"FAA Says County Must Talk to Allegiant Air"

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Editorial
FAA raps county over Paine Field
The Seattle (WA) Times


SNOHOMISH County officials are on notice from the FAA to be open to interest
in scheduled commercial passenger service at Paine Field. Clearly, the best
way to represent their constituents is to skip more political theater and
cut the best deal for the county.

Activity at Paine Field is a by-product of a growing county with the
population base and income to attract air service. Last Wednesday, the
Snohomish County Council repeated its commitment to keeping commercial
service out and to continuing to emphasize general aviation and
aviation-compatible businesses. The position was directly challenged the
same day in a letter to Airport Director David Waggoner from the FAA.

Carol A. Key, manager of the FAA's Seattle Airports District Office, said
the agency sees no legitimate basis for refusing to negotiate with Allegiant
Air, a Las Vegas air carrier contemplating twice-a-week flights out of Paine
Field.

For decades, the county has hung its defense on a document called the
Mediated Role Determination. The FAA does not read any prohibitions into the
document, and finds the county obligated to negotiate in good faith over
current facilities and what might come next. To do otherwise violates the
spirit of $57 million in past FAA airport grants to the county, and affects
how future requests are viewed.

The FAA is watching and the county has few options, which Councilman Brian
Sullivan, D-Mukilteo, a longtime foe of passenger service, acknowledged as
the council restated its opposition.

In essence, the county will be rated on how it cooperates with others. The
county will be judged by the effect of its actions, and what is done to
encourage or interfere with Allegiant or any interested commercial
operators.

Paine Field has a smaller noise footprint than once imagined, and all
airlines are moving toward quieter planes. Snohomish County politicians are
free to finger-point and blame the federal government, but the practical
solution is to dutifully negotiate the best outcome for county residents.

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