Commercial Aviation Coordinating Commission
The Commercial Aviation Coordinating Commission's work was completed June 2023. The group was created by the Legislature to develop recommendations to meet Washington state critical aviation system capacity needs.
A follow-up group was created by the Legislature called the Commercial Aviation Work Group.
Information
Stay engaged (9/5/23)
Visit the Commercial Aviation Work Group website for continued updates as that group will use information found during the CACC as a baseline of information.
Background
The CACC began in October 2019 and is required to meet three deadlines:
- Phase 1: Provide an initial list of six possible locations to the Legislature by January 1, 2021 [Completed]
- Phase 2: Provide a list of the top two locations (options) by October 15, 2022 [Completed]
- Phase 3: Provide a single preferred location recommendation by June 15, 2023
As part of the recommendation approved by the Commission September 2022, the number of greenfield options provided by the consultant working on the aviation system plan was narrowed to three based on the technical data available. The commission will now focus on community engagement and additional technical analysis in order to narrow the options down further in the Spring of 2023.
The opportunity for community feedback is now more focused on the greenfield sites. Prior to this, it was focused on existing airport communities as that list of options was narrowed.
The consultant for the Washington Aviation System Plan (WASP) has been conducting technical analysis that also serves the needs of the Commission. The two activities are separate endeavors but have similar interests. The reason the CACC decided to continue to consider the three greenfield sites is because all the analysis has not yet been completed; the CACC had a legislative deadline to report a reduced list of locations to the legislature. Since there are still three sites being analyzed, the CACC chose to continue to examine these three sites as one of the options. The analysis that is remaining includes:
- Airspace review – with assistance from the FAA
- Air cargo analysis
- Additional environmental factor analysis
- Transportation/access analysis
- Infrastructure analysis
- Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) cost estimates
Once this analysis is complete, the consultant planning team will provide the data to the Commission. We anticipate the first round of information in the February 2023 time frame and will schedule a commission meeting once the information is available.
The public is invited to future meetings and there will be an opportunity for public comments, and you will also see concentrated efforts for community input in and around the greenfield areas.
The Commercial Aviation Coordinating Commission was created by the Legislature and tasked WSDOT Aviation to provide staff support for coordinating and administering the commission and technical assistance as requested by commission members.
The CACC aims to recommend a single preferred location for a new commercial service airport by June 15, 2023. In addition to recommending a new primary commercial aviation facility, the commission will recommend additional ways to accommodate capacity needs at other facilities.
We are responsible, according to the Legislature (PDF 76 KB), for the administration of the commission’s work while providing technical support to the commission members.
Communication to the public and stakeholders will be crucial for CACC. The communication plan will provide the following:
- A logical and factual framework for understanding the issues that must be addressed by the CACC and for understanding how the decisions will be made.
- Meaningful ways for people who want to be included and involved in the deliberations of the CACC.
- Assure that major stakeholders, such as local governments, the aviation industry, airports, and regional planning agencies have timely information to assure meaningful input
Commission recommendations (Phase 2)
The current Commission’s recommendations are as follows:
- Add capacity to Paine Field according to its Airport Master Plan (with potential for additional capacity), assume SEA executes its SAMP, assist other airports interested in pursuing regional commercial service (distributed air service supported by emerging technology)
- Continue to develop a greenfield site option with a two (2) runway configuration. Pierce County Central, Pierce County East and Thurston County Central are the three greenfield sites remaining under consideration for a new airport, out of the 10 that were analyzed by the state's consultant.
2023
- CACC FAQ (PDF 120KB)
- CACC Online Open House Full Report March 2023 (PDF 1.9MB)
- CACC Final Report 2023 (PDF 625KB)
2022
- Understanding the Capacity Issue (PDF 1.38MB)
- CACC and WASP Roles 2022 (PDF 101KB)
- CACC Report Feb. 2022 (PDF 396KB)
- WASP Screening Process 2022 (PDF 5.5MB)
- Online Open House Full Report Sept. 2022 (PDF 19.9MB)
- Virtual Public Meeting Questions (PDF 208KB)
- CACC Report Oct. 2022 (PDF 140KB)
- CACC Phase 2 Infographic (PDF 915KB)
- Airport of the Future Information Paper (PDF 1.26MB)
- The 1992 PSRC Flight Plan Study is available via email by request at CACC@wsdot.wa.gov
- Historically Underutilized Business Report (PDF 227KB)
2021
2020
Past meetings and events
June 9, 2023 - Final CACC In Person & Virtual Public Meeting
- The meeting took place in person at South Puget Sound Community College, 4220 6th Ave SE, Lacey, WA 98503, Building 1.
- Watching the recording of the meeting
- Meeting Summary (PDF 107KB)
- Agenda (PDF 135KB)
- PowerPoint is available upon request, please email christina.crea@wsdot.wa.gov
March 30, 2023 - CACC Virtual Public Meeting
- Watch the recording of the meeting
- Agenda (PDF 114KB)
- Meeting Summary (PDF 225KB)
- PowerPoint is available upon request, please email christina.crea@wsdot.wa.gov
March 8, 2023 - Virtual Public Meeting
March 9, 2023 - Virtual Public Meeting
Virtual drop-in sessions
Thank you all for joining our CACC Drop-In Office Hours. Recordings will be available soon.
- Tuesday, December 6, from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. Watch recording of meeting
- Monday, December 12, from noon to 1 p.m. Watch recording of meeting
- Wednesday, December 14, 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Watch recording of meeting
- Wednesday, February 1, 2023, from Noon – 1 p.m. Watch recording of meeting
- Monday, February 6, 2023, from 5:15-6:15 p.m. Watch recording of meeting
Sept. 23, 2022 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. - Virtual Public Meeting
CACC Online Open House Aug. 15 - Sept. 11, 2022
August 31, 2022 Virtual Open House
August 23, 2022 Virtual Open House
June 23, 2022 1 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. - Virtual Public Meeting
- Agenda (PDF 116KB)
- Pandemic Finding (PDF 60KB)
- Watch the recording of the meeting
- Meeting Summary (PDF 189KB)
- PowerPoint is available upon request, please email christina.crea@wsdot.wa.gov
April 20, 2022 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. - Virtual Public Webinar
- Watch the recording of the meeting
- Agenda (PDF 244KB)
- PowerPoint is available upon request, please email christina.crea@wsdot.wa.gov
Feb. 16, 2022, 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.- Virtual Public Webinar
- CACC online open house results
- Watch the recording of the meeting
- PowerPoint is available upon request, please email christina.crea@wsdot.wa.gov
Jan. 6, 2022, 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. - Virtual Public Meeting
- Watch the recording of the meeting
- Meeting summary (PDF 243KB)
- Agenda (PDF 130KB)
- PowerPoint is available upon request, please email christina.crea@wsdot.wa.gov
CACC Online Open House Sept. 20 - Dec. 8, 2021
Dec. 7, 2021, 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. - Virtual Public Meeting
- Agenda (PDF 124KB)
- Watch the recording of the meeting
- Meeting summary (PDF 87KB)
- PowerPoint is available upon request, please email christina.crea@wsdot.wa.gov
Nov. 10, 2021, 8:30 a.m. - 10 a.m. - Virtual Public Meeting and webinar
- Agenda (PDF 125KB)
- Meeting Summary (PDF 164KB)
- Watch the recording of the meeting
- PowerPoint is available upon request, please email christina.crea@wsdot.wa.gov
August 26, 2021, 9 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Virtual Public Meeting
- TVW (Washington Public Affairs Network) live streamed the meeting from their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=626987074954376&ref=search
- Agenda (PDF 151KB)
- Meeting Summary (PDF 249KB)
- PowerPoint is available upon request, please email christina.crea@wsdot.wa.gov
June 15, 2021, 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Virtual Public Webinar
- Webinar on emerging aeronautics.
- PowerPoint is available upon request, please email christina.crea@wsdot.wa.gov
April 29, 2021, 8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. Webinar and Virtual Public Meeting
- The webinar will provide CACC members with examples of project costs for recent Washington state airport expansion projects.
- The meeting will be a presentation and discussion on the six initial sites and their potential to meet anticipated commercial passenger service, air cargo, and general aviation demand.
- Agenda (PDF 110KB)
- White Paper Summary (PDF 100KB)
- Meeting Summary (PDF 136KB)
- Watch the recording of the meeting
Feb. 16, 2021, 9 a.m. - 10 a.m. Virtual Public Webinar
- Webinar on federal and state funding
- PowerPoint (Please email to obtain)
- Watch the recording of the meeting
Dec. 9, 2020, 9 a.m. - 10 a.m. Virtual Public Webinar
- Webinar on SeaTac Sustainability and UW ultrafine particulate studies
- PowerPoint (Please email to obtain)
Oct. 21, 2020, 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. Virtual Public Meeting
July 22, 2020, 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. Virtual Public Meeting
- Agenda (PDF 439KB)
- PowerPoint (PDF 931KB)
- Watch the recording of the meeting
- Meeting Summary (PDF 296KB)
April 2020 straw poll on a preferred strategy
Commissioners participated in a straw poll on a preferred strategy (no decision was made) for addressing Washington's aviation capacity and offered their preferences, along with comments on their reasons for doing so. The results of the poll are as follows:
1. Develop on large Sea-Tac-size airport: 0
2. Expand and/or improve one or more existing airports, to provide commercial and freight service: 7
3. Combine these strategies to meet near-term capacity needs from existing airports while conducting the processes necessary for a large new airport: 14
4. I don't know: 0
5. No answer: 4
Survey comments (PDF 202KB)
Jan. 9, 2020
- 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
- Sea-Tac Airport, Central auditorium
- Agenda (PDF 117KB)
- PowerPoint Handout (Please email to obtain)
- Regional Aviation Baseline Study (Please email to obtain)
- Meeting Summary (PDF 802KB)
Oct. 30, 2019
- 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
- Capitol Campus, Joel M. Pritchard Building, 415 15th Ave. SW, Olympia, WA 98504, Washington Room
- The meeting was recorded by TVW
- Agenda (PDF 18.2KB)
- Meeting Summary (PDF 435KB)
166,800 electric vehicle
registrations in Washington in 2023, up from 114,600 in 2022.
87 wetland compensation sites
actively monitored on 918 acres in 2023.
25,000 safe animal crossings
in the Snoqualmie Pass East Project area since 2014.