Boeing Field Approach Procedures
Note: for details and photos of the Boeing Field VFR Reporting Points, refere to the Reporting Points page.
This is the primary (and pretty much the only) way to approach Boeing Field VFR from the west. It's not difficult.
TFR Alert: There's a TFR over the Navy Base at Bremerton. As long as you don't stray too far to the NW you won't be in danger of running into it, but you should be aware of your position at all times. (see the TFR map)
Altitudes: Be sure you stay low enough to avoid the SeaTac class Bravo, which overlays the whole area (and gets lower and lower as you approach Boeing Field). For noise abatement and to keep the neighbors happy, please don't fly below 1000' as you cross West Seattle. See the map. (class Bravo altitudes map)
I like to be at about 1500 - 1800 feet when I reach North Vashon. To avoid a high-speed dive into the BFI traffic pattern at the last minute, I suggest the following altitudes:
Approaching North Vashon: 1500 to 2000 feet
Inbound from North Vashon to West Seattle: gentle descent to 1000 feet
Cross the West Seattle shoreline at 1000 and maintain 1000 feet to the West Seattle Reservoir
Passing the reservoir, descend to 800 feet, which is pattern altitude on the west side of BFI. Don't get much higher in the west side pattern or the tower will scold you.At the north tip of Vashon Island, call BFI tower on 120.6 (see the separate section on Radio Phraseology and Tips). They will tell you to report the West Seattle Reservoir and will give you either left traffic for 31L (if they're landing to the north) or right traffic for 13R (if they're landing to the south). Because you already know which way they're landing (because you listened to the ATIS and jotted it down) you know which runway you'll get so there should be no surprises.
99% of the time the approach from the west is completely predictable and conventional. Once in a blue moon they may switch runways on you at the last minute. See the separate section on how to fly in to Boeing Field for all the details (but don't worry about it, it won't happen).
Note: Do NOT proceed inbound from North Vashon until you have established communications with BFI Tower. If you can't get a word in edgewise, wait a minute or two and hold outside North Vashon.
Caution: A fair amount of VFR traffic funnels through this area around North Vashon. It's the primary entry/exit point to the west and a lot of training flights use it going between BFI and Bremerton (PTW). Keep you eyes open.
Once you make your initial call at North Vashon and BFI tells you to report at the reservoir, turn east and head for the shoreline.
Large, impossible to miss, Washington State ferries run conveniently from the north tip of Vashon Island to the West Seattle ferry dock at Fauntleroy. They point the way, and leave an obvious wake for you to follow.
You should plan on crossing the shoreline near the ferry dock. The ferry dock itself sits in the middle of a shallow, U-shaped bay; there are small points of land sticking out into the Puget Sound marking the north and south edges of this U-shaped bay.
Depending on whether BFI is landing to the north or to the south, you want to aim for one of these two point.
If BFI is landing to the north, you want to cross the shoreline near the southern point on the bay (and you'll pass just south of the West Seattle Reservoir). If BFI is landing to the south, you'll want to cross the shoreline near the northern point on the bay (and you'll pass just north of the West Seattle Reservoir).
You should be at about 1000 feet (but no lower) as you cross the shoreline.
Crossing the shoreline, you'll notice that the streets below you run straight east, across West Seattle. Follow one. Just a couple of miles ahead, at the top of the ridge, you will see the West Seattle Reservoir. It's a rectangular, artificial body of water and the critical reporting point - watch for it!
You should aim to pass just south of the reservoir if they're landing to the north; if they're landing to the south you should aim to pass just north of the reservoir. Don't fly right over the reservoir itself, and do keep an eye out for opposite direction traffic (traffic departing to the west will be going in the opposite direction but will be on the other side of the reservoir; BFI should let you know if the have any departing traffic going in your direction).
You should be at about 1000 feet (but no lower) as you fly across West Seattle. When you pass the reservoir (but not before), you'll need to drop down to 800 feet (in fairly short order) as you enter the west side BFI traffic pattern, so you don't want to come screaming past the reservoir carrying a ton of extra speed.
Note: Because you're coming in pretty low (heavy jets on final to SeaTac may be just a few hundred feet above you in this area so you do not want to be too high - don't worry about them, ATC keeps everybody separated), and because Boeing Field sits in between some modest ridges to both the east and west, you usually will not be able to spot the airport until you're almost on top of it. You won't see the field until you get around the reservoir, but trust me, it's there. The trick to finding Boeing Field is to find each of the reporting points and clues along the way: Find the north tip of Vashon Island, then find the Fauntleroy Ferry Dock on the West Seattle shoreline, then find the reservoir, THEN you'll be able to find the airport. If you're used to finding airports in the flatlands, this will require some faith on your part. Don't worry, if you find each reporting point/landmark along the way, you will see the airport before you get there (although maybe not as soon as you would like).
When you reach the West Seattle Reservoir, call the tower, and keep it short. For example, I just say "Seven Zero Tango, reservoir..." That's it, no extra details or back-and-forth. They'll usually clear you to land at that point (if things are quiet), or they might tell you you're number 2 behind something somewhere. Acknowledge your clearance and if they tell you about other traffic you're following or avoiding, tell them if you see it or not (e.g. :seven zero Tango I have the metroliner on final" or "seven zero Tango, negative contact, looking for the Citation").
Once you have passed the West Seattle Reservoir, you need to get down to traffic pattern altitude. It's 818 feet on the west side of the field, and taken very seriously. Keep your downwind in a little tight - you should be inside of the Duwamish River which is just west of the field.
Note that BFI has two parallel runways, and there is generally somebody using both. the long runway (31L/13R) is the one on the west side, and if you're coming from Vashon that's what you'll get. Don't be spooked if you see traffic on a long final or turning towards you for the parallel runway. Just keep an eye on it in case they screw up and wander over into your airspace.
Once in a blue moon they may switch you over to the "smaller" runway (31R/13L), which is still plenty big, if they need to clear the little bugsmashers out of the way of some inbound heavy. If this happens, it's no big deal, just follow their directions, and ask then to clarify things if you have any doubt of what they're asking you to do.
This is the primary way to approach Boeing Field VFR from the south/southeast. You don't have to be superman to do it, but you do want to pay close attention to your position and altitude (since you will be threading your way between other airports including SeaTac and Renton) and you will need to keep your eyes wide open and your had on a swivel (since there may be opposite direction traffic coming at you on a parallel course). Stay sharp here.
Airport Alerts: This approach has you squeezing in between SeaTac's surface-based class Bravo and Renton's class Delta. Stay on your designated track and don't stray west or east.
Altitudes: To stay out of SeaTac's class Bravo, you need to remain below 2000 feet once you're north of Auburn. When you get within 1 mile of Boeing Field, you need to be below 1100 feet.
Monitor the BFI ATIS before you pass Auburn, and jot down the important details. Also monitor BFI Tower on 120.6 to get a sense of how busy they are and the pacing of the radio traffic. Knowing this will help you get your call in without stepping on others.
Make your first call to Boeing Tower on 120.6 as soon as you pass Auburn. Use Auburn or Kent as your location (use Auburn if you call in immediately after passing Auburn; if it takes you a minute or two to get in your call, use Kent).
Note: Do NOT proceed inbound beyond Kent until you have established communications with BFI Tower. If you can't get a word in edgewise, wait a minute or two and hold east of Kent/Auburn, and try again.
Once I make my call at Auburn or Kent, I descend to 1100 feet.
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