The Port of Seattle and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have signed a runway use letter of agreement that spells out how the FAA assigns aircraft to each Sea-Tac International Airport runway in different weather and traffic conditions, both on arrival and departure.
A non-technical summary of the agreement is available at www.portseattle.org/community/environment/runwayplan.shtml.
According to Port officials, the agreement is in direct response to the Highline community's request to better understand how the FAA assigns aircraft to Sea-Tac's three runways. The Port operates the airport.
The Port staffers also say the agreement will help maintain consistency in how the runways are used as well as help ensure the runways are used as outlined in the third runway's environmental impact statement and give residents greater assurance that the airport is operating as intended.
The ongoing Part 150 noise study will serve as the vehicle for the agreement's next steps in monitoring runway usage and keeping the public informed, according to Port officials.
Reports on the noise study and a summary of the Oct. 27 public workshop are also available at www.airportsites.net/SEA-Part150.