October 2025 Plane Talk

Through October 17, the public may comment on draft alternatives for how the airport can evolve and adapt to meet forecasted aviation demand over the next 20 years. The draft alternatives are part of the Vision 2045 Airport Plan. The study team will host a Vision 2045 open house on November 18 to present refined draft alternatives.   

About 50 community members, airport tenants, and interested parties attended an open house last week to review alternatives, provide input, and ask questions. 

Part 150 Study update  

The Part 150 Study team is preparing the draft Noise Compatibility Plan (NCP). In January, the team will host the next Part 150 Study open house to present the draft NCP, which outlines specific actions to reduce airport noise and support compatible land use around KCIA.   

Learn more, share input, and sign up to receive study updates at KCIAplanning.com.  

The week before Girls in Aviation Day, KOMO TV's ARC Seattle talk show featured two women at King County International Airport who are pursuing their pilots licenses, Ella Wilson and Silvana Vasquez. Host Tyra Majors, co-anchor of ARC Seattle on KUNS-TV, the CW Network, asked Wilson and Vasquez about their career goals and how important it is to them to serve as role models for other women of color, among other topics. 

Watch the show.

Photo: From left, Tyra Majors. co-anchor of ARC Seattle; Ella Wilson, Engineering Undergraduate Intern and Silvana Vasquez, Airport Operations Specialist on the set of ARC Seattle last month.  

Rainier Flight Service, the largest flight training provider in Washington state, moved to King County International Airport (KCIA) in late winter. Rainier now has 12 aircraft based at KCIA, including a couple of new Cessnas. Currently, 15 instructors teach clients to fly here, including simulator training at the former Flight Service Station.

“It’s great, Boeing Field fits all of our requirements to provide the highest quality flight training,” said Daniel Thomson, Jr., Office Manager at Rainier Flight Service. “You couldn't ask for a better location when it comes to aviation history.”

Rainier also has training facilities at Paine Field Airport, Auburn Municipal Airport and Tacoma Narrows Airport, as well as a small operation in Renton.

“We help people reach their aviation dreams, whether that’s achieving pilot certification or going all the way to the airlines,” Thomson added.

He explained that instructors focus on individualized learning, customizing training as appropriate. One instructor is assigned to a student and “sticks with them the whole way.”

“We have incredible instructors here, probably some of the best in the nation when it comes to general aviation instructors,” Thomson added.

Rainier works closely with several educational and non-profit organizations to encourage community members to consider aviation as a career. For example, the company works with the Experimental Aviation Association’s Young Eagle program to provide free flights for youth ages eight to 17 to introduce them to aviation. Rainier also supports Red-Tailed Hawks, whose mission is to introduce aviation to those underrepresented in the field.

“We are very much invested in the local community and helping people achieve their goals, whether it’s personal goals or careers in aviation via piloting or aviation maintenance,” Thomson said.

Rainier has recruited and hired many employees from local aviation maintenance programs, including South Seattle Community College.

Levi Stroppel, Rainier’s Director of Maintenance, is a graduate of South Seattle and maintains connections with the school. Other recruits include graduates from Everett Community College.

“We do our own maintenance,” Thomson said. “We ensure that every single aircraft is good to go, not just flight worthy but in tip top shape.” 

Photo: Rainier flight instructor Mark Thomas ties down an aircraft after a training flight at King County International Airport.

Much like when a parent or grandparent buys a new car and gives a good deal to a teenager on their used one, King County International Airport recently sold several used vehicles and pieces of equipment to another Washington airport. The $15,000 sale helped Columbia Gorge Regional Airport and kept serviceable vehicles out of the waste stream a bit longer, supporting the county’s sustainability goals.

“As a regional, general aviation airport, I think it’s always good to help other airports in the region,” said Colin Douglas, Maintenance Manager at KCIA.

Scott Muirhead, Maintenance Supervisor, explained that smaller airports don’t have the funding and support of the Federal Aviation Administration to buy new equipment.

Columbia Gorge Regional Airport is in the process of picking up the equipment from KCIA before winter starts.

The sale, facilitated through Fleet Services, included a 1988 John Deer front loader, a 1991 Oshkosh broom, a 1991 Oshkosh plow truck, a 2008 F150, a 2000 Case backhoe and a loader. Even equipment from the 1980s and 1990s is still useful.

“It has a lot of life because we do a good job maintaining it and it doesn’t get that much use,” Douglas added.

The airport bought new multi-function equipment two years ago.

“We modernized our fleet and held onto it (the old equipment) for a couple years in case we had any issues,” Douglas added. “We can plow, broom and blow with one piece of equipment. In the past we would have three pieces of equipment to do the same work.”

Reusing equipment is a common industry practice. In fact, the Oshkosh equipment originally came to KCIA from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, paid for by the Federal Aviation Administration.

KCIA hosted 45 students, along with 40 teachers and parents, from University Cooperative School for a visit last week. With support from King County Metro, the group stopped at the terminal, welcomed by Airport Director John Parrott and Deputy Director David Decoteau. The group then visited the Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) station, where fire fighters demonstrated a fire truck's capabilities. Last stop was the maintenance shop for a look at snow removal equipment.

The students were highly engaged throughout the tour and asked insightful questions. Some of the students had previously attended the Girls in Aviation event, which sparked even more interest and enthusiasm.

The Runway 14L/32R Rehabilitation project remains on track for completion by the end of October, though continued wet weather could delay the application of final markings.

Paving is now complete, and crews have begun applying the first coat of runway and taxiway markings. Work on electrical and lighting systems is wrapping up.

Next steps include allowing the pavement to fully cure, cutting runway grooves, applying final markings, and completing the FAA flight check.

Once finished, this project will extend the runway’s useful life, particularly important for small general aviation aircraft that operate at KCIA.

Get more information about the project.