News Flash

Paine Field Community Day 2026 set for Saturday, June 6

Paine Field Community Day 2026 is returning on Saturday, June 6. This beloved tradition at the Snohomish County-owned airport is back for a third year. Organized collaboratively by airport staff, the Paine Field Chapter of the Washington Pilots Association, and the EAA Young Eagles program, this year's event promises a fantastic experience for all.

Join us for a FREE youth-focused event filled with aviation education, impressive aircraft displays, military planes, and delicious food vendors. 

Date: Saturday, June 6, 2026Time: 9 AM - 5 PMLocation: Paine Field AirportNO ON-SITE PARKING

FREE PARKING with continuous shuttle to the event available at9902 24th Place West, Everett, WA 98204

Don't miss out on the chance to:

• Meet Local Pilots: Engage in conversations with aviators and hear their personal stories.  
• Aircraft Displays: See historic and unique planes up close.  
• Educational Opportunities: Learn about aviation programs from local youth organizations, colleges, and flight schools.
• Special displays: Special aircraft and equipment from Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum and much more.

With the rapid advancement of technology, the availability of small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), commonly known as drones, has significantly increased, posing a notable challenge to airports. UAS flights are prohibited in controlled airspace unless prior approval is granted by the FAA Air Traffic Control. As a reminder, this prohibition includes Paine Field, where it is illegal to fly a drone within five miles of the airfield without first obtaining permission from both the Federal Aviation Administration and the airport. This restriction applies to civic, commercial, and privately owned drones. Operators who violate these airspace restrictions may face enforcement actions, including potential civil penalties and criminal charges.

For information about proper locations and rules for drone operation, visit the Federal Aviation Administration UAS website at https://www.faa.gov/uas/getting_started

Drone enthusiasts can download the free B4UFLY app at https://www.faa.gov/uas/getting_started/b4ufly for questions about the specifics of flying a UAS near airports. This app shows a user’s current location and informs them of notifications they need to make to local airfields.

The FAA also offers these safety tips for drone operators:

• Register your drone.
• Fly your drone at or below 400 feet.
• Keep your drone within your line of sight.
• Be aware of FAA Airspace Restrictions.
• Respect privacy.
• Never fly near other aircraft, especially near airports.
• Never fly over groups of people, public events, or stadiums full of people.
• Never fly near emergencies such as fires or emergency recovery efforts.
• Never fly under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Help us keep the skies safe! Wildlife strikes are on the rise, posing a significant risk to aviation. In 2023 alone, there were 19,600 reported strikes at 777 U.S. airports. Factors such as growing wildlife populations, increased aircraft movements, better wildlife strike reporting/awareness, and advancements in aircraft technology contribute to this trend. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Wildlife Services have been diligently collecting data for over three decades to better understand and help mitigate this issue.

At Paine Field Airport, we prioritize both passenger safety and wildlife conservation. Our Wildlife Management Plan, developed in collaboration with USDA Wildlife Services, employs various strategies such as habitat modification, wildlife deterrents, and the translocation of raptors to minimize wildlife-aircraft collisions.

However, we at PAE cannot manage what we do not know! We need you to report wildlife strikes, so we better understand problem species on our airfield, and have the proper documentation to better mitigate the risk of wildlife strikes.

So what should you do if you have a bird or wildlife strike?

REPORT IT! Our wildlife management plan relies on the documentation of strikes to develop a scientific approach to handle the risk to human health and aviation safety. The FAA has a streamlined website with an on-line submittal form available, including much more information regarding wildlife hazards at airports https://wildlife.faa.gov/.