Noise Level at El Toro Should Be Tested

* Lately there has been a rush of pseudo-economist/planners who tell us that an El Toro commercial airport will be of net benefit to Orange County. These experts--academics, business people, politicians--speculate authoritatively that the resulting increase in airplane noise will be insignificant, and that its damage to the quality of life will be minimal, if at all. Others, usually dismissed by these experts as being less knowledgeable, say exactly the opposite.

Well, rather than rely on the pronouncements of special interests, pro or anti-airport, why don’t we get some real data on the levels of potential noise?

Now, (departing) El Toro airplane traffic is directed to the east-northeast, away from the populated areas abutting the airport. Commercial operations would take off into the prevailing wind, to the west-southwest. Why not ask the Marine Corps, for a trial period, to orient its flight operations with the prevailing wind? Perhaps they could be persuaded to participate in a noise determination program that would also involve the aircraft types to be typically in commercial use there.

Will the tranquillity at the beautiful UCI campus be destroyed by commercialization of El Toro? How will a commercial El Toro airport affect potential sales of the Irvine Co.’s upscale Shady Canyon development? These are some of the important questions that must be answered certainly before a commercial airport at El Toro becomes reality. Afterward, it will be too late.

ED BRISICK

Irvine