Aviation and space

The first flight from Paine Field to Honolulu is prepared by grounds crew on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

‘Aloha’ to first Honolulu flight from Paine Field

Passengers boarded Alaska Airlines’ inaugural flight from Everett to Oahu on Friday. It’s a new daily nonstop service.

 

One worker looks up from the cargo area as another works in what will be the passenger compartment on one of the first Boeing 787 jets as it stands near completion at the front of the assembly line, Monday, May 19, 2008, in Everett, Wash. The plane, the first new Boeing jet in 14 years, is targeted for power on in June followed by an anticipated first flight sometime late in 2008.  (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

As Boeing Machinists contract talks near, union savors new labor power

If Boeing balks at union demands, it could face a damaging strike that would seriously set back its attempts to recover.

 

FILE - A worker cleans a jet bridge at Paine Field in Everett, Wash., before passengers board an Alaska Airlines flight, March 4, 2019. Seattle-based Alaska Airlines owns Horizon Air. Three passengers sued Alaska Airlines on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023, saying they suffered emotional distress from an incident last month in which an off-duty pilot, was accused of trying to shut down the engines of a flight from Washington state to San Francisco. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)

3 passengers sue Alaska Airlines after off-duty pilot accused of trying to cut engines mid-flight

In the complaint filed Thursday, passengers alleged that the pilot should never have been allowed in the cockpit.

 

Joseph David Emerson, left, 44, was arraigned in Multnomah County Circuit Court on Tues., Oct. 24, 2023, in Portalnd, Ore. Emerson, a pilot, is accused of attempting to disable the engines of a plane on which he was riding while off-duty last Sunday. Emerson pleaded not guilty Tuesday. (Dave Killen/The Oregonian via AP, Pool)

Wife of ex-Alaska Airlines pilot says she’s in shock after averted Everett flight disaster

“This is not my Joe,” Sarah Stretch told reporters after attending her husband Joseph Emerson’s first appearance in federal court.

Joseph David Emerson, left, 44, was arraigned in Multnomah County Circuit Court on Tues., Oct. 24, 2023, in Portalnd, Ore. Emerson, a pilot, is accused of attempting to disable the engines of a plane on which he was riding while off-duty last Sunday. Emerson pleaded not guilty Tuesday. (Dave Killen/The Oregonian via AP, Pool)
Joseph David Emerson, left, 44, was arraigned in Multnomah County Circuit Court on Tues., Oct. 24, 2023, in Portalnd, Ore. Emerson, a pilot, is accused of attempting to disable the engines of a plane on which he was riding while off-duty last Sunday. Emerson pleaded not guilty Tuesday. (Dave Killen/The Oregonian via AP, Pool)

Charges: Mushrooms, ‘breakdown’ sparked midair incident on Everett flight

Federal charges detail how off-duty pilot Joseph Emerson, 44, tried to shut down the engines of a plane bound for San Francisco.

Joseph David Emerson, left, 44, was arraigned in Multnomah County Circuit Court on Tues., Oct. 24, 2023, in Portalnd, Ore. Emerson, a pilot, is accused of attempting to disable the engines of a plane on which he was riding while off-duty last Sunday. Emerson pleaded not guilty Tuesday. (Dave Killen/The Oregonian via AP, Pool)
Boeing employees watch the KC-46 Pegasus delivery event  from the air stairs at Boeing on Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019 in Everett, Wa. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)

Boeing’s iconic Everett factory tour to resume

After a three-year hiatus, tours of the Boeing Company’s enormous jet assembly plant are back at Paine Field.

Boeing employees watch the KC-46 Pegasus delivery event  from the air stairs at Boeing on Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019 in Everett, Wa. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Boeing employees watch the KC-46 Pegasus delivery event  from the air stairs at Boeing on Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019 in Everett, Wa. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)

Boeing’s iconic Everett factory tour to resume in October

After a three-year hiatus, tours of the Boeing Company’s enormous jet assembly plant are back at Paine Field.

Boeing employees watch the KC-46 Pegasus delivery event  from the air stairs at Boeing on Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019 in Everett, Wa. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Inside the new Boeing 737 simulator at Simulation Flight in Mukilteo, Washington on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

New Boeing 737 simulator takes ‘flight’ in Mukilteo

Pilots can test their flying skills or up their game at Simulation Flight in Mukilteo.

Inside the new Boeing 737 simulator at Simulation Flight in Mukilteo, Washington on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Members of Gravitics' team and U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen stand in front of a mockup of a space module interior on Thursday, August 17, 2023 at Gravitics' Marysville facility. Left to right: Mark Tiner, government affairs representative; Jiral Shah, business development; U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen; Mike DeRosa, marketing; Scott Macklin, lead engineer. (Gravitics.)

Marysville startup prepares for space — the financial frontier

Gravitics is building space station module prototypes to one day house space travelers and researchers.

Members of Gravitics' team and U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen stand in front of a mockup of a space module interior on Thursday, August 17, 2023 at Gravitics' Marysville facility. Left to right: Mark Tiner, government affairs representative; Jiral Shah, business development; U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen; Mike DeRosa, marketing; Scott Macklin, lead engineer. (Gravitics.)
Workers build the first all-electric commuter plane, the Eviation Alice, at Eviation's plant on Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2021 in Arlington, Washington.  (Andy Bronson / The Herald)

Arlington’s Eviation selects Seattle firm to configure production plane

TLG Aerospace chosen to configure Eviation Aircraft’s all-electric commuter plane for mass production.

Workers build the first all-electric commuter plane, the Eviation Alice, at Eviation's plant on Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2021 in Arlington, Washington.  (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Looking north, an aerial view of Paine Field in Everett. (Paine Field / Snohomish County) 20220605

A timeline of the history of Paine Field

Key events to know about Snohmish County’s airport.

Looking north, an aerial view of Paine Field in Everett. (Paine Field / Snohomish County) 20220605
The terminal and air traffic control tower at Paine Field are seen on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022, in unincorporated Snohomish County, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Everett’s Paine Field is now Seattle Paine Field International Airport

In a bid to boost the Everett airport’s visibility, Snohomish County officials announced the name change Tuesday.

The terminal and air traffic control tower at Paine Field are seen on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022, in unincorporated Snohomish County, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Brian Wilson, left, and Ron Fronheiser, right, survey the fuselage after it is placed at Edmonds College’s Advance Manufacturing Skill Center at Paine Field on Thursday, June 15, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Paine Field training center’s new lab: a 12-ton Boeing 767 fuselage

Boeing donated the fuselage to a manufacturing program Thursday: “This is going to be a game changer in how we offer our training.”

Brian Wilson, left, and Ron Fronheiser, right, survey the fuselage after it is placed at Edmonds College’s Advance Manufacturing Skill Center at Paine Field on Thursday, June 15, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Airport workers watch as an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 embarks on the first 737 flight out of Paine Field Airport Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Paine to paradise: Alaska Airlines launches daily Everett-Hawaii flight

Beginning Nov. 17, Alaska Airlines will offer daily nonstop service from Everett to Honolulu.

Airport workers watch as an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 embarks on the first 737 flight out of Paine Field Airport Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
A demonstration of the ZA2000 powertrain during an event for Alaska Airlines and ZeroAvia to discuss their new collaboration in Everett, Washington on Monday, May 1, 2023. ZeroAvia is developing a hydrogen electric propulsion system for aircraft. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

‘Zero Emissions’: New breed of plane gets spotlight at Paine Field

A former Alaska Airlines turboprop Dash 8 will be retrofitted with hydrogen-electric propulsion. The prototype-to-be was unveiled Monday.

A demonstration of the ZA2000 powertrain during an event for Alaska Airlines and ZeroAvia to discuss their new collaboration in Everett, Washington on Monday, May 1, 2023. ZeroAvia is developing a hydrogen electric propulsion system for aircraft. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
The Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum at Paine Field in Everett. (Janice Podsada / The Herald) 20220419

Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum returns Memorial Day weekend

The showcase for the late Paul Allen’s private collection of vintage aircraft and military vehicles reopens May 27.

The Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum at Paine Field in Everett. (Janice Podsada / The Herald) 20220419
County Executive Dave Somers speaking at the the Economic Alliance Snohomish County Update, hosted by The Boeing Company on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, in Everett, Washington. (Kayla J. Dunn / The Herald)

Paine Field, housing crunch are hot-button issues at annual update

The Snohomish County Economic Alliance’s meeting brought local leaders together to discuss the county’s rapid growth and renewal.

County Executive Dave Somers speaking at the the Economic Alliance Snohomish County Update, hosted by The Boeing Company on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, in Everett, Washington. (Kayla J. Dunn / The Herald)
A standard jet fuel, left, burns with extensive smoke output while a sustainable avation fuel, right, produces less smoke during a demonstration of the difference in fuel emissions on Tuesday, March 28, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Paine Field unveils plan for new, more eco-friendly jet fuel center

The research and development center is a joint effort by Snohomish County and Washington State University.

A standard jet fuel, left, burns with extensive smoke output while a sustainable avation fuel, right, produces less smoke during a demonstration of the difference in fuel emissions on Tuesday, March 28, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
The Flying Heritage and Combat Armor Museum at Paine Field is seen on the evening of Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Flying Heritage Museum ‘returning soon’ under new owner

Bought by a Walmart heir, the vintage aircraft and military museum offered a cryptic tease this week.

The Flying Heritage and Combat Armor Museum at Paine Field is seen on the evening of Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Flyers wait to become the first passengers to depart on a Boeing 737 from Paine Field Airport Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Paine Field hopes to extend a $4.50 airport passenger fee

Standard at most airports, the fee would help fund ramp repairs at the Snohomish County airport.

Flyers wait to become the first passengers to depart on a Boeing 737 from Paine Field Airport Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)