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Boeing may expand at Renton airport(Seattle Times, The (KRT) Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) Oct. 4--Boeing is considering expanding operations at the Renton Municipal Airport, a move that could ground a controversial proposal to create an executive jet center there. Preeti Shridhar, spokeswoman for the city of Renton, said word that Boeing may want additional space to test planes from its Next-Generation 737 group was a "welcome surprise" to Renton officials, who had been exploring a plan to build a center for executive jets there instead. The jet-center idea will soon be history, said City Councilman Randy Corman. The airport doesn't have room for both. City Councilman Don Persson said he prefers Boeing use the space -- "and frankly, so will our residents." Many in Renton and Mercer Island have opposed a jet center, fearing the small executive planes would create too much noise over their neighborhoods. Renton officials learned of Boeing's interest Monday at a regular meeting between company and city officials. Boeing spokeswoman Cristina McHugh confirmed the company is studying the possibility of using apron B at the Renton Municipal Airport to test planes in its 737 group and has asked Renton if the space is available. Boeing currently leases apron A at the airport. The company previously leased aprons B and C as well but did not renew the lease last year, McHugh said. But in an e-mail to city staff, airport manager Ryan Zulauf said Boeing made "a request to permanently release all five aircraft positions" on apron B and that the city of Renton intends to accommodate that request, adding, "We all know how well the 737 is selling and it is important to support that program." The Next-Generation 737 is the best-selling single-aisle jetliner, with more than 4,000 airplanes ordered and 2,300 deliveries, McHugh said. Renton civic leaders came up with the idea of a jet center a few years ago as a way to make use of space that would be freed up at the airport when Boeing and other tenants did not renew their leases. The idea didn't fly with everyone. Earlier this year, angry residents packed community meetings on the proposal, arguing against it. In March, Renton agreed to ease up on its jet-center plans and join Mercer Island in funding a $130,000 noise study. Shridhar, the Renton spokeswoman, said the noise study will proceed, though the scope of it could change. The airport, which handles small-aircraft traffic, is self-sustaining but is not a major source of revenue for the city. In 1947, the federal government signed surplus land along the shores of Lake Washington over to the city for $1, with the stipulation that Renton would operate an airport in perpetuity. If it fails to do so, the FAA can reclaim the airport and hand it over to another jurisdiction to operate. In recent years, Renton Municipal Airport has been operating below capacity, with about 85,000 takeoffs and landings per year, mostly recreational flights, compared with more than 200,000 takeoffs and landings per year in the 1970s. Amy Roe: 206-464-3347 or [email protected] SE Living reporter Karen Johnson contributed to this report. To see more of The Seattle Times, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.seattletimes.com. Copyright (c) 2007, Seattle Times Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. |