Of Airports Here, There, Anywhere
The airport issues outlined in three Dec. 31 Times articles failed to grasp the immediacy of the situation. Airport capacity is needed now; otherwise, carriers will leave for other regions and take the economic benefits with them. Airport improvements are many years off, and the intermediate time will be critical.
Your editorial “LAX: Enlightened Change a Must” promises “. . . one of the most spirited transportation battles of 2001” and also notes the lack of political leadership. Those two elements translate to mean that the billions of dollars of disruptive construction needed to improve LAX are still many years off.
John Graham (“Send in the Marines to End Argument Over an O.C. Airport,” Orange County Voices), noting the turmoil surrounding El Toro, calls for an airport at Camp Pendleton. Even in the unlikely event that the Marines and San Diego County agree, the approval and construction process would take decades.
Robert Ditchey in “And You Think Air Travel Is Awful Now” is entirely correct that air travel will get a lot worse before it gets any better because of worsening congestion and lengthy improvement processes. However, he errs when he asserts that in relation to military airports, “. . . in every case, NIMBY is in operation. . . .”
At March Inland Airport (the former March Air Force Base), there is unanimous support among political, business and community leaders to build a thriving cargo airport. Moreover, all environmental documents are certified, the largest runway in California is in full operation, aircraft parking aprons are built, I-215 is directly adjacent, and driving times to the industrial areas of Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties are often quicker than to LAX.
When LAX begins to burst and other airports are still on the drawing boards, March will be waiting because we are open for business--today.
KEN DELINO
Moreno Valley
Executive Director
March Inland Airport Authority
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Re John Graham’s article that an international airport should be built at Camp Pendleton: I disagree. Actually, the airport should be built in Carlsbad, where there already is an airport. This could serve Orange County and San Diego for the same reasons mentioned. I’ve always thought that Carlsbad has been holding its breath, thinking this idea would surface.
LEA YARBOROUGH
Huntington Beach
* Thank you for your answer to solving the question to both Orange and San Diego counties’ needs for a large international airport. Camp Pendleton is indeed an ideal choice. It is halfway between the two counties, has major rail and road access, has less noise and environmental impact to existing residential areas, and less air-safety-related concerns.
Is it possible that a “common sense” answer might be seriously considered by the politicians in charge? I truly hope so, but I suspect not. Common sense rarely plays a role in these decisions, only special interests. Well, a challenge to those in power: Prove us wrong for a change!
DAVID GROSS
Laguna Beach
* The Times Dec. 31 editorial made it very clear that air transportation problems will only get worse in our region. Professionals have estimated the additional number of passengers that will be coming to Southern California from 140 million to 157 million per annum by 2015, up from 81 million in 1997. Air cargo to and from the region stands at 2.6 million tons annually and is expected to increase sharply.
The problem of a lack of airport capacity is critical and will ultimately affect every person in the region.There is little question that El Toro airport is a must, because there is just no way LAX can handle that amount of increased air traffic, even if Burbank, Ontario, Palmdale, John Wayne and Long Beach help out. If we refuse to address the seriousness of this crisis realistically, we will soon regret that shortsighted mistake. Air travel will become an absolute nightmare, that is, if one is lucky enough to be able to buy a ticket.
BONNIE O’NEIL
Airport Working Group
Newport Beach
* John Graham’s prudent assessment of Camp Pendleton’s logical location for an airport is an excellent piece. He unfortunately has failed to see his fatal flaw. The building of an airport at Pendleton will not necessitate the closure of John Wayne Airport.
Newport Beach’s citizenry has ballyhooed the artificial demand for more Orange County air capacity, solely for the purpose of getting rid of John Wayne. Airspace crowding, with an airport at El Toro, would facilitate the closure of John Wayne, eventually, to all aviation use. At such a time, ownership of the 475 acres with new terminals and parking structures that John Wayne now occupies will revert to the Irvine Co. for free. This is a staggeringly valuable windfall.
An airport at Camp Pendleton will leave John Wayne wide open to those noisy business jets and general aviation, forever, and it will preclude Donald Bren from ever getting his hands on that priceless piece of real estate. It will be a frosty day in the nether world when that comes to pass.
DON DUCA
Laguna Niguel
