UPDATE for Oct. 30

Anyone with concerns over current aircraft noise or other issues is invited to a public forum with the FAA and Port of Seattle, with jurisdiction over SeaTac Airport and Boeing Field.

Here are the details from the FAA:
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Port of Seattle (Port) will facilitate a public meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 13 to provide information on existing flight procedures into and out of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and Boeing Field.

The meeting details are as follows:
Who: Representatives from the FAA, Port of Seattle and King County Airport/Boeing Field.

When: Tuesday, Nov. 13, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Where: Cleveland High School - Auditorium
5511 15th Ave S.
Seattle, WA 98108

Update for Oct. 19
UPDATE 3: Oct. 23 FAA/Port of Seattle Public Forum cancelled; Will be rescheduled for November

The Oct. 23 FAA Forum in Beacon Hill has been cancelled by the FAA and Port of Seattle. They intend to reschedule the event for next month. Also, a reminder that the FAA said they will only discuss current flight procedures at the forum, meaning programs of the future, including the Greener Skies Proposal are off the table.

Here is the FAA announcement:

Due to scheduling challenges, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Port of Seattle (Port) are in the process of rescheduling the public meeting originally set for Oct. 23 to provide information on existing flight procedures into and out of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

The FAA and Port are working with community leaders to identify the most convenient date and location for a meeting in November.

Update for Oct. 5
When we reported on Sept. 20 that the FAA was holding an Oct. 23 forum in Beacon Hill, our understanding was that any and all air traffic concerns were on the table to be discussed, including their Greener Skies proposal.

In a followup email from Allen Kenitzer with the FAA, that appears not to be the case.

He writes, "The purpose of the meeting is to educate and discuss current/existing operations. It is not a Greener Skies meeting."

It is still a good opportunity to talk about any noise or traffic concerns you currently have.

Also, here is the updated time for the forum (changed from 6-8 to 6:30 to 8:30):

The meeting will be held on Oct. 23 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the New Holly Gathering Hall at 7054 32nd Ave S. in Beacon Hill.

Basically, Greener Skies is a plan to alter flight paths into and out of SeaTac and Boeing Field, resulting in more efficient routing and fuel use. Neighborhoods across Seattle (including Alki in West Seatte) have expressed concern the changes might mean more noise overhead. The FAA responded that any increases would be "imperceptible." The public comment period for the environmental assessment phase of the project ended on Sept. 14.

To read more about Greener Skies, please check out our prior coverage or visit the FAA information page.

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Update for Sept. 28
FAA’s Greener Skies comment period is over; next chance is Oct. 23
The West Seattle Herald reached out to the FAA for more details on the Greener Skies initiative, whether community concern over the potential increase in noise is, in their opinion, justified, and the lack of South Seattle meeting locations (the October meeting is in Beacon Hill, much closer to West Seattle and White Center).

Here is the statement we received from Allen Kenitzer with the FAA:

Over the last eight months, the FAA has provided opportunities for the public to review and comment on the proposed Greener Skies project. The project’s Draft Environmental Analysis (EA) shows the initiative appears to be able to achieve its objectives, which include improving efficiency in complex airspace while enhancing safety, providing more direct aircraft routing, decreasing the amount of communications between controllers and pilots and increasing flight path predictability and flexibility. While the Draft EA identified areas where noise levels could increase slightly, the degree of increase is expected to be imperceptible. During public meetings earlier this month, the FAA heard concerns about existing aircraft noise that is unrelated to the Greener Skies initiative. The FAA has committed to meet with affected communities to discuss those concerns and work to identify ways to address them.

Details on the October 23 meeting to further discuss those concerns:
The meeting will be held on Oct. 23 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the New Holly Gathering Hall at 7054 32nd Ave S. in Beacon Hill (a bit closer to West Seattle and White Center than prior meetings).

Original post on Sept. 20
The public comment period for the FAA Greener Skies program (you can read plenty about it here) ended on Sept. 14, and while Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn sent a letter to the FAA on that date requesting an additional 30 days for comments and an additional meeting for residents in south Seattle, that won’t be happening until next month.

The FAA is holding a broader public forum on Oct. 23 to discuss and answer questions on Greener Skies and any other air traffic issues over Seattle, according to McGinn's staff.

The meeting will be held on Oct. 23 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the New Holly Gathering Hall at 7054 32nd Ave S. in Beacon Hill (a bit closer to West Seattle and White Center than prior meetings).

The Mayor’s request for an extension rose out of several Seattle neighborhoods’ concern that Greener Skies, while promising quieter, more fuel and cost-efficient landing patterns into SeaTac, could lead to significantly more noise as more planes fly over certain neighborhoods, including Alki and the Duwamish Head.

The Alki Community Council will discuss those concerns tonight, Sept. 20, from 7-9 p.m. at the Alki UCC Church, 6115 S.W. Hinds St.