Boeing Seafair Air Show runs today through Sunday
 The U.S. Navy Blue Angels during practice yesterday at King County International Airport-Boeing Field.
The Boeing Seafair Air Show kicks off today and runs through Sunday. Along with the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, performers include Torrey Ward's Microjet and the U.S. Marine Corps F-35B, a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) variant of the F-35 family. Melissa Burns, who became the youngest female member of the United States Unlimited Aerobatic Team in history, will perform aerobatics with her team, as will Yellow Thunder, a two-plane aerobatic team of brothers David and Drew Watson.
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New VFR routes now effective
New Visual Flight Rule (VFR) routes went into effect on July 9. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has requested some textual and graphical changes to Boeing Field's Visual Flight Rule Arrival and Departure Procedures. See the new procedures:
If you have any questions, please call Airport Operations at 206-296-7334 or email AirportOps@kingcounty.gov
FOD Walk set for Saturday, August 15
Runway to close for one hour for the event
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Airport employees, tenants and community members are invited to the Foreign Object Debris (FOD) Walk on August 15 from 7:30 -10 a.m. Meet at 9404 East Marginal Way South to help clean up the airfield. The runway will be closed from 8:30-9:30 a.m. and refreshments will be provided.
Participation is limited; please RSVP by email to KCIACommunityOutreach@kingcounty.gov. Email or call 206-263-8889 with any questions.
Photo: Some objects found during a previous FOD Walk
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Water cannon salute greets Freedom Plane
 The Freedom Plane arrived at King County International Airport on July 27, celebrated with a water cannon salute, live music and an enthusiastic crowd. Watch a brief video with highlights.
Onboard the plane were nine founding-era documents on an eight-city museum tour culminating at the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) through August 16. Free timed-entry tickets are available for the exhibit, which celebrates the country's 250th anniversary. |
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Airport teams up to help Department of Local Services
King County is all about collaboration to solve problems. King County International Airport (KCIA) teamed up with Fleet Services to help the Road Services Division of the Department of Local Services.
Roads recently needed help with about eight miles of painted markings. KCIA has a Stripe Hog machine, made by Hog Technologies, that can be used for a variety of maintenance activities including rubber removal, pavement marking removal and cleaning. The Stripe Hog uses high pressure water (up to 40,000PSI) to either clean or remove painted markings. Jonathan Moseley, Utility Worker II, and Kyle Renner, Equipment Operator, two airport employees who are certified by Hog Technologies to operate the machine, operated it on county roads instead of the airport for a few weekend days in July.
“In total, we cleaned approximately eight miles of painted markings,” said Colin Douglas, Maintenance Manager. “We also had assistance from Department of Executive Services’ Fleet division who help support some troubleshooting Road calls.”
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Utter wins award at AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin
Erik Utter, Vice Chair of the Airport Roundtable, pilot and longtime tenant at King County International Airport (KCIA), recently won an award for his aircraft at the Experimental Aircraft Association (EEA) AirVenture Oshkosh. The award was for Outstanding Beech Single Engine in the vintage contemporary category (1956 - 1971).
“One aspect of AirVenture is judging of vintage aircraft based on many factors such as workmanship, authenticity, cleanliness, and maintenance,” Utter explained. “I completed several projects on my plane over the winter and I thought it would be fun to have it judged so I could receive feedback.”
Utter bought a quarter share of a 1965 Beechcraft Bonanza, a single-engine high-performance six-seat aircraft, when he was just 25 years old. Now the plane’s full owner, he has been a KCIA tenant since 1999.
This year he flew from KCIA to Oshkosh, Wisconsin WI with his kids in his Bonanza for AirVenture, the world’s largest gathering of aviation enthusiasts. This year, 740,000 people attended with more than 10,000 airplanes.
“I never expected I had a chance to win in any category because there are so many truly beautiful aircraft that come in from all over the world,” Utter said.
Photo: Erik Utter with his son, Cole at EEA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin
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Airport helps celebrate funding for helicopter improvements
 The airport hosted the King County Sheriff’s Office Air Support Unit and elected officials for a media event announcing new funding for rescue helicopter upgrades. From left: Rescue Specialist Calista Broderson, Rescue Specialist Calista Broderson, Deputy/Pilot Ernie Brent, U.S. Rep. Kim Schrier; King County Sheriff Patti Cole-Tindall, King County Councilmembers Sarah Perry and Steffanie Fain, Deputy/Pilot Josh Sweeney, Sgt. Eric Gagnon and Maple Valley Mayor Sean Kelly.
One of the King County Sheriff’s Office’s (KCSO) two UH-1H Plus "Huey" helicopters flew in to King County International Airport-Boeing Field in early July for an announcement of more than $1 million in federal funding to help upgrade the rescue helicopter.
“We average about 25 rescues a year, and while we are a 12-month a year operation, we are getting into our busy season,” said Patti Cole-Tindall, King County Sheriff. “As the largest Air Support Unit in the Pacific Northwest, this grant will allow us to continue our dedicated mission to serve people coming from all over the world to enjoy the beauty this part of the country has to offer.”
“We very much appreciate the incredible grant you secured to help us,” Cole-Tindall said to U.S. Rep. Kim Schrier, M.D., who announced the grant at the media event.
“We are here to celebrate this much-needed investment to improve one of the Sheriff’s Office helicopters,” Rep. Schrier said. “Projects like this will help our emergency responders save lives.”
The funding will provide electronic upgrades, including matching instrument panels in both of KCSO’s hoist helicopters, as well as purchasing a new rescue hoist.
“This upgrade will improve the stability and lift capacity of this helicopter,” Rep. Schrier said.
King County Councilmember Sarah Perry explained that her district spans all the way to Stevens Pass and is often hardest hit by storms and wildfires.
“Natural disasters are a constant reminder of how critical these response tools are,” Perry said.
“As we prepare for wildfire season, this investment couldn’t have come at a better time,” added King County Councilmember Steffanie Fain.
Learn more about KCSO’s search and rescue operations in this video.
Watch the airport fire department in action
Courtesy of the King County Sheriff's Office
The King County Sheriff's Office recently released a video of the Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting unit training for emergencies. This highly trained team stands ready to protect lives, aircraft, and airport operations at the King County International Airport. Watch the video.
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WSDOT interns spend a day at the airport
 College students interning at the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) spent a day at King County International Airport recently. Their visit was jam-packed with informational sessions, networking and a tour. The day included an overview of the WSDOT Aviation Division, a session on airport grants and aviation funding, and one on emerging aviation technologies. They learned how drones are changing aviation and talked to airport staff about aviation careers. Their visit wrapped up with an airport tour and a visit to the Museum of Flight.
Airport outreach attracts 500 at Filipino Festival
 King County International Airport staffed a booth at Seattle Pista sa Nayon, an annual free summer event highlighting Filipino culture. The event is also an officially sanctioned Seafair community festival. Employees engaged with more than 500 community members at the event, held at Seward Park on July 26.
Ana Lopez joins airport for summer internship
Ana Lopez, a recent graduate of Federal Way High School, joins the airport on a short-term internship to help with the Blue Angels and other duties this summer.
Lopez was in the King County Career LaunchPad program late last year, supported by Andrea Lopez (no relation), a social worker for the program in the Department of Community and Human Services.
“Being around aircraft and people who are passionate about them is a dream come true!” for Ana Lopez, said Andrea Lopez. “She is excited to learn more about careers in aviation and be part of the King County Airport team.”
“She shared with me that she has always had a desire to become a pilot, specifically a helicopter pilot,” Andrea Lopez said. “I took her to Green River College to see the aviation degree program options and on a fieldtrip to the King County Airport to meet some of the staff and learn about careers in aviation. She was so excited when she heard about the possibility of working at the King County Airport as an intern to help with the Blue Angels arrival.”
Ana Lopez started July 27 for a two-week assignment.
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