Those Runways at El Toro

* I appreciated Todd Thorton’s profile (April 13). I am also an airline transport pilot and worked for four years as an air traffic controller and supervisor at the John Wayne Airport tower.

The Board of Supervisors wants citizens to believe that if El Toro becomes a commercial airport, they will be able to prevent airline pilots from taking off to the west, over Irvine. Runways, however, are not like city streets that have a “one way” sign on them. They are used in both directions, depending on the prevailing winds (from the southwest at El Toro). The airplane’s captain, not the Board of Supervisors or an air traffic controller, makes the final decision on which runway he or she will use. Anyone who has flown into John Wayne and landed during Santa Ana wind conditions can attest to that.

MARK A. HUMPHREYS

Irvine

* The March 26 article about El Toro runway selection highlights one of the key issues of the El Toro airport--whether there will be aircraft flying overhead. The plans for takeoffs to the east and north and landings to the north replicate the current military usage. There is much discussion about taking off with a tail wind into rising terrain, and, as the story outlined, how to accommodate aircraft departing to the north toward the path of inbound John Wayne traffic, near or overhead communities such as Tustin and Orange.

It is time to again propose that one unmentioned runway choice be analyzed; runway 16, the south runway. With a small right turn, departing traffic can fly over the unpopulated hills south of Newport Coast and north of Laguna Beach all the way to the water. The vice president’s flight crew apparently got it right. The El Toro airport opponents’ Web site points out that Air Force 2 departed from runway 16 recently.

The takeoff runway is only half of the equation. Ideally, all aircraft head in the same direction, not perpendicular to each other. Aircraft should also land on runway 16. Presently, in good weather there is no problem. However, when the ceiling and/or visibility is reduced, there is a problem with establishing a precision instrument approach to runway 16 because of the foothills just north of the approach end. With the designation of the Global Positioning System (GPS) in international civil aviation, there is potential for curved approaches. These approaches may be designed to arc and avoid obstacles, noise-sensitive areas and congested airspace.

This means that aircraft can fly in and out of El Toro, avoiding overflight of residential areas. Those who live in South County and North County who fear noise, aircraft overhead and reduced property values may be able to barely see aircraft on the distant horizon.

This is a plausible solution; however, it depends upon two contingencies: (1) The GPS system together with the necessary augmentation systems must be fielded on time. (2) While the FAA has gone on record about the potential arcing/curved approach capability that GPS will offer, it remains to be seen how well and fast this will be accepted as safe and viable by airline pilots charged with passenger safety.

JIM MENDELSON

Newport Beach

* Articles on March 26 and March 27 dealt with problems regarding the county’s takeoff plans for El Toro airport. According to these articles, the county, in order to avoid erosion of support from central Orange County, is trying to mitigate the noise from northerly takeoffs over Tustin and Orange.

They suggest that the jets can take a straight northerly path if they climb quickly enough, but it is questionable if heavy, fully loaded jumbo jets would be able to facilitate such a maneuver. The articles go on to say that county plans are at odds with the FAA and its own consultants, because if the planes cannot take off straight in a northerly path, they must make a left in order to avoid terrain and air traffic from John Wayne.

This situation is another example of the county making a decision based on the need to accede to the wishes of airport backers, then later trying to deal with the overwhelming problems involved in making things fit.

An international airport at El Toro is fraught with problems involving safety, health, pollution and traffic congestion. Such an airport does not belong in the middle of a heavily populated area, and if we truly need such a facility, it belongs elsewhere.

I find it interesting that the county is suddenly concerned with noise problems when it involves central county, but when noise involves the south, there is little concern. In fact, for them, noise in South County is a non-problem. Is this because we are the new kids on the block when it comes to representation?

Many of our cities were unincorporated, and therefore underrepresented, for so long that the county has become accustomed to leading us around, like younger children who can be told what to do. Central Orange County needs to wake up and realize that they are being led down the primrose path.

CYNTHIA WEITZ

Laguna Niguel

* The noise report on El Toro airport produced by the Orange County supervisors as reported in The Times on April 8 is another example of county officials hiring a firm to produce the result they want. The noise footprint they describe in the report shows the departures on runways 07 and 34 heading out over sparsely populated areas.

The published departure that airliners will use, however, shows something quite different. Because of the proximity of the mountains, the departure on 07 calls for a right turn at or before four miles to a heading of 130 degrees. This heading puts the departure directly over Lake Forest and Mission Viejo. The departure on runway 34 calls for a left turn at or before three miles and directly over parts of Irvine, Tustin, Lemon Heights, Santa Ana and, of course, through the approach path to John Wayne.

Most takeoffs by airliners are made at reduced power in order to save wear and tear on the engines, with maximum thrust available if needed. This is one of the reasons why aircraft engines are so reliable. The noise footprint in the report is based on using this normal departure plus noise abatement procedures. Because departures on runways 07 and 34 are both uphill and downwind, maximum power will be required on every takeoff, increasing engine failure and making the noise footprint louder.

DALE LANG

Mission Viejo

* This is a tale of two Toms. First: there was the late Supervisor Thomas F. Riley of the 5th District. He settled a 20-year argument between Orange County and the city of Newport Beach over John Wayne Airport. The deal he struck gave the county a rather nice little commercial airport and the city protection from unrestricted use. A win-win for both parties.

Then there is Riley’s successor, Thomas Wilson. He is so blinded by his parochial views he can’t see what is happening to Orange County, especially its southern region. The dynamic growth in population, jobs, commerce, high-tech industry and tourism demands the modernization and upgrading of the county’s transportation infrastructure: road, rail and air.

That’s why the conversion of El Toro to a civil international airport is an idea whose time has come. It would be a shame if we let this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity slip through our fingers. Tom Riley, you old Marine, we miss you.

NORM EWERS

Irvine