HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 4179CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON
RESOLUTION NO. 4179
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON, OPPOSING THE
CLOSURE OF THE CONTRACT TOWER AT THE RENTON MUNICIPAL AIRPORT,
AND AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATION TO PURSUE A LEGAL CHALLENGE TO
THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION'S METHODOLOGY AND DECISION
TO CLOSE THE CONTRACT TOWER.
WHEREAS, the Renton Municipal Airport currently has a tenant mix that consists of
operations involving private propeller driven aircraft, charter flights, corporate jets, seaplanes,
and helicopters, as well as commercial jet aircraft manufacturing; and
WHEREAS, there are flight training schools at Renton Municipal Airport; and
WHEREAS, without the aid of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) contract tower,
corporate jets and chartered flights will share flight patterns with slower, propeller-driven
aircraft (some being operated by student pilots) when attempting to land at or take off from
the Renton Municipal Airport, which will present a possible hazard; and
WHEREAS, the Renton runway is used for the "first flight" by the new Boeing 737
aircraft; and
WHEREAS, the pre-flight test of the aircraft can take up to 10 minutes while the aircraft
is on the runway meaning that the runway is unavailable for any other landing or departing
aircraft; and
WHEREAS, without a tower at Renton, the Seattle Approach Control (SAC) would be
expected to monitor the airspace. However, despite the abilities of SAC, there is no way SAC
can warn incoming aircraft of jet aircraft performing pre-flight run-up tests on the runway
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RESOLUTION NO. 4179
because the runway is below significant terrain and SAC's radar cannot identify that there is an
aircraft on the runway; and
WHEREAS, newly manufactured aircraft are towed from the manufacturing plant on the
East side of the Cedar River, across the runway and onto the taxiway; and
WHEREAS, such movement creates a possible hazard for outgoing and incoming aircraft;
and
WHEREAS, the absence of a tower to oversee and regulate the traffic, in the air and on
land, could present a hazard for the public; and
WHEREAS, Renton Municipal Airport shares airspace with King County International
Airport/Boeing Field and SeaTac International Airport; and
WHEREAS, there will be construction taking place at the North end of the runway for
the summer months of 2013, 2014, and 2015; and
WHEREAS, the FAA did not study the possible safety implications before ordering
closure; and
WHEREAS, the FAA did not comply with their own procedures in determining which
airport contract towers, if any, to close;
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON, DOES
RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION I. The above recitals are found to be true and correct in all respects.
SECTION II. The City Council of the City of Renton, Washington hereby formally voices
its opposition to the closure of the contract tower at Renton Municipal Airport and authorizes
RESOLUTION NO. 4179
the administration to pursue a legal challenge to the Federal Aviation Administration's
methodology and decision to close the contract tower at the airport.
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL this 15th day pf April > 2013.
Bonnie I. Walton, City Clerk
APPROVED BY THE MAYOR this 15th day of APril _, 2013.
Approved as to form:
Lawrence J. Warren, City Attorney
RES.1600:4/15/13:scr
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Denis Law, Mayor
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