Paine Field

Coordinates: 47°54′22″N 122°16′53″W / 47.90611°N 122.28139°W / 47.90611; -122.28139
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Paine Field
File:Paine field logo.png
Summary
Airport typePublic Airport Department
OperatorSnohomish County
LocationEverett, Washington
Elevation AMSL184.7 ft / 56 m
Coordinates47°54′22″N 122°16′53″W / 47.90611°N 122.28139°W / 47.90611; -122.28139
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
16R/34L 9,010 2,746 Asphalt/Grooved
11/29 4,504 1,373 Asphalt
16L/34R 3,000 914 Asphalt
FAA diagram of Paine Field

Paine Field, also known as Snohomish County Airport (IATA: PAE, ICAO: KPAE) is located between Mukilteo, Washington and Everett, Washington.

History

Constructed in 1936 as a Works Progress Administration project, the United States Army Air Corps leased the airport in 1940 and named it Everett Army Air Field. In 1941, the Army officially acquired the airport and named it Paine Army Air Field in honor of Second Lieutenant Topliff Olin Paine (1893-1922). The field remained a United States Army Air Forces airbase for the duration of World War II before being handed back to Snohomish County in 1948. In 1951 it was returned to military service and renamed Paine Air Force Base by the United States Air Force. Part of the Air Defense Command, the airport operated under joint military and civilian control until 1968.

In 1966, the Air Force had all but pulled out of Paine Field leaving it open to civilian considerations. On July 25, 1966, The Boeing Company announced that it would build the Boeing 747, a jetliner capable of carrying nearly twice as many passengers as previous models. To build the giant jet, Boeing had to construct a facility large enough to handle the world's largest commercial jetliner. Land just north of Paine Field was chosen to construct the new facilities, including some development on the airport itself. Both the local government and the FAA concurred with the development. Work on the massive building began in August 1966 and the first employees arrived in early 1967. The 747 made its first flight at Paine Field on February 9, 1969.

The use and expansion of the airport is currently governed by an agreement that was forged during 1978 - 1979 negotiations, called the Mediated Role Determination or simply the MRD.

Modern day

Along with the Boeing Everett plant, the world's largest building by volume, Paine Field is home to one of the nation's largest aviation maintenance facility, formerly operated by Goodrich. For nearly 20 years, the Goodrich Corp operated the maintenance, repair and overhaul business at Paine Field. In the fall of 2007, Goodrich sold the business and its 950,000-square-foot (88,000 m2) facility to Aviation Technical Services (ATS). ATS does 'heavy' checks for a number of airlines and cargo companies. According to their web page, they average of 443 Aircraft Redeliveries each year.It is served by a Federal Aviation Administration control tower, and has precision and non-precision instrument approaches available to pilots.

In late 2005, construction of the Future of Flight Aviation Center & Boeing Tour building was completed. The project, formerly known as the National Flight Interpretive Center, includes the Boeing factory tour. The facility was opened to the public on December 17, 2005. The Museum of Flight also has a restoration center at the airport's main gate; located further south is the Me 262 Project. Paul Allen's Flying Heritage Collection has a large, refurbished hangar at the south end of the field, which opened as a museum June 2008.

Paine Field is home to four flight schools — Regal Air, Northway Aviation, Everett Helicopters and the Northwest School of Aviation — making it a popular destination for flight training.

In May 2008, Allegiant Air notified the Snohomish County Airport authorities of their interest in operating several flights a week between PAE and Las Vegas using MD-80 aircraft. They also announced other possible destinations in the future. Affirming the role of the MRD and the desire of the overwhelming majority of citizens of the county, the County Council and County Commissioner immediately notified the airline that it will not subsidize the improvements needed to support passenger service. Given the lack of government subsidies it is highly unlikely Allegiant Air will locate at Paine Field.

External links

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