Supervisors, Airport Officials Buffeted by Traveler Turbulence

Re “A Terminal Case of Airport Crowding” (editorial, Sept. 16): You are to be commended for reminding our county Board of Supervisors that it “ . . . must rededicate itself to finally locating a site for another regional airport.” The supervisors have had the Final Report and Action Plan of the Airport Site Coalition since early spring.

Turning the two-year-long study over to a county government office for review resulted in a decision to do nothing. Again. After all, why spoil an unblemished record of turning down study after study for over 20 years, while available lands became development opportunities?

The cases for the Christianitos site, Portrero los Pinos and south Camp Pendleton sites are as viable today as ever. The county should move ahead now.

Incidentally, a point of error in the editorial: It failed to mention that the cap of 8.4 million passengers per year expires in 2004. After that date, it is likely that more flights may occur, but even if as many as 10 million passengers annually were to be permitted, over 12 million persons (not 14 million as stated) would be unable to fly in or out of JWA-Orange County as of 2010.

LELAND OLIVER

President, Airport Site Coalition