THE COUNTY'S PRESS RELEASE ON
                                     AIRPORT SAFETY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Report Says Takeoffs from El Toro to the North and East are Safe

Study was conducted to ensure safety

Santa Ana, Calif (May 5, 1998) --

Takeoffs from El Toro to the north and east are safe, according to a report released today by the MCAS El Toro Master Development Program.

Consultants recently completed a thorough Terminal Instrument Procedures analysis, more commonly referred to as "TERPS." The analysis identified the safe instrument approach and departure procedures for the airport and included the study of obstacles, such as terrain or buildings, in the vicinity of MCAS El Toro. The study also identified opportunities for noise abatement.

"Ensuring safety is our highest priority, and while the TERPS analysis was not required, we felt it was an important study to undertake," said Courtney Wiercioch, Program Manager for the MCAS El Toro Master Development Program.

Key findings from the TERPS analysis include:

• Precision instrument approaches from the south and west are safe.
• Straight departure procedures to the north and south are safe. North departures require an initial climb gradient of 410 feet per nautical mile.
• Eastbound departures are safe based on a right turn to the south. Turns for noise abatement procedures can be accommodated out to 4 nautical miles. East departures require an initial climb gradient of 360 to 400 feet per nautical mile.

The Master Development Program, John Wayne Airport staff, P&D Aviation, the El Toro Airport Citizens Advisory Commission ad hoc Aviation Subcommittee, and the ALPA worked to identify a qualified consultant and to define an appropriate scope of work for the TERPS analysis.

K & M Aviation Consultants, from Bellevue, Wash. was retained by P&D Aviation to conduct the TERPS analysis. "ALPA also worked with the County and its consultants to ensure that safety issues previously raised by commercial pilots and others were fully analyzed and addressed," said Ron Ahlfeldt, the County’s consultant responsible for preparing the Airport System Master Plan for El Toro and John Wayne Airport.

Closer review of the information provided by the county includes this statement:

1.2.2 Departure Procedures

... The analysis of departure procedures is based on standards contained in Chapter 12 of FAA Order 8260.3B. The TERPS IFR departure criteria are predicated on normal aircraft operations, i.e., all-engines running.

The county press release does not say what will happen if a pilot experiences an engine failure on easterly or northerly takeoffs into the mountains and can not maintain the climb rates specified..