Squeeze Play at Boeing Field

Just another busy day at BFI, Boeing Field in Seattle. With winds out of the north, runway 32L was in use. VFR aircraft approaching from the west are typically assigned the Vashon Arrival, one of the standard VFR procedures established at Boeing Field to separate traffic and remain clear of the Class B airspace.

I hopped across Puget Sound from Bremerton National, about 20 nautical miles west on the Olympic Peninsula. The designated track begins at the north tip of Vashon Island and requires a steady descent over West Seattle into a tight left downwind at 700 ft.

As you can see in the replay from FlySto.net, the tower controller had to sequence me with other VFR traffic, IFR arrivals and departures, and ensure that I remained below and clear of the Class B. And in the summer of 2025, Boeing Field is down to one runway, further limiting the options controllers can use to move traffic safely and efficiently.

On this day, those circumstances resulted in a squeeze play. The controller needed to launch a Boeing test or delivery flight while fitting me in ahead of a business jet inbound on the ILS. Enjoy the replay and panel overlays created at FlySto.net.