PORT OF SEATTLE
MEMORANDUM
COMMISSION AGENDA
Item No.
4a
Date of Meeting
April 28, 2009
DATE: April 23, 2009
TO: Tay Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer
FROM: Stan Shepherd, Manager, Airport Noise Programs
SUBJECT: Fly Quiet incentive program airline winners.
BACKGROUND
The Port of Seattle completed a Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part 150 Noise Study
Update in December 2000. As a component of the Part 150 Study, staff requested and received
Commission approval on March 26, 2002 to develop and oversee implementation of a “Fly
Quiet” Program. “Fly Quiet” refers to a family of programs that encourage airlines and pilots to
operate aircraft as quietly as possible.
Port staff formed the Fly Quiet Committee in 2002, consisting of local community leaders and
city staff. The committee developed a set of recommendations for the Port to consider as
measures to enhance our noise mitigation programs, including:
Increasing compliance with existing noise abatement procedures
Increasing compliance with the ground run-up rules and regulations
Monitoring aircraft noise levels with close-in noise monitors
The Committee recommended that the Port develop and publicize an incentive program for the
airlines based on a point system, with a yearly airline award for the winner. The intent of the Fly
Quiet Incentive Program is to use the competitive nature of the airline industry in support of
noise abatement efforts, rewarding those airlines with the highest success rates with positive
media attention.
The Fly Quiet Incentive Program was created in early 2003. The airlines are informed annually
of the goals of the program via packets with information on the categories of the program, the
scoring system, and expectations for the winning airlines are sent to each of the airlines.
COMMISSION AGENDA
Tay Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer
April 23, 2009
Page 2 of 2
The 2008 Awards were announced to the Commission last year and are noted below:
1
st
Place for Passenger Airlines
SkyWest Airlines – Provides service for United Express
Honorable Mention for Passenger Airlines
Horizon Airlines
1
st
Place for a Cargo Airline
Cargolux
WINNERS OF THE 2009 FLY QUIET AWARDS
1
st
Place for Passenger Airlines
Virgin America
Honorable Mention for Passenger Airlines
Air Canada Jazz
1
st
Place for a Cargo Airline
Federal Express
The next steps in the program include publicly acknowledging the three winning airlines with
banners located in the terminal of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, an official press release
as well as congratulatory advertisements in the local newspapers.
