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POWER UP: Dutch aircraft maker Fokker has...

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POWER UP: Dutch aircraft maker Fokker has spent millions of dollars on equipment for a new 100-seat airplane to make it quiet enough to fly from John Wayne Airport. But if the FAA adopts a stricter rule on airline takeoffs, it’ll be money down the drain. . . . Planes now reduce power after climbing to 500 feet here to make them quieter over residential neighborhoods. The federal agency is considering barring aircraft cuts in power below 800 feet to make takeoffs safer. If the tougher regulation goes into effect, the new Fokker may be too noisy to get approval at John Wayne, which has the nation’s strictest noise rules.

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