Date:  Thursday, July 02, 2009

Contact: John Shambaugh, Aviation Planner, 360-651-6306

After almost two years of deliberations, the Washington Aviation Planning Council has released its final statewide aviation recommendations.

To read the entire Council Report, which includes the full list of recommendations, visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/aviation/LATS.

The Aviation Planning Council, as directed by state legislation (ESSB 5121), was appointed by Gov. Chris Gregoire in July 2007 as part of the Long-Term Air Transportation Study (LATS). The Council’s purpose was to use LATS Phases I and II technical findings, and include public input, to determine:

• How best to meet commercial and general aviation capacity needs.
• Which regions of the state are in need of improvement regarding the matching of existing, or projected, airport facilities and the long-range capacity needs at airports within the region expected to reach capacity before 2030.
• Recommendations regarding the placement of future commercial or general aviation facilities to meet the need for improved aviation planning in the region.

The Aviation Planning Council’s recommendations are based on careful review of the LATS technical data, extensive dialogue with aviation system stakeholders and a thorough and transparent public involvement process. The recommendations are also aligned with Moving Washington, WSDOT's mobility program that utilizes three strategies: adding capacity where appropriate, operating the system more efficiently and managing demand through more alternatives and choices.

Some highlights of the Council’s findings include:

• No immediate capacity constraint exists at any airport in Washington State today.
• Future capacity constraints will exist within the time frame of this study (2030), primarily in the Puget Sound Region.
• Washington’s aviation system is threatened by encroachment from land uses that are incompatible with aviation operations, and existing land use laws are inadequate.

Some highlights of the Council’s recommendations include:

• The State should place a priority of protecting and maximizing the efficiency of the airport system we already have in place before we consider the development of new airports.
• Decisions about the placement or expansion of airports must be primarily a regional and market-driven decision.
• The State role as a steward of the aviation system includes providing adequate land use protections, recommending system improvements, as well as strategic investments to support and maintain critical aviation facilities throughout the state.
• If it is determined, at some time in the future, that future demand cannot be met at nearby airports and there is no interested sponsor to undertake such a study effort, the State should undertake siting studies for new airports.

The Council’s recommendations were delivered to the Governor, Legislature, Transportation Commission and regional transportation planning organizations on July 1, 2009.

More information about LATS is available at: www.wsdot.wa.gov/aviation/LATS.

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