January 2025 Plane Talk

Much like pilots of the Navy’s Blue Angels, operators of King County International Airport’s snow removal equipment assemble regularly for drills. They practice their formations, with snow plow blades tipping like wings, swiveling during turns. Each huge Multi-Tasking Equipment (MTE) lines up behind and to the side of the one in front, plow blades overlapping just a bit, so they can most efficiently remove snow when it arrives for real.

“We’re practicing the route as if there was snow on the ground,” said Kyle Renner. “Once we get on the runway we’re simulating, pushing the snow the direction of the wind.”

The airport purchased five new MTEs last year. Three mornings a week from October through March, the airport’s maintenance employees, supported by operations, gather at 6 a.m. to prepare for the day’s snow training. By about 6:45 a.m., usually in the dark, whatever the weather, they’ve checked out their equipment and are headed to the airfield. Each MTE is a plow, snow blower and broom all in one. Two to three MTEs are followed by a snow broom.

The plows on the front of the MTEs are 24 feet wide, the width of four standard cars parked next to each other. The huge machines are 48 feet long, the same as a standard truck with a semi-trailer. Operators with commercial drivers’ licenses must navigate out of the equipment yard, avoiding posts and curbs, on their way to the training.

“It takes some getting used to,” said Kyle Renner. “You have to keep your head on a swivel. You’ve got to make sure you’re off the fence line.”

The blue taxiway lights look festive as the formation of MTEs approach. The lead operator makes calls on the radio, echoed by those behind.

“Everybody has a chance to take lead,” Renner explains.

Several times during the scheduled training, the operators must pull the equipment off the runway to make room for departing or arriving aircraft. It’s an especially busy week just before Christmas. Imagine dodging incoming UPS flights while practicing a critical job skill!

Renner notices the MTE ahead of him has a faulty blower.

“It’s hard to see the blower when you’re driving,” he said.

During a meeting after the training, everyone participates in a debrief so that equipment can be repaired. The debrief also provides opportunities to improve radio communication next time.

With all this training, do the operators yearn for snow? Many don’t – it requires two, twelve-hour shifts and grueling work.

“I do,” Renner said. “I want to have that experience. I’ve done snow removal with loaders and smaller machines. I would love to use the new MTEs (in snow) and see how they work, how good a job they do.”

During the trainings, the crew’s best time to clear “Priority One” areas (taxiways and runways) is 47 minutes. It’s expected that clearing snow will take longer in real life, depending on the amount and type of snow.

“You can’t push a lot of snow at a time going fast,” Renner explained. In addition, the plows don’t actually touch the runways during the training.

Help to shape the Airport Strategic Plan by attending an in-person or a virtual workshop on January 15, 2025. The final workshops, in-person or virtual, will focus on the draft of the Airport Strategic Plan and ask for your final input. Both workshops will contain the same information.

Earlier this year, the KCIA Airport Strategic Plan project team completed a series of workshops with airport leadership and staff, Airport Roundtable staff, airport tenants, community members, and other interested parties.

Airport Strategic Plan Evaluation Framework Workshops

Wednesday, January 15, 2025

In person workshop

Flight Service Station: 6526 Ellis Avenue S

1 – 2 p.m.

Virtual workshop

Zoom webinar registration link: Register here

5- 6 p.m.

Translation and interpretation services are available upon request.

More information: publicinput.com/kcia-strategic-plan

Contact the project team: KCIACommunityOutreach@kingcounty.gov

You’re invited to the South Seattle Community Roundtable, an opportunity to cultivate meaningful connections and engage in important discussions with King County, the Port of Seattle, and other public agencies. King County International Airport and the Port of Seattle will share information on their ongoing master planning efforts and noise studies. The airport will provide information about the Part 150 Study and Vision 2045. Discussions will revolve around challenges and opportunities at the state and federal level.

This meeting is part of an ongoing effort to continually develop community partnerships, organized by Uncommon Bridges, an organizational development, engagement, and policy consulting firm based in Seattle.

Event details:

• Date: Thursday, January 23
• Time: 5 – 7:30 p.m.
• Location: El Centro de la Raza, 2524 16th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98144

What to expect:

• Engaging conversation: Participate in critical conversation around community needs and collaborate to co-create solutions.
• Relationship-building: Connect with community members, agency partners, and stakeholders to learn from each other and foster collaboration and trust.
• Delicious food: Enjoy dinner and refreshments.

Find more information and RSVP here. Feel free to share this information.

Courtesy of Mente LLC

Mark McIntyre is retiring as Director, Flight Operations for Mente LLC, a Part 91 business aviation operation.

“Mark has been flying out of the Seattle area for over 50 years,” said Ron McKune, Assistant Director, Flight Operations for Mente LLC. “During that time, he has mentored and positively influenced countless pilots, myself included. His contributions to the business aviation community are immeasurable.”

After learning to fly in high school, Mark began his aviation career with Kenmore Air, starting as a lineman and advancing to floatplane flight Instructor and charter pilot, before moving to Nordstrom, Inc., where he spent 18 years advancing from co-pilot to chief pilot. In 1997, he helped found the Mente LLC operation.

He has been active in business aviation throughout his career, serving on the Bombardier Global Advisory Board, and as a member of the Chief Pilots Roundtable and the NBAA International Operations Committee. He is also a founding member of the Pacific Northwest Business Aviation Association. Since 2016 he has served as Board Member for the NBAA, contributing to the Audit Committee, and will continue through 2026. Locally, he has recently joined the KCIA Roundtable representing Corporate Aviation.

McIntyre graduated from Claremont McKenna College with a dual major in political science and psychology. He was one of the first 22 Certified Aviation Managers recognized by NBAA and has spoken several times at the NBAA International Operations Conference.

Photo: Mark McIntyre, Director, Flight Operations for Mente LLC, with Narain Gambir, Airport Operation Specialist at KCIA.

Congratulations to Cilicia Diaz, Airport Operations and Business Relations Intern, who received a $2,500 scholarship recently. Diaz was one of five recipients of the Jim Morasch/Jerry Olson Memorial Scholarship through the Northwest Chapter of American Association of Airport Executives.

Diaz, a senior at Green River College pursuing a degree in Aeronautical Science, has already put the scholarship to good use. Green River partners with Rainier Flight Service, where she is doing her flight training, and she’s applying the scholarship to her flight training.

“It’s really helpful because I know that flight training is such a financial burden, not just for me but for my parents as well,” she said. “It is a huge relief to not have to focus too much on the financial aspect and focus more on how I can be a better pilot.”

Diaz appreciates the mentorship of Sean Moran, Airport Operations Manager, who encouraged her to apply for the scholarship.

“He stayed on me to be sure I did,” she added. “He was really a big help. Scholarship money is out there, you just have to apply.”

Diaz, who will turn 20 the month she graduates in June, is on a fast track not just for graduation but to become a pilot. She completed the Museum of Flight’s Aeronautical Science Pathway program to earn 60 college credits. Currently waiting to schedule her instrument rating check ride, she is planning to become a flight instructor within the next three years to get enough hours to become a commercial pilot.

“I’m also in the Horizon pilot development program. Once I get my hours I have my spot as a first officer at Horizon,” Diaz said. “That’s probably the coolest thing that I’m accepted for.”

Her career goal is to fly for Alaska Airlines.