Another Wave of Debate Over El Toro Airport

El Toro Airport opponents in South County claim the airport is unsafe. The FAA shattered that argument in its report to the supervisors. The agency made it quite clear that El Toro airport is safe.

Anti-airport activists continue to claim the airport is unneeded. Terrorists destroyed that platform on Sept. 11. We are now at war, and never before have we appreciated those runways at El Toro any more than we do today. They represent a security for our families in Orange County today and in the future.

It would be irresponsible to leave our county citizens with only the two extremely small runways at John Wayne Airport. We now have a new appreciation for the use of El Toro Airport.

Bonnie O’Neil

Newport Beach

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The county is spinning half-truths again. County ads tells us “El Toro is safe,” but they fail to finish the sentence: “but overall system efficiency in Southern California will be affected.”

Even with El Toro operating at only a fifth of its design capacity, air traffic coming into John Wayne and LAX would be severely delayed. Under some weather conditions, some aircraft would have to land from the north, while others wait to land from the south. Some incoming aircraft would be forced to approach El Toro from the north, then circle completely to land from the west. Aircraft leaving El Toro would frequently be delayed for up to an hour. As the FAA so drolly puts it, “The FAA believes that the majority of [airlines] will not accept” these procedures.

The majority of airline pilots do not accept the county airport plan either. They have told the county and the FAA they will not accept either of the two principal El Toro departure routes (to the north and east); the FAA adds: “The ultimate decision whether to accept an assigned approach or departure procedure is the responsibility of the pilot-in-command.” Pilots will insist on westerly takeoffs, into the wind, away from the mountains, under normal El Toro weather conditions.

Michael Smith

Mission Viejo

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Can anyone explain to me why the FAA report on the proposed international airport at El Toro was based on one-seventh the number of airplanes that the county has envisioned in its master plan? Does this mean that the true numbers in the FAA findings should be multiplied by a factor of 7?

If I were building a factory, would the EPA estimate the amount of pollution based on the factory running at one-seventh its capacity? If I developed a new food, would the FDA analyze its safety based on one-seventh of the ingredients? Does Caltrans decide how many lanes to make a freeway based on one-seventh the number of cars that will use it? What was the point of the FAA study? How is it useful?

Supervisor Chuck Smith responded that after five years, when the number of flights increased “the county could change the landing and takeoff patterns.” To what? Where? Excuse me, I only want “Just the Facts.”

George Somogyi

Laguna Niguel

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If El Toro was in such an unsafe proximity, why was it more than satisfactory for the military? That is just the point. It is in a well-planned logistic locality. El Toro has more than adequately long runways for large air transport requirements. The military had no problems with airspace conflicting with John Wayne. LAX and Burbank are having trouble with their expansion plans. The population is rapidly expanding. We need El Toro airport now.

With recent events in New York, it is time we give our pilots, crews and flight staff facilities for arriving and departing aircraft. Pilots and aircraft crew put their lives on the line every time one of those jets takes off and lands. Let us give them also our deepest respect and care. Last but not least, let us federalize our security system by putting armed U.S. marshals on each flight.

Pilots should not be armed. Pilots have enough responsibility. Let us not ask them to police the passengers in addition to their required duties. Pilots do not need this added distraction.

Ann Robbins

Garden Grove

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Our three pro-airport supervisors keep telling us how economically good an international airport would be for Orange County. Let’s look at what really happens.

Today Los Angeles has a huge airport. The city and county finances have been struggling for years. There are large blighted areas.

Look at Los Angeles today. Then imagine millions of people streaming through Orange County, as we witnessed in Los Angeles. Wouldn’t all of Orange County change into a polluted metro-polis? After all, topographically we are simply an extension.

Please listen: Orange County is now a “great place to live.” Don’t ruin it!

Jack S. Davis

Dana Point

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After reading the FAA’s report regarding the proposed El Toro airport, I must agree with the planners and the supervisors. The airport could be operated “safely.” But only if no flights ever depart or arrive. Indeed, the airport will never be as safe to the citizens of Orange County as it is right now.

Tom Buick

Mission Viejo

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The sobering reality of Sept. 11 demands that we reassess the fever, albeit in the minority, for an airport at El Toro. As a congressional candidate in Orange County last year, I campaigned against the airport, proposing other uses for the land and supporting the will of the people. I question the futility of building yet another ideal terrorist target.

An airport with planes of below-average loads barely squeaking over mountains to the north and east. An airport surrounded by virtually uninhabited mountains with no security, few dirt roads and innumerable hiding places. Perhaps the Board of Supervisors could accept campaign donations from private security firms in exchange for lucrative security contracts to police the wilderness surrounding the airport.

The location would better serve our communities as a national education center nurturing flights of imaginations and solutions, not flights to Las Vegas.

Mark Dornan

San Juan Capistrano

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We need the airport because of the jobs it will produce. People in Orange County seem to think that people with a college education need good jobs.

My brother and I have just a high school education. He worked at TWA in Los Angeles airport and made more money per hour than I did in machine part inspection. Not everybody goes to college, so this is one way to earn a decent living.

We need a lot more middle-and low-income jobs. People in South County are just going to have to do their part. Nobody said that things will stay the same in life. So accept that life changes. If they were going to build the airport in Huntington Beach, they’d be all for it.

Robert Poegalek

Huntington Beach