Chart Wise: Paine Field ILS Y or LOC Y Rwy 16R

Here are the procedures, limitations, and details for this busy Seattle-area airport.

Jason Blair

Wednesday, February 11, 2026 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Seattle Paine Field is a tactical hub for the region, housing more than 500 aircraft of all categories. [Credit: Snohomish County]

Key Takeaways:

The ILS Y or LOC Y approach to Seattle Paine Field (KPAE) Runway 16R involves specific feeder routes and uses VOR/DME or IFR GPS for identifying waypoints like EYWOK and ITIPE.
Operational restrictions for this approach include its unavailability for faster aircraft (categories C and D) and a prohibition against circling to land on Runway 34R at night.
Pilots are aided by visual systems such as the PAPI (Precision Approach Path Indicator) on Runway 16R and color-changing centerline lighting on Runway 16R/34L to indicate remaining runway distance, especially in low visibility.

See a mistake? Contact us.

Tucked under the north side of Seattle’s very busy Class B airspace is Seattle Paine Field International (KPAE) in Everett, Washington. The airport is home to the Boeing factory, the largest building on earth by volume, airline operations, and a robust general aviation contingent.

This Article First Appeared in FLYING Magazine

If you're not already a subscriber, what are you waiting for? Subscribe today to get the issue as soon as it is released in either Print or Digital formats.