John Wayne Has No Cargo Flights : Joint-Use Plan Wouldn’t Help Airport

John Wayne Airport does not have cargo flights and thus could not increase passenger service if El Toro Marine Corps Air Station were opened to civilian freight carriers, airport manager George Rebella said Friday.

Federal Aviation Administrator T. Allan McArtor suggested such joint use of El Toro and other military bases in an interview Thursday, citing a national shortage of “runway space” and a need to relieve several airports in the region, John Wayne among them.

Congress recently ordered the FAA to study the feasibility of joint use at El Toro and two other military bases.

But while civilian cargo use of El Toro would relieve Los Angeles and Ontario international airports, John Wayne manager Rebella said Friday, it would not benefit John Wayne.

Noise Curfew Problem

“We don’t have any cargo flights,” Rebella said. “Besides, cargo carriers like to fly at night, and they would run afoul of our nighttime noise curfew. (10 p.m. to 7 a.m.)”

Any potential for growth in passenger service at John Wayne is strictly limited by a 1985 out-of-court settlement of a lawsuit between the county and Newport Beach. With no cargo flights, John Wayne Airport has nothing to trade away for gains in passenger service.

However, Newport Beach Assistant City Manager Ken Delino and other advocates of an alternate airport site in Orange County were cheered by McArtor’s suggestion about joint use of El Toro.

Delino said it would take 10 or 15 years to bring joint use about, but that little steps along the way, such as McArtor’s statements, help the cause.

The Pentagon, which owns the base, has long-opposed joint use of El Toro.