Airport Biography and Background

The Auburn Municipal Airport is a public use airfield centrally located within the I-5 corridor of Western Washington. Sitting 45 minutes south of Seattle and just 25 minutes North of Tacoma, we are perfectly situated to serve the growing needs of Pilots and General Aviation Enthusiasts here in the Pacific North West.


At the direction of Mayor Shaughnessey in 1962, a Committee was appointed to find a suitable location within the City of Auburn for construction of a new airport. After years of feasibility studies and the subsequent acquisition of funds, the Auburn Municipal Airport was opened in 1969 with a 2,900' runway and an adjacent paved taxiway. The Airport was renamed Dick Scobee Field in honor of the late Francis Richard Scobee, an Auburn Native and the last Commander of the Space Shuttle Challenger (STS-51L). 


Numerous upgrades to the Airport's facilities have occurred over the years and has continued to this day. Auburn Tenants and Stakeholders can look forward to a new extension on Runway 16/34 that brings our dimensions up from 3,400' x 75' to 3,841' x 75'. This project is slated to begin Spring of 2020 and hopes to cater to more mid sized Turbo Prop Aircraft (Pilatus PC-12s) as well as some smaller corporate jets (Citation Mustangs).


The Auburn Municipal Airport is classified as a Public-Use, General Aviation Regional-Reliever Airport within the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS).  Participation in the NPIAS is limited to public use airports that meet specific FAA activity criteria. The FAA recognizes NPIAS airports as being vital to serving the public needs of air transportation. In doing so, the FAA recognizes that access to the nation’s air transportation system is not limited to commercial air service. There are more than 3,300 NPIAS airports, of which more than 75 percent are general aviation airports similar to Auburn Municipal. Auburn Municipal is one of five airports in King County (Auburn, SEATAC, King County International/Boeing Field, Renton Municipal, and Vashon). Other nearby NPIAS airports are located in Puyallup (Pierce County/Thun Field) and Tacoma (Tacoma Narrows). The nearest scheduled commercial air service is available at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEATAC), less than 10 miles northwest of Auburn. 


Upcoming Events at Dick Scobee Field

Airport Open House!

Come Join us for a light lunch and refreshments at our annual holiday open house event. Be sure to wear your favorite ugly sweater to be entered into the prize drawing!

December 13, 2019, 11:00 am - 2:00 pm  


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Fly Washington Passport Program

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Auburn, WA- Headquarters for the Fly Washington Passport Program

The Auburn Municipal Airport is the state Headquarters for The Fly Washington Passport Program. This program encourages pilots and aviation enthusiasts to explore Washington’s public-use airports. Beyond motivating pilots to fly, this program supports general aviation airports, area businesses, tourism, and provides flight planning, safety, and educational opportunities.  The program relies on the voluntary participation of Washington’s public-use airports, pilots, aviation enthusiasts, and sponsors.  The ultimate objective for this program is to increase aviation economic activity and enhance general aviation visibility.


Participants, using an official Fly Washington Passport Program booklet, collect “passport stamps” at enrolled public-use airports.  Any licensed pilot from any state, and their passengers, may participate.  Participants will earn levels of recognition and prizes as they explore the airports of Washington State.


Once you have collected enough stamps from airports across the State of Washington, bring your completed passport to the Airport Administration Office to redeem for your Jacket and or Gold Pin Reward!


For more information, please visit - www.flywashington.org 

Frequently Asked Questions

The most commonly asked questions about Dick-Scobee Field:

Q: Does the Auburn Airport have Scheduled Commercial Passenger Services?

A: Auburn has never had Commercial Service operate into or out of the airfield since its creation in 1968. There are currently no plans to develop such services at the airfield.


Q: Who currently owns and operates the Auburn Airport?

A: The Airport has always been owned by the City of Auburn but just recently went through a management change. Previously, a private company operated the day to day operations of Dick-Scobee Field, with the airport now being directly maintained by City of Auburn and its Employees.


Q: Does the Airport have Tie-Down Spaces and or Hangar spaces available for rent right now?

A: Currently, tie-down spaces are the only readily available storage space on the airfield. The city owns both Open-T styled hangars (estimated 2 year wait list time) and Enclosed Hangar units (estimated 5-7 year wait list time). More information can be found on the "Want to Base Here" Page listed above.


Q: How low can aircraft operate at the Auburn Airport?

A:  Federal Aviation Regulations state: Except when necessary for takeoff or landing, no person may operate an aircraft below an altitude allowing, if a power unit fails, an emergency landing without undue hazard to persons or property on the surface.

Over any congested area of a city, town, or settlement, or over any open air assembly of persons, no lower than 1,000 feet above the highest obstacle within a horizontal radius of 2,000 feet of the aircraft.

Over uncongested areas, no lower than 500 feet above the surface. Over open water or sparsely populated areas, aircraft may not be operated closer than 500 feet to any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure.

Helicopters may be operated at less than the minimums listed above if the operation is conducted without hazard to persons or property on the surface.


Q: How do I file a complaint about Aircraft Operations?

A:  Citizens can call the Auburn Airport Office at (253)-333-6821 for aircraft operating directly into and out of the Auburn Airport. For flights not directly operating at the Airport, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Flight Standard District Office in Renton can be contacted at (425) 227-2813.

Contact Us

Better yet, see us in person!

Feel free to visit during normal business hours which are Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM. We are closed on Saturdays and Sundays. Please use our Airport After Hours phone number listed below if the Main Office is closed. Airport staffing levels may also change depending on Holiday Hours.


2019 Holidays:

Tuesday, January 1

Monday, January 21

Monday, February 18

Monday, May 27

Thursday, July 4

Monday, September 2

Monday, November 11

Thursday & Friday, November 28/29

Wednesday, December 25

Auburn Municipal Airport

2143 E ST NE, Suite 1, Auburn, Washington 98002, United States

During our normal Office Hours (Mon-Fri 8AM-5PM) please call our Airport Main Line: (253) 333-6821 For inquiries outside Office Hours, please call our After Hours Number at: (360) 358-2565 Email: Airport@auburnwa.gov

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