The Washington State Transportation Commission has adopted a statewide advisory committee's recommendations for a new state aviation policy. The policy features changes to the state's roles in airport preservation, aviation safety, airport capacity, environmental protection, and educational outreach on aviation issues. The new policy strengthens the state's role as an advocate and a facilitator of aviation interests. Over 10 million passengers now land and take off from a Washington airport every year, more than 500,000 metric tons of air cargo pass through our state airports, and more and more pilots depend on the state's 129 public use airports.
Aviation plays a critical role in our state's transportation system.
With new challenges facing Washington's aviation system, there is a need for clear policy direction to meet these new challenges. In 1996, the Washington State Transportation Commission convened a group of aviation stakeholders to identify key aviation challenges, beyond our current role, and make recommendations on the state's role in addressing them. This Aviation Policy Advisory Committee included members of the Washington Pilots Association, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, small airports, the Washington Airport Management Association, cities and counties, airlines, state and federal agencies, ports, regional transportation planning organizations and community groups. The Advisory Committee developed a set of policy recommendations that was presented to pilot and aircraft owner organizations, industry groups, and other stakeholders throughout Washington between December 1997 and March 1998. After incorporating comments from these public forums, the Advisory Committee presented its report to the Washington State Transportation Commission in late March.