
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Get involved in shaping the airport’s future
Looking for a way to get involved in the future of King County International Airport? Two new projects are underway, Vision 2045 (which will fulfill the requirements of an Airport Master Plan update) and a Part 150 Study. Both projects will include engagement with airport tenants, community members, and the broader public.
The primary purpose of Vision 2045 is to evaluate the best way for the airport to meet future aviation needs and continue to evolve as a world-class airport. The plan provides a roadmap of projects to maintain the airport in accordance with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) standards and safety requirements while accounting for potential environmental and socioeconomic impacts.
The Part 150 Study is a noise study. It is a voluntary FAA program that helps analyze and document noise exposure associated with airplane operations. KCIA will also study potential noise mitigation strategies.
A key element of Vision 2045 and the Part 150 Study is to create a public process that invites community members to share diverse perspectives and incorporates community input into the planning process in a meaningful way. The project team is developing a Community Participation Plan (CPP) that will guide project engagement for both projects with a variety of airport and community partners, including airport users, community groups, FAA, members of the public, nearby residents, staff, and tenants. The CPP will build on feedback collected in fall 2022 from local neighborhood representatives, community groups, and airport tenants.
If you would like to be included in the development of the community participation plan or any other part of this project, please contact KCIACommunityOutreach@kingcounty.gov.
In the coming weeks, look for a link to the Vision 2045 and Part 150 Study project web pages and an invitation to subscribe to an e-newsletter covering both projects.
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