FAA ruling on 102-story tower: Don't count this 'presumed hazard' out
http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/p...ount-this.html
Marc Stiles, PSBJ
Just because the Federal Aviation Administration sent a “notice of presumed hazard” to the developer of the 102-story tower planned for downtown Seattle doesn’t mean the project won’t get built.
The notice states that at 1,117 feet the tower could interfere with Boeing Field operations, and added that to get “a favorable determination” from the agency Crescent Heights would have to reduce the height of the building to 965 feet. That’s about the height of Seattle’s tallest tower, the 76-story Columbia Center.
FAA evaluations of tall buildings are not uncommon. In fact, the agency says it has evaluated every building over 200 feet tall in Seattle. In a statement, the agency said it will negotiate with tower developers for as long as required.
“Sometimes a compromise can be reached if the effects on aeronautical operations aren’t too severe and the FAA can live with them,” according to the statement. “Other times the FAA has to hold firm in order to protect one or more airports and the airspace and procedures serving those airports. Some negotiations have taken years.”
Crescent’s aviation consultant, David Ketchum, of T-O Engineers’ Boise, Idaho office, said initial responses from the FAA for tall structures almost always use the term “presumed hazard.” In a related statement, Crescent officials added that the FAA requires and in-depth study and once it’s done they anticipate that a “no hazard” determination will be reached.