Airport’s Impact

Another attempt to restrict service at Lindbergh Field is being initiated. This time the proposal to the Port District is to prohibit the use of all but Stage III (quieter) equipment in the late evening hours. Since the airlines do not have sufficient Stage III aircraft in their fleet mix to serve all communities at this time, this proposal will have an impact on current airline schedules. Airlines will be forced to cancel, reschedule or reroute away from San Diego a wide variety of services currently enjoyed by business people, visitors and shippers.

The claim that this proposal would affect only five or six flights does not reflect the actual impact of these changes. San Diego is part of a national air transport system; tinkering with one part of the system causes a ripple effect throughout the system.

For example, USAir’s new nonstop service between San Diego and Pittsburgh leaving at 10:50 p.m. makes connections to 63 other cities. United’s Flight 362 to Chicago connects with 50 cities. Delta’s Flight 838 to Atlanta connects with 25 cities, and American Airlines’ 11:15 p.m. flight to Chicago connects with 21 other cities. These connecting flights are critical links in the airline service network.

Incoming flights are affected by schedule changes as well. Aircraft must be available, serviced and ready to depart at the earlier hours. Many scheduled flights are precisely timed and will continue to fly even if San Diego is dropped from the stub end of the trip.

Our greatest concern, however, is the move to close the airport in incremental steps. If pressed, the people complaining the loudest about the airport noise would admit that their ultimate desire is to shut down all operations at Lindbergh Field. Starting with the latest request to further curtail late-evening takeoffs of non-Stage III aircraft, it is easy to envision a series of similar proposals, each relatively harmless-sounding, each suggesting an earlier takeoff limitation, each affecting three, four or more flights. Slowly, but surely, air service would be unmercifully choked until it was no longer efficient nor possible for airlines to fly here.

The ability to attract new, clean industry and commercial firms to San Diego depends on good air transportation. Corporations looking to relocate their main offices cite this as a major criterion. Sales and service representatives must be able to communicate easily and be in a competitive position with other firms.

The success of the new convention center and new hotels is directly correlated to easy access to those facilities. Many manufacturing firms depend heavily on shipping parts and supplies and receiving materials quickly.

Postal delivery will be affected if air service is curtailed. It could mean second-day delivery to points receiving morning mail, diversion of some mail to slower surface transportation, and serious overloads and congestion.

Reduction in evening service is costly to the general traveling public who cannot take advantage of discount fares that most airlines offer for later flights. This particularly affects younger people, military personnel, senior citizens and small-business people.

Most people would agree that another location for the airport is desirable. But to start chipping away at the service we have now before any decision has been made to build another airport is suicidal.

LEE GRISSOM

President

Greater San Diego Chamber of Commerce