History Paine Field

paine field constructed in 1936 works progress administration project. @ time of development, envisioned airport create jobs , economic growth in region becoming 1 of ten new super airports around country.

paine field taken on u.s. army air corps prior entry world war ii patrol base, air defense base , fighter training base , later controlled u.s. army air forces. end of war, airfield began returned civilian control of snohomish county. in 1947, transition activities still underway, military control of then-paine army airfield transferred newly established u.s. air force, facility renamed paine field. transfer of property snohomish county government completed in 1948, however, air force continued maintain various air defense command units @ airport military tenants.

before snohomish county start planning continued development of super airport , united states again involved in armed conflict—this time in korea , breakout of cold war soviet union. when pacific northwest defense installations reviewed house representative henry m. jackson recommended more military presence in area , paine field reactivated military airbase.

paine afb directory, 1959–1960. cover photo views base northwest , showing formation of 3 f-89 scorpions overflying airfield.

paine field returned usaf control in 1951, renamed paine air force base, , placed under jurisdiction of air defense command (adc). while county relinquished of commercial facilities house usaf personnel, units , assets, site did not have exclusive military presence. airfield remained joint civil-military airport air force operating control tower , other air traffic control facilities, while county, in shared use agreement, rented commercial lease hold areas businesses such alaska airlines. 4753rd air base squadron (later re-designated 86th air base squadron) activated on new air force base on february 1, 1952 placeholder unit.

although inactive 6 years, significant military construction (milcon) necessary bring world war ii training base postwar usaf standards. in 1951, additional land surrounding paine afb site appropriated military facilities , extended runways. 9,000-foot jet runway (rwy 16/34) constructed along accompanying taxiways, permanent concrete buildings , other support facilities replace temporary wartime wooden structures viewed substandard permanent usaf base. 529th air defense group activated on february 16, 1953 , became permanent host unit @ paine afb until redesignated 326th fighter group in 1955.

64th fighter-interceptor squadron convair f-102a-75-co delta dagger 56-1344, 326th fighter group, march 1960

various regular air force fighter-interceptor units , air force reserve troop carrier units operated @ paine afb 1951 until mid-1960s. in 1966, usaf identified paine afb closure due budgetary constraints caused cost of vietnam war. then-host unit, 57th fighter group phased down operations departure of interceptors , inactivated in place on september 30, 1968. paine afb inactivated same date , facility returned full civilian control paine field / snohomish county airport. today, remaining usaf activity @ paine field non-flying tenant unit, 215th engineering installation squadron (215 eis) of washington air national guard.

paine afb / paine field had been under consideration in 1960s u.s. army air defense command 1 of several sites sentinel anti-ballistic missile system due central location several other major military bases , defense industries in puget sound region. program dropped in favor of limited safeguard system.

on july 25, 1966, boeing announced build boeing 747, jet airliner capable of carrying twice many passengers previous models. build giant jet, boeing had construct facility large enough handle world s largest commercial jetliner. land north of paine field chosen construct new facilities, including development on airport itself. both local government , faa concurred development. work on massive building began in august 1966 , first employees arrived in 1967. 747 made first flight @ paine field on february 9, 1969.

in late 2005, construction of future of flight aviation center & boeing tour building completed. project, formerly known national flight interpretive center, includes boeing factory tour gallery highlights newest developments in aviation; including both parts , components of airplanes manufactured airbus , boeing. facility opened private audience on december 16, 2005, following day facility open public. museum of flight has restoration center @ airport s main gate; located further south me 262 project. paul allen s flying heritage collection has large, refurbished hangar @ south end of field, opened museum june 2008. historic flight foundation houses , maintains military aircraft.

commercial air service

the use of paine field commercial air service highly controversial.

several local governments have adopted resolutions against use of paine field commercial flights including snohomish county (the airport s operator), neighboring cities of brier, edmonds, lynnwood, mountlake terrace, mukilteo, , woodway. additionally, local citizens group called save our communities has worked oppose commercial flights @ airport.

notably, city of everett, largest in county , county seat, has adopted resolution in favor of use of paine field commercial air service.

the use , expansion of airport governed agreement forged during 1978–1979 negotiations, called mediated role determination (mrd). mrd recommends role of paine field general aviation , aerospace manufacturing airport, while discouraging other types of activities including supplemental/charter air passenger service. in 2005, snohomish county commissioned panel review mrd. panel recommended mrd should not ratified or revised, should retired policy document . in june 2008, snohomish county council rejected findings of panel, , in 1989, 1992, , 2001, restated opposition commercial air passenger services operating paine field resolution:

reaffirm our county s commitment preserving existing general aviation role of paine field, , [to] pursue , lawful , appropriate means discourage action facilitate, directly or indirectly, use of paine field scheduled air passenger service or air cargo service, may include interlocal agreement.

further reflecting opposition commercial air service, snohomish county has adopted policy of not spending funds subsidize airlines or pay infrastructure needed support commercial air service.

in 2008, 2 airlines, allegiant air , horizon air, expressed interest in establishing passenger flights paine field airport authority. in may 2008, in response these requests, chairman of snohomish county council sent allegiant air letter stating opposition request start air service. faa wrote airport authority in june 2008 reiterate recipient of federal faa grants, county may not prohibit commercial aeronautical activities offering services public. if county blocked commercial flights, risk enforcement action under federal aviation regulation 16.

the airport completed draft environmental assessment of effects of commercial aviation @ paine field in december 2009, , public comment period ended on february 5, 2010. opposition paine field hosting commercial air service overwhelming in meetings held comments on draft environmental assessment. neighboring city of mukilteo hired aviation attorney represent interests of city during environmental assessment process , promised make time consuming, expensive , stretch out. ll fight terminal legally.

on december 4, 2012, faa concluded commercial airplanes fly out of paine field without adding local noise , traffic. findings cleared way commercial operations along construction of terminal building. on february 5, 2013, cities of edmonds , mukilteo, along 2 individuals, filed notice 9th u.s. circuit court of appeals in san francisco intend challenge results of environmental assessment.

on july 15, 2013, allegiant air refused county s terms operate terminal @ paine.

in june 2014, new york-based propeller investments asked snohomish county start discussions leading construction of terminal , parking facility @ paine field. propeller investments shoulder risk — leasing land airport, financing terminal construction , finding tenant airlines. on march 2, 2015, snohomish county approved lease-option agreement gave propeller airports 3 years carry out preliminary design work, environmental studies , obtain permits needed construct proposed two-gate passenger terminal. in turn, snohomish county receive $429,000 per year in rent plus share of flight , parking revenues.

on march 4, 2016, federal court denied appeal city of mukilteo , others citizens groups prevent commercial flights @ paine field.

ground broken passenger terminal on june 5, 2017. 30,000 square foot building have 2 gates , capable of handling 16 flights per day. operator, propeller airports, has agreed limit early-morning , late-night commercial flights reduce noise impacts on mukilteo , nearby residential areas.

when passenger terminal opens in fall of 2018 have service @ least 2 airlines. alaska airlines announced on may 17, 2017 fly 9 daily flights paine field. information destinations of flights come in 2018. united airlines announced on august 10, 2017 6 flights day operated hubs in denver , san francisco. between 2 airlines, passenger terminal operate @ full capacity opens.