By Kate Reardon
Herald Writer
Eighty years ago, the sight of an airplane flying overhead was extraordinary.
This week, people have had similar responses as flights across the country have been canceled because of the terrorist acts back East.
Silence at Harvey Field Airport in Snohomish left an eerie feeling for airport owner Kandace Harvey.
"It’s really a different feeling," Harvey said. "I’ve been here nearly 30 years and never experienced anything like it."
There weren’t many takeoffs or landings in Snohomish County on Thursday even though some commercial planes such as cargo and charter flights were given the go-ahead to enter airspace.
Flights were restricted to those airplanes and airports that were specifically approved by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Two planes took off from the Arlington airport, airport manager Rob Putnam confirmed. There were no takeoffs or landings at Harvey Field or Everett’s Paine Field, officials at those airports said.
And recent air restrictions established by the FAA have meant some airport personnel have not been working, Harvey said.
It also has meant no student pilots and no parachuting trips.
"Our employees are pretty much out of work," Harvey said. "Our pilots are not flying; our dispatchers are not working."
Even so, there seem to be few, if any, complaints.
"We have canceled about 125 student training flights and about 15 skydiving flights per day," Harvey said. "But that’s what you have to do. This is a very serious situation. … Everybody needs to do their part."
Harvey said it will be crowded and a bit congested once general aviation gets the go-ahead. But it shouldn’t be anything too difficult to handle, she said.
The FAA has given no indication as to when America’s airspace will return to normal, or if it ever will.
"I think it’s going to be a long time before things get back to the way they were last week," said Dave Waggoner, director at Paine Field. "In fact, we may never get there."
You can call Herald Writer Kate Reardon at 425-339-3455
or send e-mail to reardon@heraldnet.com.
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