Sea-Tac Airport Media Guide

Inquiries

Business Hours: All media inquiries, both routine and for breaking news, should be directed to Aviation Public Affairs via phone (206 787-4923) or pager (pager number available on request to professional media staff). Port of Seattle business hours are 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

After-Hours, Weekends, and Holidays: Media coverage during this these times is provided only for breaking news and/or emergency situations. To reach the on-duty media officer during non-business hours, please use the media pager.

Access to Sea-Tac Facilities

Public/Pre-Security Areas: Media are allowed unescorted in all public areas of Sea-Tac Airport.

Restricted/Post-Security Areas: Media must be escorted into all restricted and post-security areas. Aviation Public Affairs will provide escorts whenever staffing permits.

Tenant Areas: Shops and eateries are leased space and media must have the tenant’s permission to photograph, videotape or conduct interviews in those areas.

Media Equipment: Cables, extension cords, lights, etc., may not be placed in any public area without prior approval from Aviation Public Affairs and these items must not interfere with passenger flow or airport operations.

Media Parking at Sea-Tac Airport

All media covering stories at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport are welcome to park in our North Charter Bus Parking Lot. This includes reporter/photographer vehicles as well as television live trucks. Read more information about media parking at Sea-Tac.

Emergency Procedures

In the event of an emergency, key information will be posted on our breaking news page. Please check this page before contacting the media officer for further details. Never contact the Port of Seattle Police or Fire Department directly; all inquiries will be handled through Aviation Public Affairs. This department will disseminate information related to Sea-Tac Airport facilities and operations. Aviation Public Affairs staff do not act as spokespersons for the airlines, TSA or other private companies and government agencies.

During an on-going emergency or breaking news situation, contact the media officer to find out if there is a designated press area for the event and the schedule for media updates.

Who to call for Sea-Tac Airport News and Information

Port of Seattle / Sea-Tac Airport Media Officer

Passenger/aircraft statistics
Airport facility and operations information
Port of Seattle Police and Port of Seattle Fire response information
General airport/aviation questions

Perry Cooper
Aviation Media Officer
Email Perry Cooper
Office Phone: (206) 787-4932

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Media Officer

Air Traffic Control information
Flight delays
Flight diversions
Weather impacts on the airport (fog, snow, wind)

Web site: http://www.faa.gov/
Office Phone: (425) 227-2004

Transportation Security Administration

Security checkpoint screening protocols
Wait times at the security checkpoints
specific TSA airport security-related questions

Website: http://www.tsa.gov/
Office phone: (206) 214-1121

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Media Officer

Issues with inbound international flights and processing
International travel protocols, etc.

Web link: http://www.cbp.gov/
Office Phone: (206) 553-6944 x 614

Aviation Regulatory Agencies and Their Emergency Roles

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

The FAA operates the air traffic control tower. During an emergency, the FAA will direct air traffic to enable needed equipment to access the accident scene as quickly as possible. View their website at www.faa.gov.

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)

The NTSB investigates and reports on aviation accidents and incidents. They take custody of the involved aircraft once rescue operations are completed and have jurisdiction until the investigation is concluded. Once the NTSB is on site, Airport staff serves as a support team as needed. View their website at www.ntsb.gov.

Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

The TSA operates and manages the airport's security checkpoints and the security systems for checked baggage. View their website at www.tsa.gov.

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

If an emergency occurs on board an aircraft that is still on the ground, the FBI (www.fbi.gov) has jurisdiction. Once an aircraft is in flight, the FAA has jurisdiction.

Media Contact

Perry Cooper
Aviation Media Officer
Phone: (206) 787-4923
cooper.p@portseattle.org

Christina Faine
AV Media Specialist
Phone: (206) 787-6752
faine.c@portseattle.org