SEA Stakeholder Advisory Round Table (StART)
Aviation Noise Working Group
Aviation Near-term Noise Action Agenda Summary (as of 4/26)
Action Items
Late Night Noise Limitation
Program
Runway Use Program
Glide Slope Adjustment
Promoting Minimum
Thrust When Taxiing
Discouraging Reverse
Thrust
Encouraging Continuous
Taxi to Takeoffs
Noise Comment
Reporting
Description
Voluntary measure to reduce late
night (12:00 AM to 5:00 AM) noise
by incentivizing air carriers to fly
at less noise sensitive hours or
transition to quieter aircraft
Revise the current informal
Runway Use Program to minimize
use of the Third Runway during
the late night (12:00 AM to 5:00
AM)
Raise Runway 34R’s
glideslope to lessen aircraft
approach noise
To lessen noise, fuel
burn and jet blast
incidents, encourage
minimum necessary
thrust when taxiing.
When conditions are right,
discourage overuse of
reverse thrust to decelerate
aircraft
When conditions are
right, promote
continuous taxi to
takeoffs (rolling takeoffs)
Provide up-to-date,
accessible information on
noise complaints and
comments submitted by
the public
Components
• Ongoing outreach with air
carriers about possible late
night schedule and aircraft
fleet changes including
meetings with carriers with
the most noise exceedances
• Established noise thresholds
that identify aircraft exceeding
noise thresholds during the
late night hours
• Late night noise threshold
observance tracked and
reported out on a quarterly
basis and publicized as part of
the Fly Quiet Program
Updated language for:
• Third Runway
daytime/evening runway
usage
• Third Runway late night
runway usage
Considered various
strategies and timelines for
raising Runway 34R’s 2.75
degrees glideslope and
settled on plan to
permanently relocate 34R’s
navigational aids and
pursue a 3.0 degrees
glideslope with the FAA
Taxiing aircraft were
identified as a source of
noise in StART’s 2022
Ground Noise Study
Reverse thrust was
identified as a source of
noise in StART’s 2022
Ground Noise Study
Traditional takeoffs were
identified as a source of
noise in StART’s 2022
Ground Noise Study.
Monthly statistics and
heat map reports posted
on Port website detailing
totals and trends by city,
zip code and subject
matter. Regular updates
regarding noise complaint
data provided at StART
meetings.
Change
Reduction of aircraft noise during
the late night hours
Reduction of aircraft noise for
Third Runway adjacent
communities and communities
underneath the Third Runway’s
flightpath
Potential reduction of
aircraft noise for
communities south of SEA
Modest reduction of
aircraft noise and a
measurable effect on
reducing aircraft
emissions for close-in
airport communities
Reduction of aircraft noise
for close-in airport
communities
Modest reduction of
aircraft noise for
communities close to the
runway ends
Transparent and
convenient information
on noise complaints and
comments submitted by
public
Key
Responsible
Parties
Port of Seattle, airlines and air
cargo carriers
Port of Seattle and FAA
Port of Seattle and FAA
Port of Seattle, FAA and
airlines
Port of Seattle, FAA, airlines
and air cargo carriers
Port of Seattle, FAA,
airlines and air cargo
carriers
Port of Seattle
Status
Update
COMPLETE: Program commenced
in July 2019 with regular reporting
each quarter to external
audiences. EVA Air and FedEx
Express, two carriers that Port
staff met with as part of the
Program’s outreach, did
eventually incorporate newer,
quieter aircraft into their fleets.
COMPLETE: Implemented in
September 2019. Late night
operations on the Third Runway
dropped dramatically from an
average of 12 late night landings
pre-implementation to an average
of less than two late night landings
in 2023. The average has
fluctuated since 2023 but remains
well below the pre-
implementation average. Usage
continues to be monitored and
details communicated at StART
meetings.
IN PROCESS: The 34R glide
slope adjustment is
incorporated into a SEA
taxiway reconfiguration
project. Preliminary design
is complete.
Implementation is
contingent on the
Sustainable Airport Master
Plan’s (SAMP) finalization
and FAA approval.
COMPLETE: SEA
voluntary language
promoting use of single
engine taxiing
implemented in October
2024. After two 2025 jet
blast incidents, the
language was modified
to emphasize minimum
thrust in place of single-
engine taxiing. The new
language was
implemented in early
2026.
COMPLETE: Updated SEA
voluntary language
discouraging use of reverse
thrust at all times and
beyond what is necessary,
implemented in January
2023.
COMPLETE: New SEA
voluntary language
promoting use of
continuous taxi to
takeoffs implemented in
July 2023.
COMPLETE: Monthly
reports began in June
2020.