Published July 2005

Statewide study could decide
Paine Field's future

Aviation is a major part of the Snohomish County economy, from the Boeing Co.'s giant airliner plant at Paine Field and the company's global market to Arlington Airport's annual Northwest EAA Fly-In event that draws 50,000 visitors a year for aircraft displays and aerobatic performances.

The county's airports support a number of flying instruction and aircraft maintenance services, tool shops and metal fabrication enterprises for the airline industry, helicopter companies, hundreds of general aviation and corporate aircraft and scores of other aviation- and non-aviation-related businesses.

Many companies move to Snohomish County, or expand operations here, because of the presence of these airports, particularly Paine Field — the Snohomish County Airport — and Arlington Airport. In fact, one of the most contentious issues in the county currently is evaluating the feasibility of commercial airline service from Paine Field to relieve congestion at Sea-Tac International and provide an option for travelers who now have to navigate 60 miles of traffic congestion to use Sea-Tac's airlines.

In May, in an attempt to resolve differences between those who want to expand Paine Field's aviation services and those who live close to the airfield and want to block air carrier services because of the perceived noise problems, Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon established a committee to review the issues.

He appointed Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson, a supporter of the expanded services, and Mukilteo Mayor Don Doran, who opposes establishing any air carrier services, to join him as co-chairs in conducting a review of the 1978 Mediated Role Determination that "discourages" but does not prohibit passenger and air cargo services from being added at Paine Field.

Although it does, in fact, encourage expansion of aviation-related industries, business aviation and even air taxi and commuter service while discouraging air cargo and charter air passenger services, the document that has guided Paine Field development for almost 30 years needs to be reviewed, updated and clarified on many points, Reardon said.

But there is now a new element involved that may have even more impact on Paine Field's future development. A new statewide study of all airports, ordered by the last session of the state Legislature, may have the final answer to the question of whether Paine Field will become a secondary regional airfield to serve the Puget Sound region's growing economy — an economy that is increasingly dependent upon having adequate aviation facilities for support, particularly needed airports.

Over the next two years, Washington state's entire airport network — 141 city, county, public port, private and state-owned airfields — will be the focus of a legislative-directed study that could lead to significant changes, including development of new airports or enlarging the role of existing facilities.

The push for that legislation began with lawmakers' increasing concerns that the state needs to do better at creating and maintaining the needed capacity for a variety of aviation-related operations. The study will include identifying where new airports may be needed, or which older ones may need upgrading to fill gaps in the network, with a specific emphasis on the development of commercial aviation in the state.

Statewide, airports fulfill essential roles for both commercial and general aviation, roles that contribute to the state's economic strength and growth, as well as providing important facilities for flying opportunities, incubation space for new businesses and search-and-rescue operations.

The Aviation Division of the state's Department of Transportation will lead the study, which is "a completely new approach by the Legislature to find out what we have in the state system and compare it to what we will need in the future," said division spokesperson Nisha Hanchinamani in Arlington. "We'll be looking at the entire system to see where we have capacity (to grow) and what needs there are to fill. The study will be tied to such aspects as economic development," she said.

First, there will be an assessment of current abilities, including such things as an analysis of passenger and air cargo facilities, involving both commercial and general aviation; the condition of each airport; available facilities and services, including fixed base operators, fuel services and ground services; and existing airspace capacity.

A year from now, the assessment report will be submitted to the "appropriate standing committees of the Legislature, the governor, transportation commission and regional transportation organizations."

After the assessment, the Aviation Division will conduct an analysis of the data by July 2007, paying particular attention to the aviation system's capacity issues and potential marketing elements — including forecasts of passenger and freight facility needs over the next 25 years.

An even more detailed analysis of those issues will be developed for the Puget Sound, southwest Washington, Spokane and Tri-Cities regions. At a minimum, the analysis must address a forecast of future airport facility needs to meet the growing demand for passenger and air cargo operations, airline planning, aviation trends and demographic, geographic and market factors affecting future air travel demand.

The analysis also will determine when the state's existing commercial service airports will reach their capacity, how the research of regional transportation planning organizations can help, the role of the Federal Aviation Administration and how airport sponsors can help identify and address future aviation needs.

In mid-2007, the Aviation Division will submit its analysis to the Legislature and other government officials and agencies. Primary attention in the study's recommendations will be given to those airports or regions that will reach capacity at their aviation facilities before the year 2030.

Once the two years of data gathering and analysis are finished, depending on funding from the Legislature, the governor "shall appoint an aviation planning council" consisting of the director of the Aviation Division; the director of the Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development; a member of the state transportation commission, who will become chairman of the council; and two members of the general public familiar with airport issues, including the impact of airports on communities. One of them will be from Western Washington and the other from Eastern Washington.

The council also will have a technical expert who is familiar with FAA airspace and control issues, a commercial airport operator, a member of the growth management hearings board, a representative of the Washington airport management association and an airline representative.

Together, members of the council will make recommendations to government committees about how to best meet statewide commercial and general aviation capacity need, including determining the placement of future commercial and general aviation airport facilities needed to improve aviation services in the state. The council will include public opinion in making its final recommendations.

It is that statewide airport study that seems most likely to determine the future role of Paine Field in the state's aviation and economic development programs, a study that will take a broader view of the airport's future than the Snohomish County study of the aging "mediation" agreement.

Hopefully, the final decision will see a recommendation for a more fully developed aviation asset — Paine Field — that already has proven itself to be "the airport of choice" and an economic "gem" in the county's treasure chest of developable assets for the good of the overall county economy.

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