Economic Impact
The Auburn Municipal Airport is self-sufficient, and receives zero tax revenue from the community. Approximately 60% of Airport revenue comes from hangar and tie downs, 30% from land/building leases (14 total), 10% from fuel sales and miscellaneous. 2022 Projected Airport Revenue is $1.5 million with operating expenditures of $1.1 million.
According to the 2019 WSDOT Aviation Economic Impact Study, the Auburn Airport creates 232 jobs and has an economic impact of $43.1 million.
About The Airport
The City of Auburn founded the Airport in 1969. It is a division within the Public Works Department, is operated by 3 full-time City staff and is supported by other City of Auburn departments. The Airport is guided by seven volunteers on the Airport Advisory Board who advise the City Council regarding operations, master planning, facilities improvements, leasing, rental fees, and other aviation concerns.
The airport is comprised of 113 acres. This includes 1,330,436 total square feet of pavement which is maintained by staff. This paved area equates to 23 NFL Football fields or 283 NBA Basketball courts or 98 Olympic size swimming pools.
The Airport has 254 hangar units (145 are city owned) and 140 tie downs.
Who Uses The Airport
Washington’s Puget Sound region is one of the most active general aviation markets in the world. Auburn is a general aviation airport which involves all civilian flying except scheduled commercial passenger service. Typical aircraft activity at the airport involves medevac, law enforcement, training, recreational, charter and business operations.
The aircraft that utilize the airport are primarily fixed-wing and helicopters weighing less than 12,500 lbs, seating 6 or fewer passengers, with approach speeds less than 140 mph and wingspans of less than 49 feet.
There are 330 aircraft based at Auburn Municipal Airport. Takeoffs and/or landings average 450/day with annual numbers estimated at 140,000. Approximately 80,000 gallons of Avgas are sold on the Airport per year.
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 and provides funding to support their function. 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 in the country, 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.
Auburn Airport Regulations
Chapter 18.38 of the Auburn City Code (ACC), contains provisions that affect land and uses near the airport. The provisions of this chapter apply to lands located within the LF airport landing field zoning district, airport zoning overlay, and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulation CFR Title 14, Part 77, imaginary surfaces (FAR Part 77 surfaces) and other surfaces.