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Repairs to air traffic control tower will impact operations this month

Controllers will work from temporary tower

Aircraft arriving and departing King County International Airport-Boeing Field (KCIA) will be restricted during emergency maintenance on the Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT). Air traffic controllers at KCIA will be operating out of a temporary facility on the field while repairs are underway on the existing tower's stormwater drainage system. To safely complete this work, the tower cab must be vacated and closed during construction activities. Controllers will begin working from the temporary ATCT as of 6 p.m. local Pacific time on November 4. More information about the limited operations is available from the FAA. The repairs are expected to last about a month, but the airport will be working as quickly as possible so that operations can return to normal.

While the temporary tower will allow for continued airport operations, it has limited capabilities compared to the permanent facility. As a result, aircraft arriving and departing KCIA will be restricted during the repairs.

About the ATCT and need for maintenance

The tower at KCIA is owned and maintained by the airport, but staffed and operated by federal (FAA) employees. FAA controllers recently reported a water leak in the existing tower's cab. In response, the airport patched the tower roof. Despite this work, the water intrusion continued. Further investigation determined that a section of the tower's stormwater drainage system is either blocked or damaged. Because the section of pipe is located inside the cab and will require opening the roof, the fix requires the cab to be vacated during the repair work. The goal is to provide a long-term solution to the leaks and maintain a safe and reliable working environment for air traffic control personnel. Airport staff are coordinating closely with the FAA to minimize disruptions and complete the repairs as quickly as possible.

Anticipated operational impacts

  • Arrivals could be reduced to just a few per hour at King County International Airport-Boeing Field (BFI) depending on conditions. Arrivals could also be reduced to between 32 and 38 per hour at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) because the two airports coordinate and share airspace. Check NOTAMs for the most up-to-date guidance.
  • Pilots should anticipate using the RNAV approach into BFI due to the limited capabilities of the temporary tower.
  • No pattern work permitted.
  • No VFR transitions through the airspace.
  • No ATIS available.
  • Delays in clearance delivery can be expected.
  • Additional traffic management initiatives, restrictions, and delays may be implemented as necessary to support safe operations.

NOTAMs will be posted. Additional updates will be provided as more information becomes available, including the anticipated schedule for returning to normal operations. Airport users with questions can contact Airport Ops at AirportOps@kingcounty.gov or 206-296-7334.