POSSIBLE TRACK DEV.

Narrative

ON THE SUMMA 5 DEP ON RWY 34L SEA; R TURN MADE AT 8 DME PER SID. SUBSEQUENT TURN; OFF OF PAINE VOR 139 DEG RADIAL TO HDG 165 DEGS; COULD HAVE BEEN LATE DUE TO OFF FLAG ON VOR (PAINE); AND NEEDLE VERY ERRATIC. CAPT ON SEA VOR; COPLT ON PAINE VOR. DEP NOTIFIED OF ERRATIC SIGNAL. RECOMMEND SEA RADIAL USED FOR TURN; INSTEAD OF PAINE VOR RADIAL. THERE WAS ALSO TFC IN THE AREA; THEN SEVERAL STEP-CLBS ISSUED; PLUS A HDG ONTO SIDE LATER. BOTTOM LINE: SIGNAL INTERFERENCE OFF OF PAINE VOR. RECOMMEND RADIAL OFF OF SEA; INSTEAD OF 139 DEG RADIAL. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: ALTHOUGH PAE IS ONLY 29 NM FROM SEA; IT IS A LOW PER VOR AND APPARENTLY NOT VERY RELIABLE. THE RPTR STATES THAT 80 PERCENT OF THE TIME WHEN AIR CREWS ARE ASSIGNED THE SUMMA 5 SID; RADAR VECTORS ARE GIVEN SO THAT THE PAE RADIAL IS NOT USED. THE RPTR EXPANDED HIS COMMENTS TO INCLUDE THE ELMAA 5 SID THAT ALSO USES THE PAE VOR; BUT MORE EXTENSIVELY. THE RPTR WOULD LIKE TO SEE THESE SIDS USE ONLY THE SEA VOR FOR THE SAKE OF RELIABILITY AND SIMPLICITY. HE DOES NOT LIKE TO SEE ONE OF HIS NAV RADIOS BEING VIRTUALLY USELESS ON THE GND; ATTEMPTING TO RECEIVE A LOW PWR STATION 29 MI AWAY. THE RPTR IS NOW AWARE OF THE FAA SAFETY HOTLINE.