EVERETT — The federal government partial shutdown could delay a decision from the Federal Aviation Administration regarding commercial flight at Paine Field, a spokesman said. However at the terminal, preparation work appears to be moving along as if that first flight is coming as scheduled.
“There are still pending actions required for approval. The decision on Paine Field could be potentially affected by an ongoing shutdown. I won’t speculate on timing beyond our statement,” FAA spokesman Gregory Martin in Washington, D.C. said in an email. The local region’s spokesman was on furlough.
Alaska Airlines announced a Feb. 11 first flight date and United Airlines planned to start flying March 31*, both pending government approval.
Approval is widely anticipated, but authorities are not revealing the FAA’s internal decision date. The FAA determined last fall from
the draft environmental assessment there is no significant impact from commercial flight, which was seen by airlines as a bellwether indication full approval is coming.
As of late last week, you could still buy a ticket at Alaska Airlines’ booking website to depart from Paine Field starting Feb. 11.
Alaska Airlines, through a spokesman, says the FAA is continuing its work on the Paine Field environmental assessment. “So far we don’t believe the partial government shutdown has impacted the process. However, if the shutdown lasts much longer, there may be an impact,” spokesman Ray Lane said in a statement Friday, Jan. 11. “We continue to work with FAA on this, and are closely monitoring developments on the shutdown.”
Preparatory activity seems to be ongoing.
Terminal operator Propeller Airports continues to work on readying the terminal. Passenger screening security equipment that would be used by the TSA is now inside the terminal.
On Jan. 9, planespotters watching Paine Field action posted photographs to Twitter of a Horizon Air regional jet placed for tests to see if the stairway fits at the Paine Field passenger terminal. (Horizon is the Alaska Airlines subsidiary set to service Paine Field.)
Chris Gore, the station manager at Paine Field’s terminal, tweeted back to the photo that “we’re used to it.”
Flight tracking websites such as www.flightradar24.com listed that this plane left Paine Field a few hours later in the mid-afternoon to fly back to Portland, and the plane’s history shows it flies as part of Horizon’s active flying fleet, taking various scheduled trips.
Federal regulators have approved a draft version of the supplemental environmental assessment for commercial flight, and a final assessment is being prepared by a consulting firm.
An authority within the consulting firm preparing the final assessment couldn’t release information about its status, and Martin at the FAA said he couldn’t discuss the FAA’s internal deadlines.
It was unclear at press time whether the final environmental assessment would require a public comment window similar to the draft.
The government shutdown began Dec. 22.
Arif Ghouse, the county’s director of Paine Field Airport, said in a statement that “we look forward to the start of commercial service at Paine Field and the many benefits it will bring to the region. Any delay would be disappointing.”
* - CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story misidentified that United would begin flights in May. The Tribune regrets the error.
