More Suggestions for El Toro Base’s Future

Re “Both El Toro Camps Cheer FAA Report,” Oct. 10:

Only a complete fool, or one of our pro-airport supervisors, could take the Federal Aviation Administration’s stinging condemnation of the entire El Toro airport plan as good news. For example, the report notes that the results of the additional analysis indicate that, while the proposed civilian aircraft operations at the former Marine base can be conducted in a safe manner, overall system efficiency in Southern California will be affected.

Further, the FAA has further determined that the county proposal is not the most efficient use of navigable airspace. Thus, after seven years and $50 million spent, our supervisors have concocted a state-of-the-art airport plan that will cripple the entire Southern California air transit system from the very day it opens, while serving only half as many passengers as John Wayne does today.

Further, each flight from El Toro could be delayed up to one hour, and each takeoff could delay up to 24 flights at John Wayne or Long Beach. I suppose any airport is safe if nothing can ever fly into or out of it.

Richard Soden

Lake Forest

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Re “Congressman Delays Federal El Toro Report,” Oct. 5:

As chairman of the House Aviation subcommittee, Congressman John Mica made rash decisions concerning an additional airport in Orange County that clearly show how far removed he is from our local needs.

By delaying his “evaluation” of the FAA report, Mica was taking away our right to know all the facts. It was our right as citizens to read that report and make informed decisions based on the facts. This is why we call our system of government a “democracy.”

Ana Miliozzi

Irvine

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After peering through the concrete dust cloud over New York, isn’t it clear now, more than ever, that as a nation, not just a region, we need to take as much advantage as possible of existing emergency landing strips and airports readily converted from civilian to military use?

I, for one, would have very sad memories brought back by the concrete dust cloud waste generated by tearing up the El Toro airport and the missed opportunity for emergency readiness that it would represent.

David Cooley

Newport Beach

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I have learned not to trust any of the “facts” produced by either side in the El Toro debate. The “Just the Facts” folks at the county are now saying a smaller El Toro makes sense. Yes, as a foot in the door, perhaps a smaller airport does make sense. But beware. Once established, El Toro will grow fast.

The anti-airport folks are just as bad. Even before Sept. 11 they argued that the demand wasn’t there: “Business travel is down 28%.” Of course, then we had already entered a major economic downturn exacerbated dramatically by that attack on America. But air travel will rebound in the long run. And you don’t build transportation infrastructure based on short-term economic vacillations, even deep ones.

The best solution to manage the growth in air travel demand in Southern California is a large international hub airport at the southern end of Camp Pendleton. Unlike John Wayne and the proposed one at El Toro, the marketplace effect of a large airport will allow lower fares and attract both airlines and passengers.

The sensible deal here is to return part of El Toro to the Marines. Let them use the 1,000 housing units standing empty. Those will make up for the ones to be lost at Pendleton, and it gives their kids access to great Irvine schools. Let them also run their helicopter operations there. They’re relatively quiet and safe, and Orange County then can do its own “military duty.” And we can build a world-class Pendleton International to serve the 7 million-plus folks living in Orange, Riverside and San Diego counties.

John L. Graham

Professor

Graduate School of Management

UC Irvine