McChord Airfield is no place for a civilian airport

Former publisher and president of The News Tribune in Tacoma, The Olympian, and The Bellingham Herald, Dave Zeeck provides a critical analysis of the proposal to adapt McChord Airfield at Joint Base Lewis-McChord for civilian use in order to alleviate congestion at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The central problem, as Zeeck points out, is that McChord Airfield is part of a joint base, with nearly 40,000 soldiers and airmen stationed there, and serves a crucial role in national defense operations. Furthermore, attempting to convert McChord into a civilian airport would require the relocation of over 100,000 individuals and would have significant economic and logistical impacts.

Zeeck highlights the impracticality of the proposal and emphasizes that building a new airport in the Puget Sound region is a more viable solution. He also suggests that a new commission needs to be established to address the need for a new supplemental airport, taking into account existing air traffic needs and without geographic or political restrictions.

The historic background of the topic could be mentioned to provide context, potentially including the growth of air travel in the region, the development of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, and the expansion of Joint Base Lewis-McChord. This context would help readers understand the complexities of the proposal and the significance of these key locations in the region.

At the end of the article, information about potential next steps or developments in the proposal could be included to provide readers with a sense of the ongoing discussion and decision-making process surrounding the issue. This could involve updates on the establishment of a new commission or any legislative actions related to the need for a new airport.