Locals split over proposed commercial use of Paine Field
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MUKILTEO, Wash. -- After conducting an environmental review, the Federal Aviation Administration on Friday approved a plan to add commercial flights to Paine Field.
The FAA said its 100-page assessment took into account hundreds of public comments on the issue. The approval is a big step forward, but it is one not sitting well with many.
John Beiermann, who lives in Mukilteo, says the planes to and from Paine Field already make a lot of noise in his neighborhood. And he is not happy to hear that the airport may soon add at least 20 more takeoffs and landings per day.
"It's a nuisance currently. Boeing uses the aircraft that go right over our house for just their tests," said Beiermann.
A final FAA environmental assessment says bringing commercial flights to Paine Field would not significantly worsen noise, traffic or air quality.
The report brings Paine Field one step closer to hosting commercial flights. The airport could host about 10 horizon regional flights a day and 10 Allegiant Air flights to Las Vegas per week.
Some say adding a passenger terminal at Paine Field would be a boost to the local economy.
"We say, 'Hey, a few more planes -- it's not a big deal,'" said area resident Don Rashell.
But Beiermann says it is a big deal that would take a swing at his pocket book.
"My house value has already dropped because of the economy. It's surely not going to go up because of commercial flights flying over my home," he said.
No one from Paine Field, FAA nor Snohomish County wished to comment.
Everett Mayor Ray Stephans says he supports the idea.
"It is time to develop potential with the introduction of regular commercial air service," he said.
But Briermann still doesn't see the need.
"I just don't see what's wrong with Sea-Tac," he said.
The FAA said its 100-page assessment took into account hundreds of public comments on the issue. The approval is a big step forward, but it is one not sitting well with many.
John Beiermann, who lives in Mukilteo, says the planes to and from Paine Field already make a lot of noise in his neighborhood. And he is not happy to hear that the airport may soon add at least 20 more takeoffs and landings per day.
"It's a nuisance currently. Boeing uses the aircraft that go right over our house for just their tests," said Beiermann.
A final FAA environmental assessment says bringing commercial flights to Paine Field would not significantly worsen noise, traffic or air quality.
The report brings Paine Field one step closer to hosting commercial flights. The airport could host about 10 horizon regional flights a day and 10 Allegiant Air flights to Las Vegas per week.
Some say adding a passenger terminal at Paine Field would be a boost to the local economy.
"We say, 'Hey, a few more planes -- it's not a big deal,'" said area resident Don Rashell.
But Beiermann says it is a big deal that would take a swing at his pocket book.
"My house value has already dropped because of the economy. It's surely not going to go up because of commercial flights flying over my home," he said.
No one from Paine Field, FAA nor Snohomish County wished to comment.
Everett Mayor Ray Stephans says he supports the idea.
"It is time to develop potential with the introduction of regular commercial air service," he said.
But Briermann still doesn't see the need.
"I just don't see what's wrong with Sea-Tac," he said.
Glad to see the environmental impact study is completed, and it is time to move on with a commercial airport at Paine Field, It's good for the economy and sure saves the travel to Sea-Tac from Everett, which is a real inconvienience.
But Briermann still doesn't see the need. "I just don't see what's wrong with Sea-Tac," he said.
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Yep, it's ALL about this guy & what HE thinks should be done. He has a problem with commercial flights (which, from what I heard will be smaller jets than what Boeing produces), yet he has no problem with Boeing using the same airport for their jetes.
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Thios guy needs to get over himself.
When I bought the home I currently live in I really didn't pay much attention to the area that it is in. 20 years later the only thing that has changed is the Walgreens that recently opened up close by. So I got lucky despite my ignorance. I say this to point out that taking a drive around the area that you are buying into is a really good idea before hand. Look for things like large tracts of undeveloped land and research them to see what might be pending there. And if you happen to notice something that looks like an AIRSTRIP BIG ENOUGH FOR B-52's TO LAND ON then you might want to consider buying somewhere else. All you people who moved into the areas around Paine Field have nothing to say for yourselves. It has been there for over 60 years and has been under the gun to expand for at least the last 2 decades. So you can either embrace progress, take advantage of it, maybe even find a way to make a profit from it, or move.Â
I think levying a locale specific area upgrade would be easy if homeowners would File Article of Incorporation, going corporate sole. Just sue for straight damages to your own dollar value by national numbers as well as projected local numbers, with penalties for overages, of course. Don't trip. That piece of paper has more rights than you do.
In general all of our fields are going to be seeing more use one way or another anyway. Get used to it because there will be more airports too. Even if everyone has hoverplanes.
Seattle needs a spaceport and a few hotrod factories. Jet City Racing and the like. Start a new racing league. Boeing could park every bit of tarmac tomorrow if they decide they are developing something to do with aerospace in general and the locals can't raise legal issue successfully on it. Their entire operation is daily government grist because we pay them to teach us what they find out. Paine is going to get a lot more use, so take your chance at buyout, or levy acoustical improvement costs. If your exterior walls were 2 by 6 I can make a pretty good barrier with 4 times your current R value. Wouldn't that be cozy for ya now?
I live directly under the flight path (Lake Serene) and am a property owner. I have no problem with commercial air service to Paine Field.
how many residents had homes before 1936, that's how long Paine Field been around, well the air force base back in that time
It has been a while but the last time I was up there I saw Fed-X on several cargo jets parked in the field. Those are commercial, but not passenger flights. Boeing flies their planes in and out right next door. Developing Paine field is long overdue. This is not the same quiet little corner of the world many of you are trying desperately to cling to. Today, next month, next year, you are going to have to let go. A viable passenger airport is long overdue in the North End. Relax you will be just fine. It is going to happen and getting your panties in a knot only makes it harder on you.   Â
No homeowner likes to think about public domain or like scenarios, they want to retire and think about grass plugs in front of the home they'll leave to the kids. If resistance is fierce, buy them out at fair market price. Same old story of persons versus public needs. Development of Paine is inevitable. People can call it Everett, or Snohomish County, but THAT field is part and parcel of Jet City, mandated by need. The B-52's are ok with these folks, but a little prop commercial carrier isn't? A modern jet with noise suppression isn't? If I'm running a jackhammer on a home demolition I'm making more noise. The point of this is that there are options as well as alternatives, for those that seek solutions rather than only their own ends.
@FreeCoffeeNow! B-52s? Paine Field? Semi-recently?
 @flyskiwindsurf I don't get semi-recently. Isn't Paine sitting the Buffs during their last projected upgrade cycle?
@FreeCoffeeNow! Is the following what you are referring too? âB-52G at Museum of Flight Restoration at Paine Field â 2010â
Well Horizon flies Q400 VERY quiet planes not sure what the other airline fliesÂ
 @livinintheNW They appear to fly MD-80's & B757's.
@livinintheNW Allegiant currently flies primarily older MD80's but is going to be getting some newer Airbus A319's in the mid-term. They don't currently have the quietest fleet but it won't be bad. For 1-2 flights a day it will hardly register.
Maybe since Mr Beiermann doesn't like Boeing flying there either they should move everything to South Carolina and see how well his home value does then. He fool the airport was there long before you and the entire US pays for the airport upkeep not just Snohomish County. If you don't like airplane noise buying a house under the flight path of near one in general is not the best choice. Stop whining and move if you don't like noise near an airport.Â
@midwestnative One issue was that the county âpromisedâ quite some time ago and reaffirmed not too long ago that they would âpursue any and all lawful and appropriate means to discourage any action that would facilitate, directly or indirectly, use of Paine Field for scheduled air passenger service or air cargo serviceâ. As a result, and for quite some time, quite a lot of housing development occurred around the area at least partially in response to that âpromiseâ. Unfortunately, as you indicate, it is an airport receiving federal as well as other funds so the county can not really stand behind that âpromiseâ in the long run. I.e. people do need to verify the true legality of âpromisesâ no matter which govt entity is promising whatever. So in the final analysis the only truly viable answer for these people living around the airport is pretty much your last sentence. It should be noted though, as others have also said, newer planes are continuing to get at least a little to a lot quieter.
"No one from Paine Field, FAA nor Snohomish County wished to comment."
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I'll bet none of them live in homes under the flight paths, either.
 @TheTruncheon It Seems to me that Paine Field has been there since the 40's.So any buying a home or business in the area SHOULD have know about the airport and noise. If you don't like noise MOVE.
 @Serang Easy for you to say.  Do you live under the flight path? I assume not. Â
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Obviously you don't seem to know about the MRD. Here's some history for you about Paine Field, originally built, not in the 1940's but by the WPA in 1936, and used by the U.S. military and then Boeing after that:
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"The use and expansion of the airport is currently governed by an agreement that was forged during 1978â1979 negotiations, called the Mediated Role Determination (MRD). The MRD recommends the role of Paine Field to be as a general aviation and aerospace manufacturing airport, while discouraging other types of activities including supplemental/charter air passenger service.
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In 2005 Snohomish County commissioned a panel to review the MRD, and in conclusion suggested the MRD "should not be ratified or revised, but should be retired as a policy document". In June 2008 the Snohomish County Council rejected the findings of the panel, and as in 1989, 1992 & 2001, restated its opposition to commercial air passenger services operating from Paine Field.
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The council stated (to):
Reaffirm our county's commitment to preserving the existing general aviation role of Paine Field, and [to] pursue any and all lawful and appropriate means to discourage any action that would facilitate, directly or indirectly, use of Paine Field for scheduled air passenger service or air cargo service, which may include an interlocal agreement.
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Snohomish County has adopted the policy of not spending funds to subsidize airlines or to pay for the infrastructure needed to support commercial air service. The local governments of Snohomish County (the airport's operator), and the neighboring cities of Brier, Edmonds, Lynnwood , Mountlake Terrace, Mukilteo , and Woodway and local citizens groups such as Save Our Communities, have all adopted resolutions against the use of Paine Field for commercial airline flights. In contrast, the Everett city government has adopted a resolution in favor of the use of Paine Field for commercial air service."Â
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So Everett has been the only backer of commercial flights to Paine.
Are you one of the Everett backers who's hoping to make some extra profit off the increased number of flights or something, hence your cold little comment about people should just "MOVE"?
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You know, this FAA "new plan to add commercial flights" completely changes the rules of the game, so basically scr3ws anyone who did buy, that's ANYONE who bought since 1979, while doing so with the no-commercial flights MRD in force. I'd agree with you if this was about Sea-Tac, but this is completely different.Â
 @TheTruncheon  @Serang I live about a mile from Paine Field.
But guess what.... I had some inside information when moving here... Paine Field is an AIRPORT. And know what else I knew? AIRPLANES and HELICOPTERS actually have to come in to land and takeoff from there. I did my homework, and I'm not complaining. If I don't like the sound, I can move. I'm not going to try to throw a wrench in their operations because I can hear an airplane flying over. Heck, with this economy, shouldn't we be happy for the opportunity of new jobs?
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Paine Field was built in 1936, and Boeing arrived in 1966. The jets they produce have only gotten QUIETER since then. Have you ever heard a 707 takeoff compared to a 777, 747-8, or 787? Have you even heard how loud a Q400 is? It's quieter than the jets Boeing operates for test flights!I'm sure you were just beside yourself in a tizzy when the USMC had their 5 F/A-18C Hornets here a few weeks ago.
 @TheTruncheon  @midwestnative I do! And I can not wait until I do not have to drive to Sea-Tac...
 @midwestnative Way to completely sidestep the issue and, as a bonus, add another, utterly unrealistic, cold little comment.
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I bet you don't live under the flight paths either.
 @TheTruncheon  @Serang Snohomish County does not get to dictate how federal funds are applied for a public airport. If the people around the airport don't like it buy the land, turn it private, and pay for the maintenance. Otherwise stop complaining about airport noise at an airport
 @Serang  @TheTruncheon So just because someone has a street in front of their home, they should be okay with it turning into a highway?