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Pilot group representative urges council to oppose transmission-line route across Arlington Airport property, warns of safety risk
Summary
A pilot and airport-services representative told council that a proposed Snohomish County PUD transmission line route across airport property and tree removal plans pose aviation safety risks; he also described volunteer animal relief flights arriving from Southern California.
Kevin Duncan, a pilot and founder of the local chapter of the Washington Pilots Association who also represents Arlington Flight Services, used public comment to raise two concerns: a surge of volunteer flights carrying animals from southern California fire zones, and a proposed transmission-line route across Arlington Airport property that he said would create an unacceptable flight-safety hazard.
On animal relief flights, Duncan said volunteers are bringing animals into the airport and local shelters are helping to offload and process them. “Most of these planes that come up are volunteers. They're people that... have a sincere feeling for these animals, and they bring them up here,” he said, urging support for the effort.
Duncan’s primary concern was a proposed Snohomish County PUD transmission route that, he said, would run down 59th on airport property. He told council he had walked the proposed route and believes the line would be 115,000 volts and placed where departing or arriving aircraft might encounter it. He said a collision with a transmission line would be unsurvivable and urged the city to seek a route along 63rd instead.
Council asked staff to look into the routing and any existing right-of-way permissions; staff said they would follow up and report back to council. Duncan said he and the Washington Pilots Association plan to raise the issue at the airport commission and with PUD staff.
