Page 7 - Jan 24

“The densely forested mountains that make up North Cascades National Park are steep, jagged and teeming with glaciers, alpine lakes and lush valleys.”
Beyond the Emerald City
The northwestern most corner of the continental United States is well known for its coffee-loving and rain-soaked signature city, Seattle. While much of Seattle is inviting to tourists, the wonders of nature which surround the metroplex on all sides are both wonderful and expansive. Any Pacific Northwest tour is incomplete without at least taking in a sampling of those areas. For Part 1 of this article, we’ll focus on those northeast and northwest of Seattle; the aforementioned NCNP to the northeast and Olympic National Park (ONP) to the northwest, plus associated National Park Service (NPS) sites and areas. Fortunately, the entire area is also well-served by all manner of airports, from major international hubs – Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA) – to small backcountry strips such as Stehekin State (6S9). The airports in between those bookend examples are the most inviting to general aviation.
Popular airports for business and charter operations on Seattle’s north side are Boeing Field-King Co. Int’l (KBFI) and Paine Field Int’l (KPAE), both Class D airports under the lateral limits of KSEA’s Class Bravo. Bellingham Int’l (KBLI) Class D airspace is well north
and less than 15 miles from the Canadian border. As one would expect from having “international” in their names, all have customs services available, wide/long runways and multiple Instrument Approach Procedure (IAP) options available to pilots. Popular and capable pilot- controlled airports in the same area include Arlington Municipal (KAWO) and Skagit Regional (KBVS). Each hosts a mixture of business and recreational aviation, offers standard FBO and fuel services, and has IAPs that
JANUARY 2024
KING AIR MAGAZINE • 5