The Port of Seattle announced Monday (July 12) that, due to requests received at the last workshop, they’re holding a technical session on the “Part 150″ airport noise study on Thursday, July 29th from 12:30pm – 1:30pm at Sea-Tac Airport.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Port of Seattle “Part 150″ Technical Session.

WHEN: Thursday, July 29th from 12:30pm – 1:30pm.

WHERE: Sea-Tac Airport’s Office Building’s Beijing Conference Room on the mezzanine level.

INFO: To download the session agenda, click here (PDF file).

From a press release:

In response to requests at the last Part 150 Noise Compatibility Public Workshop, a technical session regarding detailed noise modeling and input data topics will be held on July 29 from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM at Sea-Tac Airport. Led by Vince Mestre, the Part 150′s noise analyst task leader, the meeting will be held in the Airport Office Building’s Beijing Conference Room on the mezzanine level.

Participants at the session will have the opportunity to discuss the mathematics and detailed data used to measure as well as model aircraft noise levels in the vicinity of Sea-Tac Airport. Participants will also discuss sound propagation effects associated with different types of meteorology. The discussions will be informal and focus on questions raised by the participants.

The comprehensive report from the June 9th public workshop is now available at Sea-Tac Airport’s Part 150 Web site.

Popularity: 1% [?]

On Monday (April 12) the Better Business Bureau announced that it had discovered that counterfeit BBB complaint notices are being sent out to businesses across the country from the email address “seatac@bbb.org.”

According to the BBB, several businesses across the U.S. (including law firms, advertising agencies and architecture firms) have reported receiving a suspicious e-mail from this fake email address. The subject line says “BBB Complaint Case #… (Ref #…).” Each one comes with a nine-digit case number and a 21-digit reference number.

The body of the e-mail claims that the company did not respond to a complaint filed by a consumer named Jason Harlow. E-mails contain a link that says “please click here to access the complaint.” Those who hover over the link will find that it goes to ca-bbb.org, a fake BBB Web site page that has been suspended and is currently unavailable.

Here’s a screenshot of the actual e-mail:

Click image to see large version.

Here’s more info from the BBB on this incident:

Both BBB Accredited and non-Accredited businesses have been targeted.

“Part of BBB’s role in the marketplace is to be a trusted third-party, which involves sending correspondence and informing businesses of complaints and compliments from consumers. It’s really unnerving that someone is trying to defraud our system,” said Robert W.G. Andrew, CEO of BBB serving Alaska, Oregon and Western Washington. “We want business owners to feel like they can trust all communications coming from our organization, which is why we are taking steps to stop unauthorized imitators.”

BBB Of Alaska, Oregon and Western Washington does not:

• Refer to itself as “Seatac BBB.”
• Send complaints to businesses outside of its service area. Based on where they are located, businesses can expect to hear from their local BBB only. For example, your BBB would not send a complaint notice to a company located in any state other than Alaska, Oregon, or Western Washington.
• Send e-mails requesting private information. Do not provide personal details or payment information via unsolicited e-mail.

Businesses that receive suspicious e-mails claiming to be from BBB should take the following steps:

• Do not click on any links or reply to the message.
• Forward it to phishing@council.bbb.org and delete it from your inbox.
• Run a virus scan on your computer.

Businesses are encouraged to verify the legitimacy of BBB e-mails: If you receive an e-mail from Better Business Bureau about a complaint and need assistance in determining if it is legitimate, contact your BBB directly at 206-431-2222 or e-mail info@thebbb.org.

For more advice on how to protect your business from malicious online attacks and data breaches, visit www.bbb.org/data-security.

Popularity: 1% [?]

There will be a special Recycling Event on Saturday, April 10th from 9am to 3pm at the Tyee Educational Complex in SeaTac for King County residents.

Residents will be allowed to recycle bigger items at this event, like appliances, scrap metal, batteries, refrigerators, freezers and much more.

This event will be held at what was once Tyee High School, located at 4424 S. 188th Street in SeaTac.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Special Recycling Event for King County residents.

WHEN: Saturday, April 10th from 9am – 3pm.

WHERE: Tyee Educational Complex, located at 4424 S. 188th Street in SeaTac.

INFO: People will be allowed to recycle the following items:

• APPLIANCES & SCRAP METALS: Washers, dryers, stoves, hot water tanks, empty bbqs, lawnmowers, microwaves, auto parts, cast iron, steel. Remove all fuels. No car bodies. No air conditioners/items with chemicals.
• BATTERIES: Car, truck and marine lead acid batteries. Household alkaline, rechargeable and button batteries. Please sort large quantities by type.
• ALL FLUORESCENT TUBES/BULBS: Limit 10 per vehicle.
• OIL, OIL FILTERS & ANTIFREEZE: Motor oil, oil filters, diesel fuel, kerosene, antifreeze, transmission & steering fluids. Do not mix fluids. No gas or brake fluid.
• REFRIGERATORS & FREEZERS: $20 fee for each – cash only.
• TIRES: Auto & motorcycle tires. Tires with rims allowed, Maximum tire diameter – 18″.
• CLOTHING & HOUSEHOLD ITEMS:Clothing (all types, sizes) & reusable household “as is” items. No furniture or items needing repair. If not accepted, you must take them back. Donations benefit NWC. Tax receipts available.
• NO COMMERCIAL LOADS ALLOWED.

Popularity: 1% [?]

On Saturday morning (Dec. 19th) at 10am, Sound Transit opened its Link light rail service to SeaTac with lots of ceremony, local dignitaries, curious passengers, and of course, functioning trains that now link the airport to downtown Seattle.

The first 14 miles of light rail opened from downtown Seattle to Tukwila in July. This final segment from Tukwila to SeaTac / Airport Station, built under a close partnership with the Port of Seattle, connects the airport from downtown with 13 stops serving the SeaTac, Tukwila, Rainier Valley, Beacon Hill, SODO to the final stop at Westlake.

“It’s been a heck of a journey, but we delivered on what we promised: light rail from downtown Seattle to the airport in 2009,” said Seattle Mayor and Sound Transit Board Chair Greg Nickels. “This opens an entirely new option for travelers and commuters, and represents the first steps of a truly regional network.”

Service on the 1.7-mile extension line kicked off with an inaugural ribbon cutting at the SeaTac / Airport Station before the station and trains opened for regular passenger service at 10am, and Photographer Michael Brunk was there to capture this Photo Slideshow:

Click to View Michael Brunk’s Photo Slideshow

“Opening the doors to Sound Transit’s airport line in time for the holidays is great gift to residents of the Puget Sound region,” said U.S. Sen. Patty Murray. “This new line will provide fast and easy connections to downtown Seattle and a low-cost way to get around. This is just the latest in environmentally friendly transportation that will help ensure our region’s long-term economic growth.”

Sound Transit and the Port of Seattle collaborated on the Airport Link project which included the new light rail station, pedestrian bridges connecting the station to the airport parking garage and a pick-up and drop-off area to the east serving the city of SeaTac. The Port also relocated and upgraded the Airport Expressway and the Return-to-Terminal roadway loop.

“With more than 30 million passengers through Sea-Tac every year, and 15,000 airport employees, we anticipate light rail will be a welcome “green” alternative for travel to and from the airport,” said Port of Seattle Commissioner John Creighton. “Using light rail will reduce air emissions and traffic congestion. It’s good for the airport and it’s good for our region.”

The next light rail extension is scheduled to open in 2016 with service from downtown Seattle to Capitol Hill and the University of Washington. Construction is underway on that segment while Sound Transit plans for 36 more miles of light rail extensions to Lynnwood, Bellevue, Redmond, Mercer Island and Federal Way by 2023.

Link’s normal Saturday schedule will be from 5 a.m. – 1 a.m. with regular fares required. On weekdays, the first train from the airport to downtown will depart at 5:16 a.m. and the last one to downtown will leave at 12:07 a.m. The last train to Mt. Baker Station in the Rainier Valley departs at 12:46 a.m.

More detailed schedule and fare information is here: http://www.soundtransit.org/x11204.xml.

Popularity: 1% [?]

You can now get free wi-fi at Sea-Tac Airport, courtesy of Google, which announced Tuesday that it is now sponsoring free wireless access at 47 airports around the US.

Sea-Tac’s free offer (along with Burbank Airport), are considered “indefinite,” while the others are scheduled to expire Jan. 15, 2010.

According to the Google Free Wi-Fi website:

When you’re traveling this holiday season, you can enjoy free WiFi at 47 participating airports and on every Virgin America flight. Just bring a WiFi-enabled laptop or mobile device and stay connected to family and friends for free while you travel now through January 15, 2010.

The promotion, in cooperation with three wireless carriers, is clearly a marketing effort to use free Wi-Fi to boost the Google brand.

Just be careful when logging on though – many hackers have set up “Free Wi-Fi” networks in public places, so make sure you’re actually hopping on board the Google one.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Sea-Tac Airport is re-opening a new, larger Cell Phone Waiting Lot at 9am on Monday, July 27th, just north of the old lot on Air Cargo Road

This new lot includes nearly 100 spaces for vehicles, doubling the size of the old one.

The Cell Phone Waiting Lot is a free service courtesy The Port of Seattle that allows drivers to wait up to 30 minutes until arriving passengers have deplaned, collected luggage and called to be picked up outside of Baggage Claim. Drivers must stay with their vehicles.

The Port cautions however:

“Please be aware there is no parking or waiting allowed on the airport roadway shoulders at any time.”

The previous lot was closed for six weeks in order to facilitate a new air cargo operation in the cargo terminal building next to the lot. The building now houses a number of air cargo airline operations that ship freight of all kinds, including exports of Washington state’s bumper cherry crop. The Port of Seattle estimates lease and cargo related earnings of $40,000 per week from that facility during the closure period, or over $240,000 in total. The new lot was not available to open until Monday.

Driving Directions To the Cell Phone Lot:

• From the Southbound Airport Expressway: Take the Air Cargo Rd./Cell Phone Lot exit, turn right onto 170th, turn right onto Air Cargo Road and follow that road until you see the Cell Phone Waiting Lot on your left.
• From Southbound International Blvd: Turn right onto 170th, turn right onto Air Cargo Road and follow that road until you see the Cell Phone Waiting Lot on your left.

From the Cell Phone Lot to Baggage Claim (Arrivals Drive):
Take a right out of the Cell Phone Lot and make left on Air Cargo Road (sign reads to terminal). Follow signs to Arrivals.

For more information on Sea-Tac Airport’s parking options, visit their website: http://www.portseattle.org/seatac/ground/

Popularity: 1% [?]

By Mark Neuman

There is a certain endearing modesty about Al Haynes, who worked for United Airlines for 35 years, and has lived in the same house near Sea-Tac airport since 1963.

One would never know from the sound or words of this neighborly and unselfish man, that he is one of the heroes, along with his crew, in a horrific plane crash that occurred 20 years ago this Sunday, on July 20, 1989:

We recently spoke with Captain Haynes as he was returning home from a luncheon and heading out to volunteer as a public address announcer at a Little League baseball tournament, something, including umpiring, he has loved doing for years.

On July 19, 1989, United Airlines flight 232, with almost 300 people on board, took off from Denver, heading to Chicago. Captain Haynes, with over 30,000 hours of flight experience, was at the controls.

Things were quite normal. The weather was fine. Nothing seemed wrong with the Douglas DC-10.

Suddenly, a foot-long, pie-shaped piece of fanblade flew off, cutting and destroying all three independent hydraulic systems.

Captain Haynes and his flight crew had only the thrust levers for the two remaining engines to work with, forcing them to make only right turns. As much fuel as possible was dumped and the crew made an emergency landing at Sioux City, Iowa.

Stunningly, 185 people on board survived the cartwheeling, fiery crash landing.

And since then, Haynes’ expertise and experience in handling in-flight emergencies, and the story of United Flight 232, have been constantly sought, with emphasis on addressing professionals in the aviation industry.

“I’ve done about ten talks this year with about four more lined up. I really have cut back.”

His speaking engagements have included instructing new astronauts at the Space Center in Houston

We asked Captain Haynes to comment on the frequently held belief by some over the years that the location of a passenger’s seat on a flight might influence that person’s chance of surviving an emergency landing.

“We had fatalities in every section of the aircraft and we had survivors in every section of the aircraft,” he replied. “It can be a matter of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Al Haynes first moved to Seattle in 1957.

“The airport here was very, very small. It only had about ten gates. Seattle was very friendly and very comfortable. My wife was from Southern California and she fell in love with Seattle, and there was no question we were staying right here.”

Many people thought of Al Haynes this past January when Captain Chesley Sullenberger landed US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River after that aircraft suddenly became disabled just after taking off from from New York’s LaGuardia Airport.

“He did a superb job,” Haynes said of Sullenberger. “And he did it in a very short period of time. He did an outstanding job of making those quick decisions and reacting as fast as he did. The decision was forced upon him, but to make that decision is still tough.”

While the two had never met before, Haynes and Sullenberger have spoken on the phone with each other twice since the Hudson River landing.

We asked Captain Haynes about his flight crew from that fateful day twenty years ago. The crew included First Officer William Records, Flight Engineer Dudley Dvorak, and Dennis Fitch, a United training pilot who happened to be on board.

“Everybody’s in good shape,” Haynes said. “We hope to have a crew reunion sometime this summer.

“There is a bond there, and we try to keep in contact.”

Popularity: 1% [?]

KOMO News reports that Friday night (April 17th) brought another flurry of laser beam pointing incidents of airplanes heading into Sea-Tac Airport for landings.

Four airplanes were targeted, beginning around 8:30pm, and this time the laser was red. Previously a green laser was used.

All airplanes landed safely without incident.

Investigators say that the laser was based in an area 2-3 miles north of the airport, near Glen Acres Golf Course and east of SR-509 (see map below).

Previously, the most recent laser incident happened last Saturday night (April 11th). Lasers have been pointed at over two dozen aircraft since February, and despite arresting and releasing a Burien man in March, police are still investigating.

It’s a felony to point lasers at airplanes, and if you saw anything unusual in that area, or know anything about this incident, please contact Port of Seattle Police immediately at 206-433-5400.

Read the full story here.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

• Has The SeaTac Airplane Laser Pointer Returned?
• Laser Pointer Aimed At Airplane Tuesday Night
• Police Arrest Airplane Laser Suspect
• Another Laser Incident Near SeaTac Wed. Night
• Second Laser vs Airplane Incident Near Sea-Tac
• Laser Pointed At Numerous Aircraft Near SeaTac

View Larger Map

Popularity: 90% [?]

It appears that the airplane laser-pointer has returned, this time Saturday night (4/11) as Alaska Airlines flight #469 was targeted around 8:20pm as it was landing at SeaTac Airport.

This makes over 20 laser incidents since February.

A Burien man was briefly arrested then released last month. He was alleged to have “accidentally” pointed a laser while at a party, but no charges were ever filed.

Pointing a laser at an airplane is not a joke – it’s a felony.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

• Laser Pointer Aimed At Airplane Tuesday Night
• Police Arrest Airplane Laser Suspect
• Another Laser Incident Near SeaTac Wed. Night
• Second Laser vs Airplane Incident Near Sea-Tac
• Laser Pointed At Numerous Aircraft Near SeaTac

SISTER SITE B-TOWN BLOG’S APRIL FOOL’S FAKE INTERVIEW WITH “LASER FLOYD”:

• EXCLUSIVE:B-Town Blog Interviews Laser-Pointing Culprit

Popularity: 67% [?]

Sea-Tac Airport won an award this week from a source you don’t usually associate with airports – PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), which gave them a “Proggy Award” in the Most Progressive Airport category for 2009.

The honor was bestowed upon the airport for its innovative use of bird radar, lasers and pyrotechnics used to deter birds from flying into the paths of airplanes, as well as its full-time staff biologist and more.

Here’s the press release from PETA:

For using radar, lasers, and pyrotechnics to keep birds away from airspace that could put them on a collision course with aircraft, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport has won a PETA Proggy Award in the Most Progressive Airport category. Sea-Tac will receive a framed certificate and will be featured on PETA’s award-winning Web site, PETA.org. PETA’s Proggy Awards (“Proggy” is for “progress”) recognize animal-friendly achievements in commerce and culture.

According to news reports, Sea-Tac employs a staff wildlife biologist and 20 assistants who work to prevent potentially disastrous collisions between rapidly moving aircraft and flocks of slow-moving birds. The airport uses a special radar system to detect flocks of birds and, by observing their flying patterns, identify their species. Once it’s determined that a flock could be on a collision course with an airplane, the wildlife team focuses lasers in the birds’ eyes to mimic a predator. This is usually enough to make the birds change course and fly to a safer area. If the lasers don’t do the trick, the team rolls out the pyrotechnics–explosive shells that are shot into the air. The program has proved effective in protecting both aircraft and birds.

Sea-Tac has also done several things to make the airport less attractive to birds and other animals. It installed netting over storm-water ponds, put in plants that would deter birds from nesting, and installed underground fencing to prevent burrowing animals from reaching runways. Not only is killing birds around airports cruel, it is also ineffective. As long as conditions remain attractive to birds, others will move in to fill the void left by those who are killed.

“Sea-Tac’s program is an effective and compassionate way to handle wildlife around aircraft, and it should be a model for every airport,” says PETA Vice President Daphna Nachminovitch. “We commend Sea-Tac for adopting nonlethal measures that protect airline passengers without hurting birds and other animals.”

For more information about PETA’s work to protect animals, please visit PETA.org.

Popularity: 63% [?]