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. |
