Contact Olympia Airport

No, the airport runways, taxiways and parking areas are not designed for large passenger or cargo aircraft. In some cases, exceptions can be made for a one-time operation for a special circumstance such as an aircraft engineering modification.

There are no plans to extend the runway. Should air traffic forecasts change in the future, the runway needs will be reevaluated.

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. 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.

No. Aircraft arrive or depart to and from the airport with no prior notice. The airport is open 24 hours daily.

Military aircraft have training areas and training routes throughout the region. Often, military flights just seem lower because aircraft are larger and/or louder, and studies have shown that people react more strongly to noise at nighttime.

For more information citizens can call the Joint Base Lewis McChord noise complaint line at (253) 967-0852 or the Public Affairs Office at (253) 967-0146 and (253) 967-0158.

Yes, the Airport cannot restrict the military from training here. The Port of Olympia is required to operate the Airport in accordance with the deed obligations that accompany the transfer of federal surplus property (the Airport) and the Grant Assurances that accompany the acceptance of federal Airport Improvement Program funds.

Specifically the airport deed requires….“all of the transferred property called the “airport” shall be used for public airport purposes on reasonable terms without unjust discrimination and without grant or exercise of any exclusive right within the meaning of the Civil Aeronautics Act on 1938.” This deed obligation is in perpetuity.

The Grant Assurance for Airport Sponsors #22 Economic Nondiscrimination states…“sponsor will make the airport available as an airport for public use on reasonable terms and without unjust discrimination to all types, kinds, and classes of aeronautical activities.”

The Grant Assurance for Airport Sponsors #27 Use by Government Aircraft states…“sponsor will make available all of the facilities of the airport and all of those useable for landing and takeoff of aircraft to the United States for use by government aircraft in common with other aircraft at all times.”

See photos of the types of aircraft that typically use the Airport, and types of commercial service aircraft capable of using the Airport. 

See the Washington State Department of Transportations Aviation Economic Impacts Study to learn about the economic impacts of airports.