Commentary: Newport residents must remain vigilant when it comes to John Wayne Airport

Residents who live close to our bay and ocean enjoy incredibly beautiful neighborhoods and spectacular views, but many also have to endure the noise and pollution from airplanes flying out of John Wayne Airport.

From the first time Orange County supervisors introduced the idea of commercial flights from the former small airfield known as Eddie Martin, concerned citizens complained and initiated efforts to prevent the airfield from becoming a commercial airport.

Some residents were so furious they developed a plan to lie on the tarmac of the runway, arm in arm, to prevent planes from departing. Orange County supervisors stopped their plan with the promise they would seek an alternative site, a more appropriate one than that small piece of land.

When El Toro Air Base closed, and the Marines vacated the property, county supervisors believed they had found the perfect site for a county airport.

Having runways that had been used by Marine jet planes, the surrounding property was zoned to prohibit homes, parks and schools, thus providing the perfect departure pattern.

It seemed an ideal site. However, the city of Irvine and other southern Orange County cities waged war against the supervisors’ proposed plan for this property and won.

Irvine ended up with the large piece of property, with the promise it would build a “great park.” That was 15 years ago!

To date, the Great Park has not materialized. Instead JWA was forced to increase in size, number of flights and complaints from residents. Not a single official has been held responsible for broken promises.

The battle to keep JWA from further expansion has been a struggle ever since the first commercial flight left the ground. Fortunately, the Newport Beach City Council, county supervisors and Still Protecting Our Newport (SPON) developed a settlement agreement that was accepted by the FAA.

It provides specific protections for those under the JWA flight path and is one of the few airports in our country to have such a contract. It offers specific protections for impacted residents, such as having designated noise limits that are monitored by sound equipment and a curfew that prevents departures of commercial airlines between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.

Residents most affected by the planes resent the increasing number of airplane departures. They are concerned that the accumulated noise and pollution are detrimental to their health and have asked Newport Beach officials for an official study to determine the extent of these potential health risks.

JWA has a hotline citizens can call to report any suspected violations of rules regarding commercial planes, such as those flying below the required height, planes that sound significantly louder than usual, or a commercial plane violating the curfew.

It is helpful to provide as much information possible regarding the plane in question, such as exact time of the flight, identification of the specific carrier, the plane’s identification number, and any other information to help JWA representatives identify the offender. The airport number to call is (949) 252-5185.

Citizen groups, such as AirFair, AWG, SPON and the Newport Beach Aviation Citizens Committee, have worked to ensure all rules and regulations are followed.

As a current board member of AirFair, I invite all who are interested in airport issues to attend our meetings and join in our efforts to keep Newport Beach as one of the most desirable places to live in the world by insisting JWA and the FAA consider citizens’ safety and health over airline profits. Please access our website for exact the dates and times of our meetings at jwairfair.com.

BONNIE O’NEIL, a Newport Beach resident, is an AirFair board member.