El Toro’s Readiness Part of Debate

* On Sept. 10, you reported on citizens of Yorba Linda, Tustin and Santa Ana who complained about excessive noise as aircraft flew over their homes on their approach to John Wayne Airport (“Runway Work Forcing Flights Lower, Louder.”)

The concerns of these citizens are well taken.

Unfortunately, what they have recently experienced is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. This temporary inconvenience will become a permanent problem and their reality if John Wayne Airport is expanded.

Why? Because the good citizens in South County and the anti-airport coalition in general are doing everything they can to stave off utilization of El Toro as a commercial airport.

They instead feel that John Wayne Airport can clearly be expanded to meet all the county’s needs. Such expansion undoubtedly will require the lengthening of John Wayne’s paltry 5,700-foot runway. This runway will be expanded across the San Diego Freeway and deeper into Santa Ana, as well as across Bristol Street and then on into the depths of Santa Ana Heights.

In all likelihood, such expansion will also no doubt include the development of a parallel runway. What would these changes mean to the citizens who have recently experienced this increase in noise? Significantly more aircraft, which are larger in nature and more frequent in number, flying lower to reach a runway which has been expanded to accommodate their needs.

And why will they experience this noise? Because a strident minority is opposing utilization of the oldest airfield in Orange County, i.e. El Toro, with its two 10,000-foot runways, two 8,000-foot runways, 400 acres of apron space and an 18,000-acre no-home buffer zone.

RICHARD F. TAYLOR JR.

Newport Beach

* How come many of the same people who feel South Orange County residents should deal with 24-hour-a-day flights over their houses are now whining about flight noise caused by temporary construction?

TERRIE McKINLEY

Aliso Viejo

* Anyone who doubts the usability of parkland near an airport should visit the nature reserve around the upper bay in Newport Beach. It is right under the flight path of jets taking off out of John Wayne and has never been more than a narrow blacktop ribbon, a few dirt paths, and a bunch of weeds.

Yet, on any day you visit, rain or shine, there will be a constant flow of joggers, bikers, Roller-Bladers, dog walkers, etc., etc. People should not confuse commercial jet noise with that from El Toro military jets, which is almost painful. If you build parks anywhere in Orange County, they will come. The Newport upper bay reserve proves that.

MICHAEL STEINER

Costa Mesa

* Today I read another series of letters (“Seeing Red Over ‘Lean, Green’ Plan,” Sept. 6) about the proposed El Toro airport. And as usual, I suffer through the letters from North Orange County residents who don’t quite have the facts straight or who slant the truth just enough to sound reasonable.

In particular, Dan Tracy of Costa Mesa writes in his letter that “due to noise restrictions” departures at LAX are delayed and safety is compromised. Mr. Tracy seems to imply that the solution is to have an airport where noise is not a factor, where jets can take off and turn immediately and thus increase airport capacity threefold, without impacting anyone and not “constantly getting complaints” from residents and businesses.

OK. Unfortunately, that is not El Toro. Maybe we need to chip in and buy North County residents like Mr. Tracy a map so he can point out all that uninhabited open space (either current or on the drawing boards) that will not be impacted by the beautiful sight of aircraft turning onto the most advantageous route of flight.

And as for the “concept” of a newer, bigger airport already half built with five runways . . . well, unfortunately, the county has plans to tear up three of the four longest runways because they are too close together and then rebuild them at least 700 feet apart, tear up another because of the negative response from pilots’ groups to uphill takeoffs and not use the fifth because it is too short.

Additionally, there is no navigation aid at El Toro commonly used at commercial airports, most of the ramps are not stressed to handle the largest jet aircraft and would need to be strengthened, there is no terminal and the control tower and airport lighting do not meet FAA standards.

Other than that, this “godsend” is just sitting there ready to go.

DOUGLAS K. BLAUL

Portola Hills