MY EVERETT NEWS

Update: 7:45am March 13: According to Matt Cawby of the Paine Field Blog the crew of the Dreamlifter yesterday felt an abnormal vibration at takeoff and lost hydraulic power. you can hear the conversation between the Dreamlifter pilot and Boeing here.

A Boeing Dreamlifter had to declare an emergency shortly after take-off at Everett’s Paine Field this afternoon. Matt Cawby of the blog KPAE Paine Field shared the conversation between the Dreamlifter pilot and the Tower. He also live tweeted the event here. The pilot declared an emergency and spent about an hour dumping fuel south of the airport before doing a slow fly by of the Paine Field Control Tower. Once the tower got a good look at the gear the plane swung around made a safe landing. Above are several photos I took of the fly by and landing. No word yet on what caused the issue with the Dreamlifter.

Congressman Rick Larsen wants Paine Field Tower to stay open

We told you back on February 23rd that there was a possibility that the air traffic control tower at Everett’s Paine Field might close due to budget cuts. Today Congressman Rick Larsen sent the FAA a letter urging them to keep the tower open. Here’s a copy of the letter…

March 6, 2013

The Honorable Michael P. Huerta

Administrator

Federal Aviation Administration

800 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, DC 20591

Dear Administrator Huerta:

I am concerned about the potential closure of the air traffic control tower at Paine Field in Everett, Washington. While I understand that the air traffic control tower at Paine Field does not fall into the first round of closures, notices from FAA have indicated that it could be slated to close this year.

Both in your February 27, 2013, testimony before the House Aviation Subcommittee and in your letter dated March 5, 2013, to airports participating in the FAA Contract Tower program, you indicated that your agency is working to “identify any locations where the national interest would be adversely affected by tower closure.” I believe that Paine Field fits this criteria.

The national aerospace economy is concentrated in the Northwest, and Paine Field plays an important role at the center of that economy. While Paine Field supports a vibrant General Aviation operation, it also serves as the platform for a huge portion of the region’s economy. As the home to the largest facility for The Boeing Company—the only air transport manufacturer in the United States and the nation’s largest exporter—Paine Field serves as an important national asset. Aviation Technical Services (ATS) is also located at Paine Field, and is the largest third-party aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul operation in North America. Much of their business with large aircraft necessitates a control tower in order to ensure the highest level of safety.

The production, transportation and repair of large airplanes need a fully operating air traffic control tower. Closure of the air traffic control tower at Paine Field would significantly limit Paine Field’s ability to support the cornerstone of the Pacific Northwest aviation economy and would hurt the national economy by impacting the operations of the country’s largest exporter.

I appreciate your continued leadership during difficult budget circumstances, and I look forward to continuing to work with you to ensure that our aviation system remains the safest and most efficient in the world.

Sincerely,

Rick Larsen

Ranking Member

Subcommittee on Aviation

Paine Field may shut down in April.

Paine Field in Everett is among the airports in Washington State marked for closure if the government shuts down due to budget issues. In a letter to airline and airport operators around the country Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said the FAA is considering closing air traffic control towers at airports with fewer than 150,000 flight operations or 10,000 commercial operations per year. While closure of Everett’s Paine Field is simply one of the measures the FAA is considering, it may help the proponents of commercial service at Paine Field argue that increased commercial service will keep the airport from facing future threats of closure.

Here’s the full press release from the FAA website on the possible closures:

To prepare for the possibility of a budget sequestration on March 1, 2013, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is making plans to reduce its expenditures by approximately $600 million for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2013.

Among the changes we are considering are furloughing the vast majority of our 47,000 employees for approximately one day per pay period; closing over 100 air traffic control facilities; eliminating the overnight shift at over 60 facilities; and reducing preventive maintenance and support for all air traffic control equipment. All of these changes will be finalized as to scope and details through collaborative discussions with our users and our unions.

We will begin furloughs and start facility shut-downs in April. You can read more about this process in this letter from Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and FAA Administrator Michael Huerta (PDF).

The lists of affected facilities can be viewed here:

• Facilities Where Overnight Shifts Could be Eliminated (PDF)
• Air Traffic Control Facilities That Could be Closed (PDF)

Hundreds of airplane fans are in Everett this weekend

Airplane Fans from all over the world are coming to Aviation Geek Fest 13 in Everett and the Puget Sound this weekend. More than 400 tickets have been sold to the event which features tours of various aircraft related attractions around the greater Everett-Seattle area. According to the Twitter Feed for the event, #AGF13, the person who came the farthest to be here traveled 4500 miles. Events on tap for Saturday include a tour of Boeing’s 737 assembly line in Renton and special events at the Museum of Flight at Boeing Field while Sunday’s activities are centered around the Future of Flight at Paine Field and a special tour of the Everett Boeing Plant. It’s just another example of the economic impact that aerospace has on Everett. Hope they enjoy their stay.

Aaron Reardon’s Facebook page talks of Paine Field progress

It wasn’t an official press release from his office but Friday evening, the following was posted on Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon’s Facebook Page…

Yesterday Alaska Airlines announced its planned routes for flights from Snohomish County’s Paine Field. Unless otherwise directed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Snohomish County will proceed with plans for the development of a commercial air terminal at Paine Field as required by federal law.
However the county’s elected officials personally feel about the decision of the FAA to allow passenger service at Paine Field, it is essential that Snohomish County ensure all requirements under federal law are met. It remains our responsibility to protect the county and its assets from all risks. The county has the legal obligation as directed by the FAA to proceed and make Paine Field available for public use without unjust discrimination.
The county has been patient and forthright in our approach throughout this process. We advocated for an extensive public-comment period and supported a thorough analysis of the potential impacts. To date, more than $500,000 has been spent by the FAA studying the issues raised. We have been and will continue to be prudent and responsible in all matters relating to commercial service at Paine Field.
The FAA previously concluded in its environmental assessment with a finding of ‘no significant impact.’ Unless otherwise directed by the FAA, Alaska’s announcement has no impact on how the county is obligated to proceed.
Regardless of personal perspectives that exist among the county’s elected officials and community organizations, it is my hope that parties on both sides of this issue understand that our responsibility is to protect the county and its assets.

Wanna Fly from Everett to Maui?

Alaska Airlines has apparently had a change of heart and now is expressing interest in flying from Everett. Here’s a press release issued earlier today from the airline.

Alaska Airlines is working with the Federal Aviation Administration to add Paine Field in Everett, Wash., as an authorized airport for the carrier’s operations. This is a required step if the carrier were to begin jet service out of the regional airport at some point in the future. As required by its application, Alaska Airlines is providing the FAA with a proposed schedule over the next five years that could include 28 round-trip jet flights a week.

“We continue to believe that our flights at Sea-Tac Airport and in Bellingham best serve the Puget Sound region’s needs for affordable air travel, particularly in light of the significant investments both airports have made recently to improve their facilities,” said Andrew Harrison, Alaska Airlines’ vice president of planning and revenue management. “That said, if one or more other airlines begin operations at Paine Field, we would commence service alongside these carriers. Submitting a schedule with the FAA along with a request for authorization to serve Paine is a necessary step in the process.”

Alaska Airlines’ proposed schedule in the first year of operations would include 14 weekly round-trip flights to Las Vegas, Honolulu and Maui, Hawaii, using Boeing 737-800 jet aircraft. Alaska would also fly 21 weekly round-trip flights to Portland, Ore., with Bombardier Q400 turboprop aircraft. Not all destinations would be served daily.

By the fifth year of operations, Alaska would fly 49 weekly round-trip flights. This would include 28 round-trips to Las Vegas, Honolulu, Maui, Los Angeles, Phoenix and San Diego with 737-800s, plus 21 weekly round-trips to Portland using Q400s.

Alaska Airlines informed the FAA that these proposed schedules could change depending on competitors, business and economic factors, and the needs of its customers. The carrier is also seeking information from the FAA about any necessary environmental review of its proposed schedule, given a pending legal challenge to the agency’s approval of commercial air service at Paine Field in December.

Alaska Airlines operates about 1,750 weekly round-trip flights at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, located 42 miles south of Paine Field, and up to 63 weekly round-trip flights at Bellingham International Airport, which is approximately a one-hour drive north of Everett.

Paine Field currently has no adequate passenger terminal, which would need to be built before operations by any airline could begin.

Summary of proposed service for the first year — 35 round-trip flights a week:

City pair Weekly Frequency Aircraft

Everett-Honolulu 4 flights on a 737-800

Everett-Las Vegas 7 flights on a 737-800

Everett-Maui 3 flights on a 737-800

Everett-Portland 21 flights on a Q400

Summary of proposed service by the fifth year — 49 round-trip flights a week:

City pair Weekly Frequency Aircraft

Everett-Honolulu 4 flights on a 737-800

Everett-Las Vegas 7 flights on a 737-800

Everett-Los Angeles 7 flights on a 737-800

Everett-Maui 3 flights on a 737-800

Everett-Phoenix 4 flights on a 737-800

Everett-Portland 21 flights on a Q400

Everett-San Diego 3 flights on a 737-800