All air traffic will be directed to the other two runways during this reconstruction (including the new third runway), which is expected to last through September.

Portions of Sea-Tac’s longest and oldest runway date back to the airport’s original creation in 1947.

According to the Port:

“Major overhaul is required due to age and deterioration. The result will provide a safer surface and infrastructure expected to last at least 40 years.”

In addition, a new Runway Status Lights System, which signals to pilots when it is safe to cross or take off on a runway, will be installed.

The closure will not affect airline flight schedules or passengers.

However, the increased use of the third runway will likely result in more noise complaints.

Popularity: 48% [?]

If you live or work near Sea-Tac Airport, you may have noticed an increase in large air cargo jet traffic recently.

With the Anchorage airport intermittently closed due to ash fall from the Mt. Redoubt volcano, international cargo carriers are diverting their refueling stops to Sea-Tac, in some cases with three times more arrivals than normal, with more diversions expected if conditions persist.

During the first four days of the eruption, 45 cargo aircraft have diverted here, primarily large widebody 747 aircraft from three major Asian cargo carriers (Korean Air Cargo, EVA Air Cargo, and China Airlines Cargo). Normal operations for these carriers at Sea-Tac would see two to three air cargo arrivals per day or about 15 per week. However, the first four days of diversions (Mon.-Thursday, 3/23/26), brought 10 -15 arrivals per day, or nearly the equivalent of an entire week’s schedule for these international carriers. Sea-Tac staff is expecting another 30 or more diversions from these carriers in the next two days.

“Our staff is rising to the challenge to accommodate our cargo customers in this unusual situation,” said Sea-Tac Airport Director of Airport Operations Mike Ehl. “We are making every inch of our facilities available to keep the economic engine of goods flowing without an impact on regular passenger traffic.”

Anchorage is a major refueling stop for aircraft in an out of Asia. The volcano eruption has made it extremely hazardous for aircraft to arrive in Anchorage, thus, Sea-Tac has become the next closest refueling spot for these aircraft. These trans-Pacific cargo flights must refuel along the west coast to reach inland locations such as Chicago, New York, and Atlanta. The same is true in the opposite direction returning to Asia.

Overall, Sea-Tac receives 85-90 air cargo flights per week including domestic traffic. Sea-Tac Airport is ranked as the 19th largest airport in the U.S. in terms of cargo volume, with more than 290,000 metric tons shipped by air in 2008.

Popularity: 49% [?]

The Port of Seattle announced Wednesday that Icelandair will begin serving Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on July 22nd.

The airline will provide connecting flights to 18 European cities, via its hub in Reykjavik, Iceland.

“It’s my great pleasure to announce this new service,” said Port of Seattle Commission President Bill Bryant. “Sea-Tac generates more than 160,000 jobs in King and Pierce counties, and this new service strengthens our airport and helps us to keep these jobs.”

Icelandair will be the only Nordic carrier serving the West Coast and it will provide a strong connecting gateway to Europe. The airline touts an all-Boeing fleet and will serve Sea-Tac Airport with a 183-seat Boeing 757.

“We look forward to partnering with the Port of Seattle to serve its passengers, especially the large Scandinavian population in this region,” said Thorsteinn Egilsson, Icelandair’s General Manager – The Americas.

Icelandair will provide four flights a week, departing on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays at 3:30 p.m., and arriving in Reykjavik at 6:45 a.m. Nonstop connections through the Reykjavik hub will include flights to Copenhagen, Oslo, Stavanger, Stockholm, Paris, London, Manchester, Amsterdam, Berlin, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Munich, Barcelona, Madrid, and more. For more information about Icelandair, fares, and packages go to www.icelandair.com.

“We’re excited to welcome new and returning travelers from Iceland and Europe,” said Tom Norwalk, President & CEO of Seattle’s Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We look forward to working in partnership with Icelandair to jointly market Seattle and Washington State for many years to come.”

Within the United States, Icelandair provides service from Boston, New York-JFK, Minneapolis-St. Paul and Orlando. The airline offers travelers personal entertainment centers and three service cabins (including new Economy Comfort Class).

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is the 18th busiest airport in the U.S., serving more than 32 million passengers in 2008. In the past few years, the Port of Seattle has celebrated the addition of several new international carriers, including Air France, AeroMexico, Lufthansa, and Hainan airlines.

For more information about airlines serving Sea-Tac Airport go to www.portseattle.org/seatac.

For more info on Icelandair, click here.

Popularity: 56% [?]

According to various sources, someone aimed a laser beam Tuesday night (March 24th) around 8pm at an Alaska Airlines flight making its landing approach in to Sea-Tac Airport.

Previously we reported about a 24-year old Burien man who was arrested and then released on March 11th; he is considered a “person of interest” in this incident, according to airport spokeswoman Terri-Ann Betancourt.

In Tuesday night’s incident, a laser was pointed at Alaska Airlines flight number 487 from San Diego about two miles northwest of the airport, in the same area where other planes had been targeted previously.

The targeted aircraft landed without incident, as had all previously-targeted airplanes.

Police are currently investigating this incident.

Shining a laser at an aircraft is considered a felony, and is punishable under the Patriot Act.

Popularity: 59% [?]

9:30pm 3/8/09 UPDATE: The Burien man arrested in connection with the recent spate of laser-flashing of airplanes has been identified as Christopher C. Saunders, 24.

Saunders was apprehended around 4pm Friday and booked into King County jail for first-degree unlawful discharge of a laser, which is a felony.

In court on Saturday, Saunders was ordered to be held on $100,000 bail.

Police claim they found a laser at Saunders’ apartment, located near the area where the suspect green laser beam originated.

Numerous airplanes had been targeted by lasers over the past month near Sea-Tac Airport, including four incidents last Wednesday, one last Sunday, and another dozen in February.

Port of Seattle police detectives are still investigating the case. Anyone who has information are encouraged to contact Port of Seattle Police Detectives at 206-433-4621.

PREVIOUSLY: Port of Seattle Police confirmed the arrest of a 24-year old Burien resident for suspicion of Unlawful Discharge of a Laser – 1st Degree, a Class “C” felony.

The arrest occurred Friday, March 6th at about 4pm, and the identity of the suspect has not yet been released.

This arrest is related to the recent “lasering” incidents of aircraft at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. A laser was seized from the suspect, who was booked into the King County jail.

Port of Seattle Police Detectives are continuing their investigation, and anyone who has information relating to these aircraft lasering incidents is encouraged to contact Port of Seattle Police Detectives at 206-433-4621.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

• Another Laser Incident Near SeaTac Wed. Night
• Second Laser vs Airplane Incident Near Sea-Tac
• Laser Pointed At Numerous Aircraft Near SeaTac

Popularity: 59% [?]

According to KOMO News, the green laser culprits were out again Wednesday night (Mar. 4th), aiming their dangerous, blinding devices at four different incoming airplanes around 9pm.

It appears that authorities may be closing in this time – apparently the beam originated from near SW 136th street on the north side of the airport, and King County cops have blanketed the area.

This is the third laser-related incident near SeaTac in the last three weeks, and the crime of pointing a laser at an airplane is considered a felony under the PATRIOT Act for interfering with aircraft pilots.

If you have any information about this, please contact Port of Seattle Police immediately at 206-431-3490.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

• Second Laser vs Airplane Incident Near Sea-Tac
• Laser Pointed At Numerous Aircraft Near SeaTac

Popularity: 60% [?]

For the second Sunday night in a row, a green laser light was aimed at an incoming airplane.

Sunday’s incident happened around 7:30pm, when a beam struck a Horizon Airlines flight coming in for a landing at Sea-Tac Airport. The green laser apparently origination north of Boeing Field.

The culprit could face some serious time, as the crime of pointing a laser at an airplane is considered a felony under the PATRIOT Act for interfering with aircraft pilots.

Plus, these things can temporarily blind pilots, and everyone knows that’s a bad idea.

Last Sunday, 13 different pilots reported laser incidents, and last month, someone pointed one at police aircraft near Fife.

Kids…come on – do you realize how serious a crime this is? Do the words “Patriot Act” or “Felony” mean anything to you?

If you have any information about this serious offense, please contact Port of Seattle Police immediately at 206-431-3490.

Popularity: 64% [?]

Have you wondered about the work of a Port police officer?

The Port of Seattle Police Department is offering a unique opportunity to learn up close about the many challenges facing local law enforcement. It’s called “Citizens Academy” and consists of a once-a-week, 10-week program offered at Sea-Tac Airport.

Classes will be held Wednesdays, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon, March 4 thru May 6.

Police officers and civilian personnel who are experts in their fields teach the classes at the Citizens Academy. Each instructor has years of training and street experience, providing insights not ordinarily available to those outside the department.

Subjects include: patrol, community policing, recruitment and training, domestic violence, narcotics, dispatch, investigations, crimes scene analysis, SWAT, explosive detection and narcotics detection K-9 and the bomb squad.

All classes are free of charge and open to the public.

Want to participate? You’ll need:

The ability to commit to attending a two-hour weekly class for ten weeks

A background check

Ready to Apply? Print and fill out the attached application (PDF, requires Adobe Acrobat) and return it to

FAX: (206) 248-7134

or Mail:

Port of Seattle Police
Attn: Citizens Academy
PO Box 68727
Seattle, WA 98168

For more information, please contact Officer Dan Breed, breed.d@portseattle.org, or Officer Kyle Yoshimura at yoshimura.k@portseattle.org.

Popularity: 52% [?]

Seven south King County cities, including SeaTac, announced Thursday their plans to build a 668-bed misdemeanor jail in neighboring Des Moines.

The cities on board this venture, which is called the South Correctional Entity (or “SCORE,” not to be confused with the small business advisors “SCORE”), include:

• SeaTac
• Des Moines
• Tukwila
• Burien
• Federal Way
• Renton
• Auburn

SCORE is hoping to open this new jail in mid-2011 to replace jail space that will no longer be provided by the county. The seven cities will team up to handle all operations of the new facility.

From a press release, here’s a quote from SeaTac Mayor Ralph Shape:

“Meeting the public safety needs of our residents while keeping costs down is our number one goal. SCORE meets that need.”

The entity has hired a consulting firm, which proposed that the area will need nearly 700 additional jail cells by 2026, and that cities could reduce costs by working together.

The preferred site for the new jail is near Des Moines Creek Park, on a 14-acre parcel owned by the Port of Seattle located southwest of where South 208th intersects with 18th Ave South (see map below).

Next steps in this project is the permitting process, which will also allow for public comments and review; here’s more info from the SCORE website:

SCORE is currently seeking applicants for the Community Outreach Team.

The Community Outreach Team will work with SCORE to address community concerns and questions.

If you are interested in participating, send your letter of interest to:

SCORE Outreach Team
1055 South Grady Way
Renton, WA 98057

Priority will be given to:

• Applicants that live in the cities of Des Moines or Tukwila
• Applicants that live west of 18th Avenue South
• Applicants that live South of 200th Street
• Applicants that live north of 216th Street

Questions and Comments can be e-mailed to SCOREjail@rentonwa.gov

A public meeting on this jail is scheduled for Wednesday, March 25th at 8:30am at the Renton City Hall.

So…what are your thoughts on having a new jail in our area?

Please Comment below the map…

View Larger Map

Popularity: 54% [?]

Sea-Tac Airport’s Managing Director Mark Reis testified in Washington, DC Tuesday (Feb. 24th) on behalf of Sea-Tac and Airports Council International–North America (ACI-NA) before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Subcommittee on Aviation on ‘Wildlife Strikes—How Airports are Helping to Manage the Risks.”

“Airports have been working over almost five decades to reduce these [wildlife hazard] risks [to aviation safety] within the confines of multiple federal, state, and local laws and regulations,” Reis told the Subcommittee. “Since 1977, Sea-Tac has made progress in reducing the attractiveness of the airport for wildlife habitation, while restoring much of the areas naturally occurring hydrologic and ecological functions.”

Reis noted that airports are required to have a qualified wildlife biologist conduct a wildlife hazard assessment in the event that an air carrier aircraft ingests wildlife into its engines, is substantially damaged by a wildlife strike, or experiences multiple wildlife strikes, or wildlife are observed in a manner that could cause an aircraft to experience one of those situations. The FAA reviews the assessment and determines whether the airport must develop a wildlife hazard management plan, which becomes a part of the operator’s Airport Certification Manual. These plans contain specific actions that an airport will undertake to attempt to minimize or eliminate wildlife hazards and must include a training program conducted by qualified experts to provide airport staff with the knowledge and skills needed to implement the management plan.

Avian radar systems will soon be evaluated at Chicago O’Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, and John F. Kennedy International Airports. According to Reis, as it currently operates today, avian radar is not yet the “silver bullet” as it detects too much bird activity, meaning airports need to determine what information is best to pass on immediately to the air traffic controllers.

Reis told the Subcommittee, “Airports would benefit from having stronger, federally-mandated mechanisms to control land uses in the vicinity of their airports. Laws limit the ability of airports to modify or eliminate attractive habitats on or near airports, even if similar habitat could be provided elsewhere. These issues have had a stifling effect on airport efforts to control hazardous wildlife around the country.”

Reis noted that going forward, the continued development of promising technologies, improved coordination between airports and local developers, closer coordination for wetland and stormwater mitigation for airports, and harmonization of federal, state, and local wildlife management restrictions may reduce these risks further.

However, he stressed that airports need funding to implement and maintain effective wildlife management programs.

“The FAA can provide critically important funding for setting up these programs. However, the ongoing operating costs associated with these programs must be funded by operating budgets, which are already under considerable strain due to the current economic crisis.”

Here’s a video showing Sea-Tac’s Wildlife Biologist Steve Osmek in action trying to scare birds away:

Popularity: 46% [?]