Civilian Airport at El Toro Base
The problem of relocating the John Wayne Airport to a more feasible site (Jan. 17) could be solved by moving the operation to San Diego County on the north end of Camp Pendleton. If that land is now leased for farming purposes, why can it not be used for a much-needed international airport? In the event of a world crisis, the civilian airport could be turned back to the military.
In such a plan there would be no homes under the flight path, parking space would be no problem, and passengers could commute by Amtrak from both San Diego and Santa Ana.
If a homeless shelter under the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station’s flight path was deemed to be within a future “designated accident potential area” by the U.S. Department of Defense, why is this same consideration not given to the residents under the flight path of John Wayne Airport? The Orange County supervisors have a mind-set on the continuing expansion of John Wayne Airport to the increasing peril of Newport Beach residents.
To expedite a solution, perhaps U.S. Sen. Pete Wilson could slip in approval for a Pendleton international airport as a rider on next year’s federal budget bill.
JANET C. BECK
Newport Beach
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