Flight School Move to Boeing Field Triggers Controversy

Rainier Flight Service was granted 12 aircraft tie-downs, angering more than 100 aircraft owners on a waitlist.

Wednesday, February 26, 2025 at 03:33 PM ET

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Aerial view of King County International Airport-Boeing Field looking south down Runway 14R toward Mount Rainier [Credit: King County]

Key Takeaways:

Rainier Flight Service (RFS), the largest flight school in the Puget Sound, has relocated its main operations to King County International Airport-Boeing Field (KBFI) after its lease at Renton Municipal Airport became unsustainable.
The move to KBFI fills a void left by the abrupt closure of Galvin Flying Service and involves RFS positioning 12 aircraft, with plans for additional maintenance and briefing facilities.
King County prioritized RFS, a commercial flight training operation, for tie-down space over individuals on a waitlist, a decision supported by AOPA as compliant with FAA policy and the "highest and best use" of airport property for the aviation community.

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Rainier Flight Service (RFS), the largest flight school in the Puget Sound region in Washington state, now has an operation at King County International Airport-Boeing Field (KBFI).

RFS is positioning 12 aircraft at KBFI in tie-downs located on the southwest side of the airport, and school officials report they are also in pursuit of a small hangar to conduct maintenance operations and pilot briefs.

Meg Godlewski

Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.