Paine Field Airport: A Hub Of Nonstop Action

Paine Field Airport, also known as Paine Field, Snohomish County Airport, and Seattle Paine Field International Airport, is a commercial and general aviation airport located in Snohomish County, Washington, about 25 miles north of Seattle. The airport accommodates 24 departures per day and has experienced busy traffic periods, taxi conflicts, and congestion. Paine Field has two runways, with the larger one, 16R/34L, seeing occasional heavy traffic. The airport has a passenger terminal with various transportation options, including bus services, valet parking, and ride-share services. Paine Field has been a hub for light aviation and manufacturing, as well as Boeing operations, serving as a testing and manufacturing centre for various Boeing aircraft.

Paine Field Airport's location and transport links

Paine Field Airport is located in unincorporated Snohomish County, Washington, between the cities of Mukilteo and Everett. It is about 25 miles (40 km) north of Seattle and serves the Seattle metropolitan area. The airport covers 1,315 acres (2.05 sq mi; 5.32 km2) of land.

The airport is easily accessible from locations throughout Puget Sound. It is 20 miles north of downtown Seattle. Passengers can use rental car services, taxis, or ridesharing services like Lyft and Uber for transportation to and from the terminal.

Several bus routes also serve Paine Field Airport. The Everett Transit Route 8 goes directly to the Paine Field Terminal, while the Community Transit Swift Green line goes to 100th Street Station, a 9-minute walk from the terminal. The Community Transit 105 Bus stops at Airport Rd & 100th St SW, also a 9-minute walk from the terminal.

Paine Field Airport is adjacent to the Boeing Everett Factory, the world's largest building by volume. It is the primary assembly location for Boeing's wide-body aircraft, such as the 767 and 777. The airport also houses Aviation Technical Services (ATS), one of the largest aviation maintenance facilities in the nation.

The airport's commercial and military history

Paine Field Airport, also known as Paine Field and Snohomish County Airport, is located in unincorporated Snohomish County, Washington, between the cities of Mukilteo and Everett, about 25 miles (40 km) north of Seattle. The airport was built in 1936 by the Works Progress Administration and began commercial service in 1939.

Commercial History

The airport is owned and operated by Snohomish County, which has signed a lease with Propeller Airports to operate the Seattle Paine Field Air Terminal. The airport terminal building is approximately 30,000 square feet with two gates and is designed to feel more like a lounge, offering amenities like high-speed internet and power at every seat. Paine Field currently accommodates 24 departures per day to destinations in the western US via Alaska Airlines.

In the 1930s, a large commercial airport was planned for Paine Field, envisioned as one of ten new "super airports" around the country. However, with the United States' entry into World War II, the airfield was occupied by the Army Air Corps in 1941 and used for military purposes, including protecting the Bremerton Shipyards and the Boeing plant and airfield in Seattle, which produced B-17 and B-29 bombers. Commercial traffic at the airport came to a halt during the war.

After the war, in 1946, the airfield was returned to civilian control and operated by West Coast Airlines until 1950. However, with the Korean War and the Cold War, the airport was reactivated as a military airbase in 1951, renamed Paine Air Force Base, and placed under the Air Defense Command (ADC). While the county gave up most of its commercial facilities to house military personnel and operations, the site remained a joint civil-military airport.

In 1966, the Air Force had largely withdrawn from Paine Field, allowing for a shift back to commercial considerations. The Boeing Company selected Paine Field for its Everett assembly plant, and the airport became a hub for light aviation and manufacturing. Despite the county government's efforts to resume commercial service in the 1980s, it was halted due to opposition from neighbouring cities.

Finally, in March 2019, Paine Field resumed commercial service at a newly constructed terminal, with Alaska Airlines and United Airlines as the initial carriers. Today, Paine Field is home to over fifty on-site businesses, contributing significantly to the region's economy and providing numerous jobs.

Military History

As mentioned earlier, Paine Field was occupied by the Army Air Corps from 1941 to 1946 during World War II. After the war, the airfield returned to civilian control, but with the onset of the Korean War and Cold War, it was reactivated as a military airbase in 1951. From 1951 until the mid-1960s, various Air Force units operated at Paine Air Force Base, including the 4753rd Air Base Squadron, the 86th Air Base Squadron, the 529th Air Defense Group, the 326th Fighter Group, and the 57th Fighter Group.

In 1966, due to budgetary constraints related to the Vietnam War, the USAF identified Paine AFB for closure, and operations were phased down. The facility was returned to full civilian control in 1968, ending its tenure as a military airbase. However, Paine Field continued to be considered for military purposes, such as the Sentinel Anti-Ballistic Missile System in the 1960s due to its strategic location.

The number of daily departures

The Seattle Paine Field Air Terminal can accommodate 24 departures per day. In comparison, the nearby Seattle-Tacoma International Airport handles about 600 departures daily, making it the 11th busiest airport in the US. Paine Field has two runways: 16R/34L and 16L/34R. The first runway, at 9,010 feet (2,750 m) long, is suitable for most aircraft and experiences occasional heavy traffic. The second runway is half the length of the first and is only used by smaller aircraft.

Paine Field Airport is located in Snohomish County, Washington, about 25 miles (40 km) north of Seattle. It was built in 1936 and initially served as a manufacturing and testing centre for Boeing's aircraft. The airport resumed commercial service in March 2019, with three airlines currently providing service to and from the airport. The passenger terminal is situated west of the intersection of Airport Road and 100th Street SW. Airport Road provides access to the region's two primary north-south highways: State Route 99 and Interstate 5. Paine Field is also accessible by bus, with several routes serving the terminal.

The airport has experienced issues with wrong surface intersection departures, particularly from runway 16R/34L, due to the angle of the taxiways. To mitigate this, specific taxiway intersections have been assigned for departures from each runway to improve safety and minimise frequency congestion during busy periods.

Paine Field plays a crucial role in the region's economy, generating jobs and providing a valuable service to residents and businesses. The airport has a unique public-private business arrangement, with Snohomish County owning and operating the airport while leasing it to Propeller Airports, ensuring that taxpayers are not burdened financially.

The size of the airport and its runways

The Seattle Paine Field International Airport (IATA: PAE, ICAO: KPAE, FAA LID: PAE), also known as Paine Field and Snohomish County Airport, is a medium-sized airport located in unincorporated Snohomish County, Washington, between the cities of Mukilteo and Everett. It is situated about 25 miles (40 km) north of Seattle and covers 1,315 acres (2.05 sq mi; 5.32 km2) of land. The airport was originally constructed in 1936 by the Works Progress Administration and began its commercial services in 1939. It was named for Topliff Olin Paine in 1941, shortly before the Army Air Corps started using Paine Field for military purposes. The airfield was converted back to civilian use from 1946 to 1950, after which it became an air force base during the Korean War.

Paine Field has a significant role in the region and the nation as a manufacturing and testing hub for Boeing's aircraft, including the 787, 777, 767, the now-retired 747, and the 737 MAX. The airport's configuration includes two parallel runways, RWY 16L/34R and RWY 16R/34L, with staggered thresholds. These runways are served by a full-length parallel taxiway (TWY) system, which provides access to various services, terminals, and businesses located primarily between the runways. The intersection of RWY 16L/34R and TWYs G and TWY G3 is a frequent congestion point at the airport.

The airport is home to four flight schools, namely Chinook Flight Simulations, Regal Air, Northway Aviation, and Everett Helicopters, making it a popular site for flight training. Additionally, Paine Field accommodates several flying clubs. The airport's control tower, operated by the FAA, maintains limited hours, functioning only between 7 AM and 9 PM local time. During the operational hours of the control tower, both runways are active. However, after hours, only runway 16R-34L remains open.

The Seattle Paine Field Air Terminal, operated by Propeller Airports, spans approximately 30,000 square feet and features two gates. The terminal building prioritises passenger comfort and convenience, offering amenities such as high-speed internet and power access at every seat. Paine Field can accommodate up to 24 departures per day, a notable contrast to the much busier Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, which handles around 600 daily departures.

Issues with taxi conflicts and congestion

Paine Field Airport, also known as Paine Field, Snohomish County Airport, and Seattle Paine Field International Airport, has experienced issues with taxi conflicts and congestion. The airport, located in Snohomish County, Washington, serves the Seattle metropolitan area. With two runways, 16R/34L and 16L/34R, the airport has seen conflicts due to its layout and taxiway configuration.

The first issue is the potential for taxi conflicts. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has identified "Wrong Surface Intersection Departures," which occur when aircraft line up or turn in the wrong direction during takeoff from RWY16R/34L. This issue is attributed to the angle of the taxiways (TWYs) and can be mitigated by assigning specific TWYs for departures from each runway. However, this complexity increases the risk of pilots making errors, especially during busy traffic periods.

Another challenge is congestion during peak hours. The intersection of RWY16L/34R and TWY G and TWY G3 is a frequent congestion hotspot. Complex taxi instructions for arriving aircraft exiting the RWY at TWY G3 can cause delays, especially when followed by other aircraft exiting at the same TWY. The staggered thresholds of RWY16L/34R and RWY16R/34L further add to the complexity and potential for congestion.

Additionally, certain aircraft models, such as the Embraer 135 and the Boeing 737, are equipped with a Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS). While this system is designed to enhance safety, it can trigger avoidance maneuvers, potentially leading to further congestion or conflicts with other aircraft.

To alleviate these issues, the FAA recommends providing detailed information to pilots and controllers to minimize the frequency of conflicts and congestion. This includes precise position reports from pilots when taxiing in specific areas, such as Hot Spot 1, located at the south end of TWY A between TWYs A9 and A10, which is not visible from the tower.

Frequently asked questions