Although Everett's city council and mayor support introducing commercial flights at the airport, Snohomish County officials led by County Executive Aaron Reardon are opposed. Mayor Haakenson was present and distributed a letter signed by county and some city officials including our mayor opposing it but took no part in the presentation or the questions afterward. Noise was one factor pointed out as was interference with Boeing's use of the runway.
The county-owned airport is used by Boeing to deliver its large wide-body jets; small general-aviation airplanes also fly in and out.
Several of our members disagreed with reasons set forth in the letter opposing Horizons use of the airport. The planes to be used by Horizon would be turbo prop aircraft which were very silent, particularly when compared to the testing of engines by Boeing and the use of the airport by Boeing's new planes. The thought that Horizon's use would interfere with Boeing's use did not seem valid.
The controversy made an interesting meeting.
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