Northwest Aerospace News February | March Issue No. 13 | Page 118

A global aerospace hub with an annual economic impact
of more than $20 billion. A center for tourism, education
and environmental innovation. An airport that is gaining a
reputation as one of the nicest places in the world to catch
a flight. The achievement was hailed by Snohomish County
Executive Dave Somers, who prior to embarking on
a career in elected office spent decades working as a
fisheries biologist, focused on improving Washington’s
salmon runs and preserving habitat.
It’s an exciting time for Paine Field/Snohomish County Airport.
The county-owned airport near Everett has been in
continuous operation since the late 1930s. It received
a lot of attention in 2019 for the long-awaited arrival of
commercial air service. There are now 48 daily flights – 24
arrivals, 24 departures – linking 11 destinations in the
western United States. “Paine Field is not only the single biggest driver of our
economy, it is also contributing to improving our region’s
environmental health,” Somers said.
Paine Field is proving popular with travelers tired of fighting
the Seattle-area traffic snarl, and more than 1 million are
expected to visit the Paine Field Passenger Terminal each
year. Monocole Magazine recently named Paine Field the
world’s best regional airport. That recommendation is based
largely on the amenities offered at the terminal, which is
owned and operated by Propeller Airports under a unique
public-private business arrangement.
The airport continues to host a vibrant general aviation
community, serving as the home base for roughly 600
privately owned aircraft. It also supports some 65,000 jobs,
most at The Boeing Co.’s bustling Everett wide-body jet
factory, and at Aviation Technical Services, one of the largest
third-party aircraft inspection and repair facilities in the U.S.
Paine Field this fall became the third airport in North
America to be certified Salmon-Safe for its long-running
efforts to maintain water quality and natural habitat that
supports the biological needs of salmon.
118
118
NORTHWEST AEROSPACE NEWS
NORTHWEST AEROSPACE NEWS
The decision to seek Salmon-Safe certification was part
of the airport’s Dream Greener program, which reflects
the county’s belief that it’s possible to have it both ways:
a clean environment and a dynamic Paine Field that
contributes to a robust economy.
“Environmental stewardship is an integral part of what we
do,” Paine Field Airport Director Arif Ghouse said. “There
are always regulatory requirements that we have to meet
but our philosophy is to go above and beyond that after
balancing our operational and financial needs as well.”
The airport hosts two community colleges, each offering
programs that ready workers for employment in the
aerospace industry. It also is home to four museums. One
of those attractions, Boeing’s Future of Flight Aviation
Center & Boeing Tour, is the county’s single-biggest tourist
draw with about 320,000 visitors a year. Tourism is a $2
billion a year industry in Snohomish County.
Paine Field’s leaders recognize the airport’s place in the
aviation world. They’ve nurtured cooperative agreements
with Chubu Centrair International Airport in Japan
and with the Shanghai Airport Authority in China. The
agreements focus on supporting development of each
region’s aerospace industry, sharing best practices and
opportunities for innovation.
PNAA ADVANCE / 2020