December 2024 Plane Talk

In response to community interest, the King County Department of Executive Services, which manages King County International Airport-Boeing Field, is extending the public comment period for Supplemental Rules and Regulations providing standards for facility maintenance and storage and access, badging, and escorting for commercial aeronautical activities at KCIA. The airport is also extending the public comment period on Minimum Standards providing minimum qualifications and standards for the issuance of licenses and leasehold interests for commercial aeronautical activities at King County International Airport-Boeing Field (KCIA).

The new deadlines for public comment for both items is Friday, January 31, 2025. Get details on how to provide comment using the links above.

Galvin Flying has shut down its operations at King County International Airport-Boeing Field (KCIA) as of November 24.

“We are surprised and saddened to hear this news, as Galvin has operated out of our airport for decades,” the airport posted in a statement on its website. “Many of the pilots who use our airport got their training at Galvin, and indeed several of our own staff have taken flight training from them. The company and its staff have been key assets at KCIA, participating in our annual Foreign Object Debris walks and giving tours to students interested in aviation careers, among other efforts.”

“Galvin Flying is a subtenant of a fixed base operator at KCIA, and so does not lease their space directly from the airport. However, the company does hold a flight training business permit from KCIA that is in good standing through the end of February 2025. This apparent action to end operations is a business decision made by Galvin, and not prompted by any dispute with KCIA.”

“The Puget Sound region has a long and storied history in the aviation business, and Galvin has been part of that story for more than 90 years. However, it seems that chapter is now ending. Our thoughts are with the employees of Galvin Flying who will soon be out of a job, and with those students whose flight training will be disrupted.”

A “bomb cyclone” hit the region late last month, knocking out power for half a million people in Western Washington, felling trees, closing schools and killing at least two people. While the southeast part of the airport temporarily lost power, affecting Modern Aviation, Skyservice and other tenants, other impacts on King County International Airport were relatively minor.

“The airport escaped relatively unscathed,” said Sean Moran, Airport Operations Manager.

The highest wind speed recorded at the airport was 30 knots (almost 35 miles per hour) with gusts at 45 knots (almost 52 miles per hour), according to Moran.

Several aircraft had multiple landing attempts at KCIA and some diverted to other airports due to the winds. One aircraft (a Delta Airlines flight from Austin) diverted to KCIA from Sea-Tac Airport.

“The pilots definitely earned their pay that evening,” Moran added.

Colin Douglas

Colin Douglas is the new Maintenance Manager at King County International Airport. Douglas takes the helm from Raleigh Salazar, who retired from King County this fall after 30 years of service. Douglas will oversee the Maintenance Section at KCIA including trades, utility workers and crew chiefs.

“I’m thrilled to return to the airport industry, particularly to be working at the iconic Boeing Field,” Douglas said. “The airport offers such a dynamic environment, and I’m excited to collaborate with the team here.”

Before joining KCIA, Douglas worked at Boeing for nearly three years, taking on various roles, with his most recent position in the Business Operations Department at the Everett Delivery Center. Prior to his tenure at Boeing, Colin was with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, where he held several Airport Operations and Maintenance positions at LaGuardia and Newark Airports.

When he is not at the airport, Douglas enjoys outdoor activities like hiking, skiing, and backpacking, always seeking new adventures in nature. He also loves traveling and occasionally spends time at track days for a thrill. Colin values quality time with his family and friends.

Two airport employees and the Plane Talk editor were among 16 Department of Executive Services equity leads who attended the Facing Race conference in St. Louis, Missouri, last month. The convening featured a full day of pre-conference sessions, while some attendees participated in a six-hour bus tour focused on St. Louis history and racial justice. The next two days featured numerous breakout sessions as well as impactful plenary sessions on topics ranging from “Navigating the Post-Election Landscape” to “10 years after Ferguson: What the Movement Taught Us, Where We Go From Here.”

Joy-Ann Reid, American progressive political commentator and television host, was the keynote speaker. She is a national correspondent for MSNBC and is best known for hosting the political commentary program, The ReidOut.

“Being in St. Louis, a city rich with history and culture, was an incredible backdrop for this year's Facing Race conference,” said Alyssa Dean, Airport Duty Manager. “To share space with approximately 4,000 individuals committed to advancing equity was truly powerful—you could feel the energy throughout the city, the conference, and every conversation I had with DES ESJ members. It’s this kind of inspiration that fuels our commitment to equity and social justice, reminding us to stay present and intentional in the work we do every day.”

“To me, It was a super vitamin supplement for equity,” said Vanessa Chin, Innovation Section Manager. “It was everything that helps me set vision, mission and clarity to refine the active body of work that we have.”

Photo, from left: Vanessa Chin, Innovation Section Manager, and Alyssa Dean, Airport Duty Manager