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Seattle-Tacoma Worldwide Airport
- IATA/ICAO Code:
- SEA/KSEA
- Nation:
- United States
- CEO:
- Lance Lyttle
- Passenger Rely :
- 20,061,507 (2020)
- Runways :
- 16L/34R – 3,627m (11,901ft) |16C/34C – 2,873m (9,426ft) |16R/34L – 2,591m (8,500ft)
On August twelfth, 2022, I used to be a part of the primary Port of Seattle Seattle-Tacoma Worldwide Airport (Sea-Tac) photocall. It was an awesome honor to be solely a whole bunch of ft away with out glass in the way in which between my digicam and the plane I like watching.
A number of fundamental information about Seattle-Tacoma Worldwide Airport
A 23-photo panorama of Seattle-Tacoma Worldwide Airport taken airside. Photograph: Joe Kunzler | Easy Flying
Airport-specific app obtainable: YES
Identifier: KSEA
Gates: 103
Grand Opening: October 31, 1944
ILS: Sure
Nickname: Sea-Tac
Operator: Public, Port of Seattle
Runways: Three – 16L/34R (11901 x 150 ft, grooved concrete), 16C/34C (9426 x 150 ft, grooved concrete), and 16R/34L (8,500 x 150 ft, grooved concrete)
SEA Customer Cross
Photograph of one in every of 5 safety checkpoints for Seattle-Tacoma Worldwide Airport.
Photograph: Joe Kunzler | Easy Flying
Since I wished distinctive picture alternatives earlier than the photocall, I obtained a free SEA Customer Cross to stroll the airport and take pictures. One solely must go to this system’s webpage and enter the right private data for the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) to confirm and display you to use. Solely 100 souls per day might have one in every of these passes – so I utilized per week early.
Going over the June 2022 passenger statistics – the most recent obtainable as of press time – for Sea-Tac; contemplating that if every single day in June used all 100 slots, that whole of three,000 month-to-month go customers would solely be 0.07% in opposition to the sum of 4,226,242 whole passengers utilizing Sea-Tac in June 2022. It is good that the airport now has its personal FlySEA app additionally for the Apple App Retailer and in addition Google Play.
Introduction and statistics shared, I went by means of about 20 minutes of safety traces and screening to stroll by means of the airport. I maybe spent an excessive amount of time this journey within the renovated S Satellite tv for pc attempting to intercept worldwide aircrews and vacationers, not understanding that they deplane at a sure stage beneath the boarding stage. I additionally determined to deal with the A and B gates since I had perhaps as soon as walked by means of these areas. At the least I caught some distinctive pictures, as you’ll see under, and stated hello to some flight attendants.
Here is Delta Flight Attendant Christina. Photograph: Joe Kunzler | Easy Flying
Upon deplaning at Sea-Tac, many flight attendants and pilots change plane, and Christina with Delta Air Traces was no exception. We have been amazed that she was going off on a direct flight to Raleigh, North Carolina – a regional metropolis on the USA East Coast however whose airport was just lately profiled by Easy Flying.
I additionally noticed two eating alternatives with a dramatic distinction between the 2. On the one hand, the American quick meals chain McDonald’s gives cheeseburgers, fries, soda pop, and different easy meals. Alternatively is the French-Northwest mix The LouLou Market and Bar providing advantageous delicacies by Thierry Rautureau, who trademarked The Chef In The Hat. In response to the August 11, 2022, Port of Seattle weblog, Rautureau stated,
“LouLou is a feel-good café. Sip a glass of champagne on the bar or savor lunch on the terrace. We try to offer a little bit of Seattle to the vacationers.”
Nonetheless, I used to be centered on the planes and the bottom components, so please do not ask me in regards to the meals within the feedback. Nevertheless, I admit to going to a Starbucks for a caffeine increase.
A Delta Air Traces 737 on the Gate… And All Her Assist Vehicles Photograph: Joe Kunzler | Easy Flying
As you’ll be able to see above, only one Delta Air Traces Boeing 737 requires a gourmand truck, a number of baggage autos, and a tug. Behind the wing and a number of the baggage vehicles and trailers is a gasoline truck with a hose connecting the aircraft to the underground pipelines. If you happen to look carefully to the left, you’ll see a “Comply with Me” truck with an orange & white checkerboard flag. Perhaps at some point, I’ll spot a honey truck for all of the plane’s wastewater from the galleys and restrooms.
The air management towers
The newer Seattle-Tacoma Worldwide air management tower. Photograph: Joe Kunzler | Easy Flying
Any dialogue of Seattle-Tacoma Worldwide Airport is incomplete with out discussing the primary newer air management tower. This air management tower was devoted on Could 24, 2004, with US Senator Patty Murray talking. In response to her Senate web site,
I fly backwards and forwards between Washington state and Washington, D.C. virtually each week. I always remember as I journey that I’m counting on the clever judgment and regular fingers of dozens of air site visitors controllers who information my flight from coast to coast. People who find themselves so skilled, so expert, and so skilled that not a fair an earthquake can shake them from their dedication to the flying public.
In response to Airport Know-how, the newer air site visitors management tower is 269 ft tall, with the 850 sq. ft cab 233 ft excessive. That’s considerably bigger and better than the previous tower’s cab at 170 ft with a 500 sq. foot measurement cab.
The ramp tower of Seattle-Tacoma Worldwide Airport – used now to manage plane going to/from the taxiway to their gates.
Photograph: Joe Kunzler | Easy Flying
Right here is the older air site visitors management tower for Sea-Tac. This tower now serves because the ramp frequency management tower from 170 ft over the ramp. As talked about in a information final month, the ramp frequency is meant to information plane from the taxiway to their acceptable gate of 103 gates equally expeditiously and safely.
Runway lights
A Southwest Boeing 737-700 exhibits simply how the ALSF II strategy lights assist with each alignment and distance even throughout the day with a crosswind. Photograph: Joe Kunzler | Easy Flying
A part of the photocall tour included an opportunity to go up on one of many photogenic ALSF2/ALSF II strategy lights. In response to Avweb.com, these lights are comparatively frequent in the USA. The lights at evening and buildings throughout the day assist with alignment with and distance from the runway – particularly with the crabbing seen throughout the tour with many plane pointing into the crosswind on a brief remaining strategy.
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The various completely different plane of Sea-Tac
First, a phrase to the clever: This isn’t supposed to be an entire listing of plane or airways that fly out and in of Sea-Tac. However as an alternative of serious airways and plane that use the airport in August 2022. Most of those pictures are airside – once more, an enormous thanks to the Port of Seattle – however when acceptable or essential, from the terminal aspect.
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Sure, Seattle-Tacoma Worldwide Airport is a big cargo hub. For June 2022, the final month that statistics can be found, Seattle-Tacoma Worldwide Airport dealt with 38,549 metric tons of air freight out and in of the airport. That air freight involves and from the airport to and from Asia, Europe, and the Americas.
FedEx Boeing 777-FS2 on quick remaining – Boeing 777 Freighter of Federal Specific moving into behind my fellow photographers. Photograph: Joe Kunzler | Easy Flying
Talking of contributors to Seattle-Tacoma Worldwide Airport site visitors, right here’s this Federal Specific (FedEx) Boeing 777-FS2 on quick remaining in entrance of my fellow photographers. FedEx has a base on the airport and, in keeping with June 2022 statistics, made 167 landings, the second most air cargo airline visits for the airport after Air Transport Worldwide at 176. For comparability, Asiana Airways made 21 cargo landings in June 2022.
The Boeing 777-FS2 is also called the Boeing 777 Freighter. The 777 Freighter can take a 224,900 lb (102,000 kg) payload of 38 pallets 4,970 nautical miles. Already, although, Boeing will launch a 777X freighter surpassing these efficiency statistics.
On the opposite aspect of the scale spectrum and transitioning from air cargo, no 2021 photoshoot of Seattle-Tacoma Worldwide Airport can be full with out some De Havilland of Canada Sprint-8-400 (aka Q400) pictures. Come January 2023, Alaska Airways will divest from its regional subsidiary Horizon Air fleet their Sprint-8-400s. Easy Flying has already carried out a visit assessment and documented why Alaska Airways is making the transition to single jet fleets.
Horizon Air’s two plane sorts – the Sprint 8-400 to the left, the ERJ-175 to the best. Be aware the runway highway in between for emergency autos. Photograph: Joe Kunzler | Easy Flying
As you’ll have seen by now, the escorted photocall was travailing the roads between the energetic runways in official autos. These roads are supposed to offer the power for emergency autos to get to an plane in misery inside three minutes. Which additionally created these distinctive picture alternatives like this Embraer ERJ-175 main the Sprint-8-400.
Quickly, Alaska Airways will divest Airbuses, too, like this A320 pictured right here. Photograph: Joe Kunzler | Easy Flying
Talking of one other airframe about to not be in an Alaska Airways livery, right here’s an Airbus A320 sliding in underneath the Runway 16R ALSF2 strategy lights. This Airbus was a part of Alaska Airways buying Virgin America. As per the most recent earnings name for Alaska Airways, the Airbus A320s will begin retiring within the fourth quarter of 2022, with the upper capability A321s anticipated to fly for Alaska Airways by means of 2023.
The long run is beginning to arrive for Alaska Airways in 737 MAXs as one lifts off from Sea-Tac. Photograph: Joe Kunzler | Easy Flying
The long run for Alaska Airways is obvious – the airline desires to go all in on the 737 MAX for mainline service. The brand new 737 variant is extra environment friendly, and I daresay extra photogenic.
This Boeing 737-800 of Delta Air Traces is off to Raleigh. Photograph: Joe Kunzler | Easy Flying
Right here’s Christina’s journey to Raleigh, North Carolina. It’s a Boeing 737-832(WL).
It’s additionally value noting that in keeping with June 2022 Seattle-Tacoma Worldwide Airport statistics, Delta mainline flight operations supplied 19.57% of the passengers to the airport with 827,240. The Delta Connections regional hub gives a further 4.62% with 195,327 passengers. The airline’s hub right here is important as mixed; Delta gives over 24% of the passenger site visitors because of substantial home and worldwide service.
Sure, Southwest Airways is flying 737s of varied sorts out of Sea-Tac. Photograph: Joe Kunzler | Easy Flying
After merging Alaska Airways’ Horizon & SkyWest statistics and Delta Air Traces + Delta Connection, Southwest Airways contains the third most landings for June 2022 by 892. The above Southwest Airways 737-700 photographed from the airport penthouse was headed to San Jose, California.
United Airways is flying 737 MAXs out of Sea-Tac. Photograph: Joe Kunzler | Easy Flying
For fourth place is United Airways at 706 landings. Right here’s a Boeing 737 MAX 9 heading to Chicago.
British Airways now sends a pair of 787 Dreamliners out to Seattle-Tacoma Worldwide Airport from London’s Heathrow Worldwide Airport day by day. It’s good seeing the British flag provider come twice a day.
To not be outdone, the opposite main British airline – Virgin Atlantic – additionally sends a 787 Dreamliner as soon as a day to Seattle and again. As you’ll be able to see within the first picture, the Port of Seattle kindly let photographers go up into the penthouse atop the primary terminal to have a look. The views and picture ops have been nothing wanting beautiful. Whereas transitioning, I acquired the privilege of a selfie with the superior Virgin Atlantic cabin crew as you’ll be able to see above.
The Irish despatched an Aer Lingus Airbus A330 from Dublin, Eire, to Seattle, Washington, on a seasonal flight. So too, Finnair now sends an Airbus A330 from Helsinki 3 times per week.
Sure, Condor sends a day by day flight in from Frankfurt. This striped jet is an Airbus A330. Photograph: Joe Kunzler | Easy Flying
Sure, Condor Airways comes out to Seattle-Tacoma Worldwide Airport. Condor additionally has a partnership with Alaska Airways, the place flying on Condor Airways equals miles on Alaska Airways.
The German flag provider Lufthansa kindly sends a Boeing 747-400 again to the megalopolis she was born from day by day. Because the Boeing 747 fades from passenger service, this sight is far appreciated by Northwesteners.
Icelandair Boeing 757 Rising Over SeaTac Heading to Reykjavík. Photograph: Joe Kunzler | Easy Flying
Value noting that Icelandair sends a Boeing 757 as much as twice a day from Reykjavík to Sea-Tac. Later this decade, Icelandair will divest of their Boeing 757s.
This Turkish Airways 787-9 got here from Istanbul, Türkiye, and now about to land at SeaTac. Photograph: Joe Kunzler | Easy Flying
In response to an August 2022 Airways Journal interview with their Chairman, Dr. Ahmet Bolar, Turkish Airways prides itself on flying to 128 nations, 331 cities, and 336 locations – extra nations and worldwide locations than some other airline with a powerful deal with Africa. So, seeing this Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner soar in symbolizes an airbridge to Türkiye with connections to Africa.
-Rising-From-SeaTac_3MP.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=480&dpr=1.5)
To not be outdone, the Center Jap airways Emirates and Qatar Airways have been capable of launch their Boeing 777-300ER jetliners to take nice circle routes to Dubai and Doha respectfully. Not simply are Center Jap connections enabled, but in addition connections to many world locations on these two high-quality airways.
Sure, Air Canada will assist preserve the sounds of turboprops right here as soon as Alaska Airways divests from the Sprint 8-400. Photograph: Joe Kunzler | Easy Flying
Right here’s an Air Canada Sprint-8-400 heading out. Sure, even after Alaska Airways retires the airframe – in January 2023, the Canadian airways Air Canada and WestJet will nonetheless be bringing turboprops to Seattle-Tacoma Worldwide Airport.
Value noting the world’s longest aerial walkway over an energetic plane taxi-lane within the background. This walkway is just for deplaning worldwide aircrew and passengers.
To shut out the photocall, take pleasure in watching this Delta Air Traces 737-900(ER) “Spirit of Seattle” coming into the gate. Photograph: Joe Kunzler | Easy Flying
To shut out the day, Delta Air Traces’ “The Spirit of Seattle” – a Boeing 737-932(ER) pulled into the gate. This plane simply arrived from Atlanta. She was the ninth Boeing 737-900(ER) delivered to Delta Air Traces. In response to a Delta Air Traces assertion issued on a Dec. 5, 2013, supply, the identify “The Spirit of Seattle” is within the phrases of former Delta Air Traces Vice President for Seattle Mike Medeiros.
For 80 years, our clients, staff, and companions in Seattle have embraced Delta, and our progress right here wouldn’t be potential with out them. The Spirit of Seattle plane will proudly bear its identify because it travels across the nation as a illustration of Delta’s historical past in Seattle and an indication of our thanks and dedication to our future right here.
Certainly, a becoming tribute to one in every of aviation’s best cities. However I am a bit biased as I reside about 100 miles away from Seattle.
What do you consider Seattle-Tacoma Worldwide Airport? Tell us within the feedback.
Sources: Airport Know-how, Avweb.com, Port of Seattle, US Senator Patty Murray
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