Wayne Grotheer, Director, Aviation Project Management Group, Port of Seattle, USA

Speaker Biograghy: Wayne leads the Capital Improvement Programme at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. He has worked for the Port in several different positions since joining it in 2001. Before that, he worked in the technology industry as President of NetCompliance and Chief Operating Officer of AdvanceOnline. He has also worked for 20 years in the environmental field, first at the US EPA and as a Vice President of Environmental Affairs in the chemical industry. He is a registered professional engineer. Wayne holds a BEng from The Cooper Union, New York City, a Master’s of Engineering degree from the University of Washington, and an MBA also from the University of Washington.


Day 1 - 10 March
Session: Airport Design, Planning & Development

11:35 - 12:00 - Building for growth when your two largest carriers need facilities
Synopsis: Seattle Tacoma International Airport needs to expand its airport facilities to meet rapid passenger and operational growth and to serve one of the fastest-growing regions and economies in North America. This has led to two large, independent and simultaneous capital projects: the North SeaTac Airport Renovation project and the International Arrivals Facility. Alaska and Delta Airlines, in particular, continue to increase domestic service. Delta has also been rapidly growing its international business in Seattle. The projects must meet the operational needs of the airport, prudently manage airport finances, maintain the competitive balance between carriers, and improve Seattle’s competitive international airport position.

Audience will learn:
Day 2 - 11 March
Session: Airport Cities & Transport Connections

14:45 - 15:15 - Connecting Seattle’s international gates to a new international arrivals facility
Synopsis: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport will be constructing a new landside international arrivals facility (IAF) that requires a new sterile connection for passengers from international gates at multiple terminals to the IAF. Customer experience and a welcoming environment were important considerations. Port staff, consultants and national and international experts analysed factors including passenger experience, capacity and future flexibility, construction impacts, capital and maintenance costs and risks. The airport has decided to construct a bridge that will span a taxiway serving Group V aircraft with, approximately 200m between structural supports. There are only a handful of such bridges in the world.

Audience will learn: