Pilots Lament Likely Loss of Beloved Washington Airport

First Air Field will probably make way for a new electrical utility base in a few years.

Monday, September 09, 2024 at 05:01 PM ET

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First Air Field Airport Runway located on flat grasslands near the roadway. [Courtesy: Washington State Department of Transportation]

Key Takeaways:

First Air Field (W16), a private airport south of Seattle, is slated for closure and redevelopment into a crucial electrical utility center for the Snohomish County Public Utility District.
The utility district is acquiring the 36-acre site for $7 million, asserting it's the optimal location to centralize electrical distribution services and meet the county's rapid growth needs.
Local pilots and the city's mayor are opposing the decision, lamenting the loss of the historic community airport and its role, despite the acknowledged need for utility facilities.
The deal is expected to proceed, marking the end of First Air Field as a special place for the aviation community, though construction of the new utility facility will take several years.

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A much-need electrical utility center may soon replace a beloved private airport south of Seattle, and a local utilities manager, himself a pilot, who helped make the call says there’s just no better option.

Mark Flury, a pilot based at another airport, told the Seattle Times he well understands the turmoil the closure of First Air Field (W16) in Monroe, Washington, will cause, but the 36-acre parcel really is a great spot to centralize the Snohomish County Public Utility District electrical distribution services.

Russ Niles

Russ Niles is Editor-in-Chief of AVweb. He has been a pilot for 30 years and joined AVweb 22 years ago. He and his wife Marni live in southern British Columbia where they also operate a small winery.