Countywide : Airport to Enforce Ban on Noisy Private Jets

Noisy private jets will be banned from John Wayne Airport beginning today under a new ordinance designed to make private planes meet the same noise standards as those imposed on commercial jets.

Airport Manager George Rebella announced Monday that he will begin enforcing an ordinance adopted more than a year ago that prohibits private jets from taking off at noise levels of more than 98.5 decibels--the limit for commercial jets such as the MD-80.

Enforcement of the ordinance had been delayed during litigation with the neighboring Newport Beach over expanded jet operations at the airport. In the interim, Rebella said, all of the noisiest jets based at the airport have been either removed or modified to comply with the new noise standards.

The only potential enforcement problem will be with jets from other areas which fly in and out of the airport on a transient basis, he said. Jets which repeatedly violate the noise standards, even after warnings from airport officials, will be subject to civil lawsuits or perhaps even criminal penalties, Rebella said.

Among the jets that will be banned, unless their owners can prove they can meet the noise limits, are the Westwind 1123, Jet Commander, BAC-111, Jet Star I, Sabre Liner, Gulfstream II and Lear Jet models 23, 24 and 25.