Airport preparing for winter weather
 With La Niña conditions favored to develop this fall and persist into the winter, potentially bringing below normal temperatures and above normal precipitation, King County International Airport (KCIA) is preparing. The airport held its annual Preseason Snow Meeting in early November. Airport operations and maintenance staff, who become the "Snow Team" when wintry weather hits, also have been reviewing and refreshing supplies and conducting annual winter training.
"We make sure that during the snow season it'll run without a hitch," said Josh Markovich, KCIA Airport Duty Manager, at the presentation.
For details, see:
Inclusion in Aviation conference attracts record attendance
 More than 20 employees from King County International Airport attended the AAAE Inclusion in Aviation conference. The conference set a new record for overall attendance.
 Vanessa Chin, Innovation Manager, third from left, served on a panel titled, "Flying through the headwinds: Lessons in courageous equity leadership from King County."
King County International Airport (KCIA), along with the Northeast Chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), hosted the third Inclusion in Aviation Conference last month. Held on the West Coast for the first time, the conference in Bellevue attracted more than 100 attendees from across the country, with some coming from as far away as Virginia and Pennsylvania.
The conference was jam-packed with sessions, including a keynote by Valerie Alexander, founder and president of Valerie Alexander Ventures, on breaking barriers and building bridges, several panel discussions, and much more.
“In aviation, we always say airports are local economic engines,” said Eboni Wimbush, president and chief executive officer of the Airport Minority Advisory Council (AMAC) at a panel on the state of inclusion in 2025. “Airports should remember (that) and that means inclusion of everyone ... This is really about a business imperative.”
Many KCIA staff supported the event. Vanessa Chin, Innovation Manager, played a significant role in planning it. Deputy Director Dave Decoteau officially welcomed attendees. Others staffed the registration table, coordinated a social justice event for Mary’s Place, and pitched in in other important ways.
Airport conducts annual tabletop emergency exercise
Full scale emergency exercise planned for next summer
The airport hosted its annual emergency tabletop exercise on November 19, along with partner agencies including Airport Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF), Boeing Fire, Medic One, Puget Sound Fire, and the Federal Aviation Administration. The exercise helps agencies talk through an emergency scenario to prepare for potential real disasters.
Plans are underway for a full-scale emergency exercise next summer. While the date has not yet been set, it will be scheduled to avoid any potential conflicts with the FIFA World Cup soccer games in Seattle.
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Share input on the Vision 2045 alternatives by December 10
Your opportunity to comment on refined draft alternatives the airport is considering for its Vision 2045 Airport Plan is open until 5 p.m. on December 10. The airport hopes to hear from community members, airport tenants, and interested parties on the refined draft alternatives the airport is considering about how it can adapt and evolve to meet future aviation needs.
Share input by December 10
King County International Airport - Boeing Field
Attention: Matthew Sykora
7277 Perimeter Road South, Suite 200
Seattle, WA 98108
All comments will be documented and considered in the final draft of alternatives presented in the Vision 2045 Airport Plan. Thank you for your interest and participation.
Background
- See additional information on the Resources tab.
Photo: Dave Decoteau, deputy director of the airport, talks with an attendee at the open house held on November 18.
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What does it take to become an airport firefighter?
Airport travelers rarely see them, but a specialized team of firefighter-deputies stands ready every day for the worst-case scenario: an aircraft emergency. The crew also responds to structure, vehicle and dumpster fires on and around airport property. Call volume is much lower than in a typical fire district, but the stakes are high.
Most emergencies are medical. About 70% of calls involve passengers, airport staff or contractors needing medical help, according to Clint Herman, a sergeant in the Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Unit (ARFF) of the King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO). Calls can also shift into problem-solving and customer service, such as helping with disabled aircraft that blocks a runway.
The sergeant said the most rewarding part of his job is the human side.
“For me it's the relationships that you build, not only with the people that you work with but the people that have called you for help,” Herman said.
Herman's career path began as a medic in the Navy where he served in San Diego and Iceland. He was also a volunteer firefighter for four years in Ferndale. He joined the sheriff’s office in 2005, working patrol, serving as a school resource officer and K-9 handler, and was promoted to sergeant in 2019. When an ARFF spot opened, he was asked to transfer and completed the fire academy.
New hires must complete the police academy, several months of field training and at least three years of law enforcement before they can apply to ARFF. Once selected, they attend a five-month fire academy focused on structure fires, vehicle fires, hazardous materials and emergency medical care, earning an EMT license. They then complete on-the-job training at the airport and a 40-hour ARFF course that meets FAA requirements.
His advice for anyone interested in airport firefighting: stay fit, seek medical and fire training, volunteer if possible and be willing to start wherever you can.
“Take the tests, get hired, get experience,” Herman said. “You can always move to the unit you want once you’re ready.”
Photo: Clint Herman, sergeant in the Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Unit (ARFF) of the King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO)
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Airport Roundtable seeks applicants
The King County International Airport Roundtable Advisory Committee is currently recruiting to fill the following positions:
- a representative from communities directly affected by the airport – South Park
- a representative from any community in King County - At-Large
The Roundtable is an advisory board that makes recommendations to the airport's administrators, the King County Executive, and the King County Council. Its membership includes representatives of aviation-related businesses and representatives from communities directly affected by the airport. The Roundtable meets on the second Monday of each month. Meetings are held in person at the airport terminal as well as virtually on Zoom.
If you meet the residency requirements and are interested in serving on the King County International Airport Roundtable, please submit a completed application form and financial disclosure form to KCIACommunityOutreach@kingcounty.gov.
Crime trending downward at the airport
 Crime has gone down at King County International Airport since 2022, with overall crime averaging less than 25 offenses per year.
“We maintain a pretty low average in general for an airport of this size,” said Chief Jon Youngblood of the King County Sheriff's Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) unit in a recent presentation to the Airport Roundtable. “Everything is better than most places.”
, ARFF provides both police and firefighting services. Youngblood was factual yet very positive in his recent presentation.
What crime there is has been limited to property crimes. There were 23 reported offenses in 2022. That number went down to 18 in 2023 and 2024. So far in 2025 (through October) there have been 13 reported property crimes.
“We don’t have any crimes against people,” Youngblood said.
Some types of crimes – those against vehicles – have gone up due to a change in the jurisdiction that takes reports for the Boeing Delivery Center and all of its parking lots. Part of that area is in unincorporated King County, so this year, the Seattle Police Department stopped taking reports for that area.
“Boeing has put up a fence most of the way around that parking lot, which should really help (reduce) the random people walking onto the property and committing vehicle thefts in the area,” Youngblood said.
The Sheriff’s Office increased patrols last year.
“Increasing our patrols and increasing our activity level has paid off in some ways, as far as the amount of crimes we’re dealing with,” he added.
For more details, see Youngblood’s presentation.
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