Second
Quarter - 1999Second
Quarter - 1999OC Register, June 30, 1999
“Airport foes make noise to supervisors”
“Details of the flight demonstration will be released in the
next two weeks.”
Website Direct, June 29, 1999
American Airlines States Objections to Easterly
Takeoffs
Chief Operating Officer Says ‘No’ to Two-Airport Plan
Associated Press, June 25, Website posted June 26,
1999
Damaged American Airlines jet makes safe landing
at Miramar airfield
Website Direct, June 26, 1999
El Toro Airport Website Wins Award
Website direct, June 25, 1999
Board of Supervisors to Meet on El Toro
Website Direct, June 24, 1999
News of Newport Beach and John Wayne
OC Register, June 23, 1999
“Irvine study: Tests too noisy”
“County disputes city's consultants, who call for soundproofing
25,000 homes.”
OC Register, June 23, 1999
Supervisors decide to publicly discuss El-Toro-airport
suit
Website Direct, June 21, 1999
ETRPA Takes Flight Demo Message to Coad's Territory
LA Times, June 21, 1999
New runway proposal for El Toro
Villa Park Community News
Saddleback Valley News, June 18, 1999
"Non-aviation El Toro plan wins planning award"
"Millennium plan can go on to win state, national awards"
LA Times, June 18, 1999
“Poll Finds Mixed Bag on El Toro Tests”
“But one thing is clear: Most South County residents still oppose
an airport.”
Website Direct, June 16, 1999
Anti-Airport Rally Huge Success
Website Direct, June 15, 1999
Brain Tumors Near Airports
Town Relocated Because of Airport
OC Register, June 14, 1999, Updated June 15, 1999
"Irvine poised to make grab for El Toro"
"The city could halt the county's airport plans by annexing the
rest of the base."
Website Direct, June 12, 1999
John Wayne Airport utilization continues to decrease
LA Times, June 11, 1999
“Key Official Leaves El Toro for LAX”
“Consultant cites frustration with flight delays...”
Website Direct, June 10, 1999
Airport planners face more problems
Website Direct, June 9, 1999
Airport Supporters Bring Lawsuit in Attempt to
Block Initiative
OC Register, June 8, 1999
"Sounds of discord over airport plan"
Website Direct, June 7, 1999
Noise demo verdict - It hurt the pro-airport cause.
LA Times, June 6, 1999
“Insulating Residents From El Toro”
“Supervisor Smith says county should give sound-muffling materials
for homes under flight path.”
Website Direct, June 5, 1999
Day 2 of Demo Slanted Towards Quieter Aircraft
Website Direct, June 4, 1999
Demo Flight Off Schedule
OC Register, June 3, 1999
“Spending for new El Toro reuse could nearly triple”
“The proposed $25.9 million outlay reflects the critical planning
period the project has reached.”
LA Times, June 3, 1999
“FAA, OC Again Discuss El Toro Flight Test Safety”
Website Direct, June 1, 1999
Flight Demo Still On -
ALPA Challenges Safety
South China Morning Post, Website posted May 31, 1999
“Protest brews over noise as runway opens”
OC Register, May 30, 1999
“Petition drive to place anti-airport measure on
ballot off to flying start”
“Proponents have collected 45,000 signatures since early April.”
LA Times Editorial, May 30, 1999
“Test Flights Will Help in Decision”
OC Register, May 29, 1999
“Irvine Co. will sidestep El Toro fight”
“Despite a historical stance opposing an airport, the developer
makes it clear to the Irvine council that it won't join its cause.”
Website Direct, May 27, 1999
Lawsuit Filed to Block Flight Demo for Violation
of State Law
LA Times, May 26, 1999
"Irvine City Council Will Sue to Stop Planned Test
of Jet Noise at El Toro"
Website Direct, May 24, 1999
Southwest Airlines Rewords Position on El Toro
in Exchange of Letters
LA Times, May 24, 1999
“Service Begins at New Austin Airport”
Old airport closed
Toledoblade.com, May 22, 1999
“Port sues insurance carriers over noise suit”
OC Register, May 22, 1999
“Public may get to play at base”
“An agreement with the Marines would open up the golf course
and more as soon as troops leave in July.”
Website Direct, May 20, 1999
Flight Demo Schedule Published
Website Direct, May 18, 1999
Smith, Silva and Coad Push Forward With Demo Flights
American Airlines Spokesman Says They Are Using the Wrong Runways
LA Times, May 17, 1999
“El Toro Airport Plans: Major Stall”
“No clearance for takeoff on matters such as cargo, environmental
review and even policing. That gives foes an edge.”
Website Direct, May 16, 1999
Big Bucks To Be Wasted on Misleading "Air Show"
Supervisors expected to approve flight demo at meeting Tuesday
Website Direct, May 14, 1999
John Wayne utilization continues its steady decline.
OC Register, May 14, 1999
“El Toro plan changes top $1.6 million”
“Supervisor Chuck Smith says the additional costs for P&D
Aviation led to a better proposal.”
LA Times, May 13, 1999
“Hiring of El Toro Administrator Points Up Worries
Over Process”
“County will pay the lawyer $170,000 a year, much more than his
boss, who has been blamed for delays.”
LA Times, May 12, 1999
“Irvine Will Put Warnings About El Toro Effects
on the Record”
“Council unanimously backs city brochure for home shoppers and
business thinking of moving in that details
what county plans would mean.”
LA Times, May 12, 1999, OC Register May 12, 1999
“Bates Shelves 2 Anti-Airport Assembly Bills”
"Lawmaker says she need more time to win support for measures
after ‘sweep of misinformation’."
LA Times, May 11, 1999
“Southwest Exec Lauds Airport at El Toro Base”
Website direct, May 9, 1999
Showdown Wednesday in State Assembly Committee
Heavy lobbying by airport backers reported
LA Times, Editorial, May 9, 1999
“City of Irvine vs. Irvine Co.”
Website adds content from both sides of journalistic
spectrum, May 8, 1999
Business Journal - Base Offer Muddles El Toro Debate
OC Weekly - Question Mark Park
LA Times, May 7, 1999
“Angry Supervisor Wants to Outlaw Meeting Leaks”
“Jim Silva proposes law that calls for jail time or fine for
anybody disclosing private communications.”
Website direct, May 5, 1999
Economics of Airport and Non-Aviation Uses Compared
Millennium Plan provides more jobs and higher pay
LA Times, May 2, 1999 - Website revised May 3, 1999
"O.C. Airport Millions Land in El Toro's Books"
"Funds cover most of the $23 million spent on plans"
Website direct, May 1, 1999
Bates, Wilson, Spitzer honored for anti-airport
leadership
Event raises over $50,000 for TRP war chest
LA Times, April 30, 1999
“Plans Unveiled for a Big Park at El Toro Base”
LA Times, April 28, 1999
“City challenges Irvine Co. on El Toro”
OC Register, April 28, 1999
“County OKs pro-airport TV ads”
Website Direct, April 26, 1999
"ETRPA accepts Laguna Woods, supports Assembly
bills"
OC Register, April 24, 1999
"Home seekers up in air"
OC Register, April 23, 1999
"El Toro test clear for takeoff"
OC Register, April 22, 1999
"County wants air time for airport ads"
Website Direct, April 21, 1999
"John Wayne passengers traffic continues to decline,
Long Beach traffic is up"
OC Register, April 18, 1999
"Revving up for cargo"
"Traffic is expected to triple by 2020, and entrepreneurs are
eyeing runways from El Toro to Victorville."
Website direct, April 15, 1999
Airport Opponents on a Roll... Those fighting OCX
have never been more optimistic.
OC Register, April 15, 1999
"Red tape blocks El Toro flights"
"Opponents predict airport plan will never fly"
Newport-Costa Mesa Daily Pilot, April 13, 1999
"Changes proposed for El Toro runways"
"By moving flight paths, officials say, the noise problem over
South County could be reduced significantly."
Newport-Costa Mesa Daily Pilot, April 12, 1999
"City officials vow to fight 'Safe Communities'
initiative"
Bits and Pieces, April 9, 1999
More trouble for airport project
Newport-Costa Mesa Daily Pilot, April 8, 1999
"Newport sees defeat of El Toro as costly"
"Mayor Dennis O'Neil tells Newport crowd he will fight like "junkyard
dogí to avoid expansion of John Wayne."
Website Direct, April 6, 1999
Supervisors predict victory for voters rights initiative.
Website Direct, April 4, 1999
Petition gathering begins this week for initiative
that can stop airport expansion
Website Direct, April 1, 1999
Bert Hack to leave TRP Board of Directors for new
role.
LA Times, April 1, 1999
"John Wayne Airport... Bit Player"
(For full articles see L.A. Times at http://www.latimes.com and O.C. Register at http://www.ocregister.com/news/)
“The El Toro flight demonstration June 4-5 continued to reverberate Tuesday as south Orange County residents complained to the Board of Supervisors about the noise and the impact of a possible airport.”
“Courtney Wiercioch, county El Toro program manager,... called the demonstration ‘an unqualified success.’ Her comments prompted boos from many... south-county residents present, some of whom brought their children to emphasize the possible impacts of an airport on their families.
"‘My kids were outside playing when the test was going on, and they held their ears as hard as they could,’ said Aliso Viejo resident Rod Rangel of his daughter Chenoa, 8, and son Gabriel, 5. ‘It's wrong, it's wrong for our children.’"
“Wiercioch said details of the county's noise monitoring during the demonstration would be released in the next two weeks.” Editor:- Wiercioch’s failure to have the report available for the public meeting brought criticism from some in the audience, and prompted an exchange with supervisor Tom Wilson. Wilson tried, unsuccessfully, to pin down Wiercioch as to whether the county’s noise consultant , Vince Mestre, had made any preliminary observations on the noise measurements. Prior to the meeting, Wiercioch sent us an e-mail, objecting to comments made by this website regarding the scheduling of the release of the noise report.
Members of the audience also objected to a county poster displayed at John Wayne Airport that seeks to downplay the impact of an airport at El Toro.
“In other action, the board, on a 3-2 vote, approved $396,000 to hire two Washington, D.C., lobbying firms to represent the county on El Toro matters over the next year. The total includes a 10 percent bonus if the Navy approves transfer of the base property to the county by June 30, 2000. Voting no were supervisors Tom Wilson and Todd Spitzer.”
In a June 14 letter, American Airlines Executive Vice President of Operations, Robert W. Baker confirmed his airlines’ reservations concerning the use of El Toro runways that require takeoffs towards the mountains. He also objected to the county’s proposed two-airport system.
Baker provided written support to testimony given last month by Captain Stanley Sanders of the Allied Pilots Association before the Orange County Board of Supervisors. Sanders criticized the county’s runway plans due to safety concerns. In a letter to El Toro Airport Website Editor, Leonard Kranser, Baker concurred with Sanders, stating that while eastern departures from El Toro are theoretically possible under some circumstances, “you can fully expect most pilots to reject the offer of Runway 7”, because of wind and “rising terrain in the vicinity of the runway end.”
In addition, Baker stated his airlines continued opposition to the county-proposed two airport system, with John Wayne and El Toro operating simultaneously. He stated emphatically, “There can only be one commercial airport servicing the Orange County market.” Baker reinforced the position, taken by other aviation experts, that the building of El Toro will result in the wasteful closing of Orange County’s existing John Wayne Airport to commercial airline traffic.
A press release, reporting on this matter, received national circulation and was the basis of a lead article in the LA Times Metro Section of June 30, 1999 entitled, "Airline Details El Toro Safety Concerns".
“SAN DIEGO -- An American Airlines jet made an emergency landing at Miramar Naval Air Station Friday after developing engine trouble on takeoff from Lindbergh Field... Flight 2090 left the runway about 2:45 p.m. en route to Dallas when the pilot notified air traffic controllers that he'd lost power in one engine, said Diana Lucero, a spokeswoman for Lindbergh Field.”
"‘It got pretty weird when we got over water and there was no altitude,’ one passenger told KFMB-TV.”
“Rick Logan, 41, was enjoying the beach at La Jolla when he noticed the jet flying low over the ocean. ‘It banked over to the right, went back out over the ocean and then came through the fog again,’ the construction worker said. ‘It sounded like the pilot was gunning the engine or something.’”
Editor:- A plane losing an engine on takeoff from El Toro would be faced with rising terrain in its path. This is one of the reasons why both commercial pilots associations object to El Toro’s flight paths. For more on engine failures and why over water takeoffs are safer, click here.
The Public Relations Society of America, Orange County Chapter, presented a Protos Award of Excellent to the El Toro Airport Info Site at a ceremony at the Hyatt Regency in Irvine last night. The website won the top honor in the Internet and On-Line Marketing Program category. 1999 is the 24th year of the PRSA's Protos award competitions.
The Board of Supervisors will meet on Tuesday, June 29 at 4:00 PM, to discuss El Toro related matters, including approval of a $396,000 contract for Washington DC lobbyists and an update on environmental contamination at the Marine base.
An
airport program status report will be presented. However, Courtney
Wiercioch advised the supervisors that she will not report, as previously
scheduled, on the recent flight demonstrations. Her report will not
be made available until after the meeting. Wiercioch thereby avoids
presenting her spin on the demo before an expected large and hostile public
audience.
The LA Times reports that County Executive Office Jan Mittermeir is under attack for recently trying “to fire a well-regarded department head - without notifying the supervisors or giving them a reason for her action once they found out.” Board Chairman Charles Smith, who had backed Mittermeier in the past, in part because of her pro-airport efforts, “now says he ‘made a mistake’” in giving her so much power.
Passenger traffic at John Wayne Airport declined by 8.5% in May, when compared to the same month last year. This is the 19th decline reported in the past 21 months. If El Toro airport is ever built, many informed parties expect John Wayne to close to commercial aviation.
As if to underscore Newport Beach's efforts in that direction, former Newport Beach Mayor Tom Edwards was selected yesterday to be chair of the supposedly objective El Toro Citizens Advisory Commission. He succeeds Newport Beach's Gary Proctor (who chaired the CAC for three years).
“A noise analyst hired by the city of Irvine to monitor the county's flight demonstrations suggests that up to 25,000 south county homes will need sound protection from a planned international airport at El Toro.”
“Irvine officials said their noise readings — which roughly equated to the decibel levels of kitchen blenders or vacuum cleaners — might require preventative measures totaling $750 million.” “County officials, whose own measurements will be released within two weeks, disputed Irvine's conclusions, saying the measurements did not average noise over a 24-hour period.”
“An unusual alliance of county supervisors brought discussion of a lawsuit about an anti-El-Toro-airport initiative out from behind closed doors Tuesday... The board voted 4-1 to publicly discuss the suit.”, with only Supervisor Charles Smith voting against open discussion.
The lawsuit seeks to stop the Safe and Healthy Communities Initiative from being placed on the March 2000 ballot. The lawsuit was brought by the City of Newport Beach and several Newport-based organizations and individuals.
Supervisor Todd “Spitzer on Tuesday called for a public discussion of the airport lawsuit, which seeks to stop county Registrar of Voters Rosalyn Lever from verifying the signatures on the initiative petitions.” Editor:- Proponents of the initiative have said that the lawsuit is only a nuisance and delaying tactic, and has no legal merit. It will not stop the initiative.
While the June 4-5 flight demonstrations were limited to narrow flight paths - that county planners hoped would not impact central or north county - some residents in those areas were, in fact, disturbed by the noise. ETRPA, in a letter to residents in Anaheim Hills, delivers a simple message. Supervisor Cynthia Coad is your member on the Board of Supervisors. Tell her what you think of the airport project.
“Mayor Pro Tem Robert McGowan is forming a group called Airline Pilots for a Safer El Toro to support his ‘friendlier and safer’ alternate plan to controversial flight patterns proposed for an El Toro Airport.” McGowan's plan includes complete elimination the east-west Runways 7-25, and an extension of north-south runway 16L to the south, into the Irvine “panhandle”.
Planes would land from the north on the lengthened runway. The parallel Runway 16R would be retained for added capacity. Takeoffs would be to the north during calm nights, or to the south east at other times. A 30 degree right turn would be made after takeoff and planes would follow a present open space corridor to the coast. "‘No planes will fly over any homes,’ said McGowan, a retired pilot who was with United Airlines for 30 years. For more information on McGowan's group, call (714)538-0367.
Editor:- This latest proposal underscores the fact that the county’s proposals for El Toro have been driven by a desire to use the military runways for political reasons. Creative ideas mainly have come from outside of the county’s costly planning organization. While McGowan’s proposal does not address issues of airport need, ground traffic, pollution, and the economics of non-aviation use of the base, at least he is looking for a better airport plan.
Commercial pilots' associations have been telling county planners - for three years - that Runway 7 takeoffs to the east are unsafe. Millions of dollars have been wasted by the county, defending use of this runway as El Toro's primary departure path. With the next change in the county plans, will airport boosters admit that they were wrong again?
"The Orange County chapter of the American Planning Association awarded one of its comprehensive planning awards to the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority for the group's Millennium Plan... The OCAPA awards is an annual program that recognizes projects which have achieved excellence in planning in various categories. Winners were selected by a four-member panel of judges representing professional planning organizations both in the public and private sectors, as well as academia."
"The Millennium Plan would eliminate El Toro's runways and replace them with a mixed commercial/industrial/residential development surrounding a large central park."
LA Times, June 18, 1999
“Poll Finds Mixed Bag on El Toro Tests”
“But one thing is clear: Most South County residents still oppose
an airport.”
A poll conducted by the Newport Beach-lead Airport Working Group, claimed that “42% of South County residents thought the commercial jets were louder than expected while 48% said they were quieter than expected or they didn't hear the planes.” Whether those who were contacted for the poll were under the test’s flight path or not, “80% said they still don't want the airport built.”
“The Airport Working Group, composed mostly of Newport Beach residents, has worked for more than 20 years to find an alternative to John Wayne Airport, which it claims is too small and constrained to handle all of the county's airport demand. Newport Beach lies under the [JWA] departure path.”
“The group's survey found that objections to commercial jet noise near El Toro were strongest underneath the path for jets arriving from the south over Laguna Woods, Aliso Viejo and Lake Forest. Residents beneath the eastern departure path over Rancho Santa Margarita, Foothill Ranch and Portola Hills also were more likely than not to have been bothered by the noise. But the survey showed that residents farther from the [test’s] flight paths--those in Irvine, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Beach, Mission Viejo and Dana Point--either didn't pay attention to the flights or were less bothered by what noise they heard.”
On Thursday, the 4th District Court of Appeal issued a mixed bag of rulings on the county’s environmental impact report, rejecting county positions on some issues and the airport opponents on others. The county appeared to win more points, but still does not have a satisfactory EIR. “The Court of Appeals agreed with [the lower court] rulings in favor of airport foes on two issues--that county demand forecasts for the airport and assumptions about John Wayne Airport were inadequate.” Richard Jacobs, an attorney for eight south Orange County cities that challenged the county's environmental study, said there are serious issues about traffic and air quality that the county has failed to address.
It was standing room only as, over 600 clapping, chanting, and sign waving opponents of an El Toro Airport filled Aliso Niguel High School’s theater and overflowed into adjoining areas. The “Sound Off” forum was arranged by the eight-city El Toro Reuse Planning Authority but every anti-airport group took part in the cooperative event. Opposition to the airport has stiffened, ever since the June 4-5 flight demonstrations showed people just how low the planes would fly over their homes, and how loud they will sound if El Toro ever becomes an airport..
Anti-airport Supervisors Tom Wilson and Todd Spitzer listened attentively as scores of angry residents blasted pro-airport Supervisors Charles Smith, Jim Silva and Cynthia Coad, county airport planners, and the City of Newport Beach - which has been promoting the El Toro airport as a way to reduce jet noise from John Wayne. Several speakers mocked the county for allowing their phone voice mailbox to fill up, so that many messages went unrecorded and uncounted. At one point, Spitzer called the county program “an outrage” and said that “North County is getting sick and tired of the lying by county officials” about the project and its environmental impacts.
Tom Wilson invited everyone to attend the Board of Supervisors meeting on June 29 when the county’s report on the demo flights may be released. Check the website Meetings Section for an exact date and time when it is firm.
Outside the meeting, petition gatherers for the Safe and Healthy Communities Initiative collected hundreds of signatures and close to 100 new volunteers to help with the signature gathering drive which will run through the month of August.
Website Direct, June 15, 1999
Brain Tumors Near Airports
Town Relocated Because of Airport
Two articles of environmental concern were added to the Issues Section today. Brain Tumors Near Airports provides information about a tumor cluster found near Seattle-Tacoma Airport. Possible chemical causes are being studied. The second article discusses the relocation of an entire town, situated 5 miles from Louisville Kentucky's airport, as the result of expanded cargo flight operations.
The Irvine City council was expected to move forward Monday with action to annex the Marine base and Musik jail, "opening a new front in the battle with the county." However, the action was delayed until this winter for legal reasons. "About 400 acres of the base are within city boundaries; the remaining 4,300 acres are just beyond in unincorporated territory" designated as part of Irvine's sphere of influence.
"Ellen Cox Call, county El Toro spokeswoman, said the airport plan would likely die if Irvine absorbed the base."
"The county is likely to block [the] annexation". It is "questionable" as to whether the application will make it to the Local Area Formation Commission (LAFCO). Board of Supervisors Chairman Charles Smith said that Irvine's application "must include the county's agreement on the tax issue, [otherwise] there will be no hearing" on the application to LAFCO which must approve the annexation.
The Orange County Register's County Line poll asked, "Should the City
of Irvine annex El Toro to prevent an airport?" and received a 73% yes
vote.
John Wayne passenger traffic declined by 5.4 percent in the latest published figures. The report for April 1999 continues a downtrend that has been evident throughout 1998. Opponents of an El Toro airport point to this as evidence that the county does not need another airport.
“Uncertainty over the future of commercial flights at the El Toro Marine base has prompted a key member of the county’s base management consulting team to resign”
Retired Marine Col. Jim Ritchie “said he was frustrated by delays in the start of cargo flights and other aviation uses at the base.” The county hoped to start flights as soon as the Marines leave, July 2. “Ritchie said he did not think cargo flights will begin ‘any time in the near future.’” Regarding delays in the transfer of the base property to the county, “‘It could be three years before the transfer is made’, he said.”
Supervisor Todd Spitzer, commenting on Ritchie’s departure asked, “What captain of the ship are they going to use to save this Titanic?”
The California State Lands Commission postponed action on any transfer of legislative jurisdiction (retrocession), over the closing El Toro base, from federal to state government, until August at the earliest. In plain English, this is another two-month delay in the county’s efforts to start any flight operations.
Jim Ritchie, a former colonel with extensive El Toro related experience, has resigned from CABACO, the county consulting firm working on base asset transfers. Ritchie is the latest of several key managers to quit the El Toro reuse program.
A “Sound Off on El Toro” Rally, June 16 at 7:00 PM in Aliso Viejo, will give voice to public opinion on the recent flight demos. Click here for details and directions in the Meetings Section.
Anthony Pignataro and the OC Weekly published one of the most detailed accounts so far, of where the planes flew, and when, and how it sounded last weekend. Click for today's informative Weekly article.
County Counsel reported Tuesday that a lawsuit had been brought by Citizens for Jobs and the Economy to block the County Registrar from verifying signatures for the Safe and Healthy Communities Initiative. Those bringing the lawsuit include the George Argyros founded group, along with the City of Newport Beach, the Newport Beach based Airport Working Group, the Newport Beach supported Airport Alliance, and individuals associated with those groups.
Attorneys for Citizens for Safe and Healthy Communities, and for the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority (ETRPA) are confident that there is no merit in the lawsuit. Signature gathering continues in high gear.
Jeff Metzger, an attorney and chairman of the ballot measure committee, denounced the move as a "frivolous nuisance lawsuit" and delaying tactic. Supporters of the ballot measure are confident that their initiative will win when presented to the voters. "The lawsuit is evidence that those who want an airport at El Toro are desperate to prevent the voters from having their say in this matter." Metzger said .
The City of Newport Beach has been a long-time supporter of building
a civilian airport at El Toro - as a means to move jet traffic away from
John
Wayne Airport and their city. The City Council recently voted funds
for a legal attack on the initiative.
"The Opinion pages received a near-record 140 letters on the subject in three days, many of which showed a deepening of sentiment or a new opinion formed, adding up to the biggest movement we've seen in this debate in quite a few months."
The
LA Times editorial, "Sound and Some Fury" concluded, noting that Supervisor
Charles V. Smith "endorsed the idea of insulation for homes near the flight
path. That kind of reality check about where the county is headed
was worthwhile."
The verdict is in. “It was a waste of money, it was rigged, and it was too loud.” El Toro Program Manager Courtney Wiercioch made it worse by lashing out at anti-airport residents, calling them “extremists”.
Anger caused by the county’s publicity flop is helping the Safe and Healthy Communities Initiative drive. Petition gatherers report that crowds at signature tables are more enthusiastic than ever. Additional volunteers are welcome. Click here to help bury the airport.
Here’s what a commercial pilot wrote about the flights:
“The recent airliner flights at El Toro were certainly a demonstration, but probably not the one the County of Orange's airport planners were hoping for. As a captain for a major airline and a former El Toro fighter attack squadron commander, I watched with interest as Friday's schedule of flights turn into a shambles. The 747 landed ten hours late, and the easterly departures were also much delayed.
The explanation given to the public was "weather", but the real reason was obvious to all professional pilots on the scene: modest tailwinds that exceeded aircraft performance limits. Federal regulations prohibit airliners from landing or taking off with winds on the tail that exceed 11 mph. A piddling little front came through with the usual south winds that made it impossible for the 747 to land. Later the winds swung to the west, so 767 which was supposed to do the easterly takeoffs wasn't able to.
These were by no means unusual winds, but they offered a very practical demonstration of why El Toro's runway configuration and the county's proposals for easterly and northerly departures literally won't fly. It's time for the county to stop such wishful thinking and either abandon the project or completely redesign the airport so that it will meet minimum safety standards.”
Captain Charles J. Quilter II
“Homes under the flight path of the proposed international airport at El Toro should receive sound insulation from the county, a key project supporter said Saturday on the second day of commercial flight demonstrations in south Orange County. Board of Supervisors Chairman Charles V. Smith made the pronouncement from the deck of a home in Aliso Viejo just after a Boeing 757-200 roared a few thousand feet overhead”.... and a homeowner “predicted that an airport would cause ‘For Sale’ signs to pop up in the community.”
“Supervisor Thomas W. Wilson, who opposes the airport plan, said there isn't enough money to mitigate the airport's noise effect on the surrounding community. ‘It's a step in the right direction to understanding the problem,’ Wilson said of Smith's statements. ‘But you can't just throw money at it. . . . You might as well just buy all of South County.’"
The OC Register, reported in a related article, that Supervisor Todd Spitzer, learned another lesson from the demo. “‘I now know it's a dangerous airstrip with severe constraints of weather and runway-configuration limitations,’ he said.”
Day 2 of county demo flights features mostly quieter aircraft, according to data collected by the Noise Abatement Program at John Wayne. Today's planes include an MD 90 which, according to actual readings at JWA, is half as loud as the MD 80 favored by American Airlines, Reno and TWA for their Orange County service. Today's aircraft also include a 757-200 and 737-300, both quieter versions of their type. There will be no 747 or 767 flights.
The Website volunteer team has been overwhelmed with e-mails, requesting information and sending comments. We are attempting to answer every message. Forgive us if we don't handle your question to your complete satisfaction. All comments on the demo flights are being combined into a file that is being forwarded to the press and to county officials.
The County El Toro Airport Planning Office number is 714-834-3000.
If the voice mailbox is full, call again on Monday.
The flight demonstration, originally proposed for last October, fell a little further behind schedule this morning. The 747, which was planned to touch down at 6:00 AM, flew around for a while this morning annoying many residents, backtracked to Ontario, and finally returned to land at El Toro at about 4:00 PM.
A revised schedule from the county could not be maintained. In particular, there was a reduction in the number of demo flights taking off on Runway 7 to the east. A Delta Airlines 767, designated to take off to the east, took off twice to the north before finally making it out to the east on a third try. Prevailing winds make departures on Runway 7 difficult and the Air Line Pilots Association says that the runway is unsafe
The demo 747, rented from Atlas Air, is capable of carrying 121,000 kilos (266,000 pounds) but was loaded to only 30,000 kilos - or just under one quarter of it's cargo capacity- for this demonstration. The lighter load allowed the plane to operate more quietly under lower power and to clear the mountains north of the base with greater safety. Even so, it produced a loud 101 decibels of noise as measured by professional equipment as it flew in over Leisure World.
E-mail the Board of Supervisors. For a link, click
For an overview of what the noise measurements mean, see our website
report: Putting
65 CNEL in Perspective
“Orange County's spending on El Toro reuse will nearly triple this year as the staff finishes its airport planning efforts and begins operating facilities at the closing base. The 1999-2000 Orange County budget released Wednesday projects $25.9 million for El Toro reuse. Last year the El Toro budget was $9.5 million.”
“Next year's budget includes $18.9 million for the El Toro master development program, which is planning the airport. A separate $7 million will pay for 18 new positions at John Wayne Airport” to work on El Toro air cargo and other possible interim aviation uses.
“The budget includes $8.7 million for professional and specialized services, including lawyers and environmental cleanup experts. An additional $1.4 million will go for public information, publications, and cable and radio programming.”
“Orange County isn't the only one spending money on El Toro. Newport Beach, which wants an El Toro airport so John Wayne doesn't expand, is projecting just under $900,000 in spending next year”. Eight cities in ETRPA, opposing the El Toro airport, “approved a joint $4.5 million budget for 1999-2000. More than half — $2.4 million — will go for public relations, advertising and community outreach. Their 1998-99 budget was $2.8 million. Irvine approved an additional $2 million in city funds to fight El Toro on its own.”
ETRPA began running anti-airport ads in the Register and Times today, with the headline “The County Has Spent $25 Million and They Still Can’t Make El Toro Fly.”
Officials met again “to discuss safety issues surrounding this weekend’s commercial jet flight demonstration”. Captain Jon Russell, Western-Pacific Regional Safety Chairman for the Air Line Pilots Association “raised a host of safety issues in a letter to the FAA. The airspace over the Riverside Freeway [where the county wants heavy jets to depart] ‘is the busiest corridor in the world and they want to put [pilots] in the middle of it,’ he said.”
The OC Register, in The Orange Grove, ran an op-ed piece by a commercial pilot titled, “Residents, lend me your ears! The El Toro airport ‘noise test’ you’ll experience is seriously flawed.”
The importance of pilot judgment over that of the control tower, or anyone else on the ground, is raised in a story about the American Airlines jetliner that crashed in Little Rock this week. A commercial pilot with 34 years experience said, “‘Pilots land at their own discretion, fly at their own discretion.... The only thing that the control tower does is coordinate traffic.’”
Website Direct, June 1, 1999
Flight Demo Still On -
ALPA Challenges Safety
A judge rejected Irvine's contention that the county did not comply with California environmental law in planning the demo flights. The biggest threat to the planned air show now appears to be the weather. The planes are to fly under visual flight rules and must have adequate visibility.
A commercial airline pilot points out that the VFR (visual flight rules) allow planes to arrive at a higher altitude and make a quieter gliding approach than under the instrument conditions (IFR) which will normally apply.
The Air Line Pilots Association sent a letter today, to the FAA, "about the vague and questionable ground rules and procedures set forth by the County" for the demos. ALPA requested that it have observers in the control tower during the tests, but has "not received a reply" from the county. "Departures straightout from Runway 34 [should be] prohibited, because it could place large transport aircraft... right in the face of one of the world's busiest general aviation flight corridors over the Riverside (91) freeway in the confined Santa Ana Canyon, with a resultant great mid-air collision potential." The FAA regional director responded by saying that the FAA's Associate Administrator for Airports (in DC) had approved the tests.
The LA Times reported El Toro Citizens Advisory Board member David Markley as saying that, "There is no harm in doing a test." Mr. Markley never said this and does not agree with conducting the test. The Times will print a correction tomorrow. Markley, a member of the El Toro Citizens Advisory Board, asked to be allowed to view the demo from the tarmac, and interview pilots, but Program Manager Courtney Wiercioch denied his request for alleged safety reasons.
South China Morning Post, Website posted May 31,
1999
“Protest brews over noise as runway opens”
Hong Kong’s new Chek Lap Kok airport’s second runway opened “amid threats of protests from ... residents who claim they were not warned about aircraft noise of almost 80 decibels.”
Editor:- The news item is highly relevant to El Toro. Noise readings cited are single event or peak noise levels. Many El Toro neighbors will be subjected to decibel levels similar to those experienced near the Hong Kong airport. County planners prefer to publish CNEL noise levels which are an average of loud and quiet periods and which understate peak noise by 20-30 decibels..
“More than 150,000 people - half of Tsuen Wan's residents - are under the flight paths of the second runway, said Albert Chan Wai-yip, Tsuen Wan District Board member and convenor of Aircraft Noise Concern Committee. After [the] runway opening, noise levels of 77 decibels were recorded at Belvedere Garden and 78 decibels at Allway Gardens, according to the Aircraft Noise Concern Committee. The safe noise limit is 85 to 90 decibels - anything higher can cause a temporary loss of hearing.”
“Mr Chan said the disruption to the New Territories lifestyle could trigger unrest. ‘When the economy turns sour and emotions are unstable, people can do extremely unreasonable and crazy things,’ he said. ‘Petitions would be presented to the Civil Aviation Department soon’, Mr Chan said.”
“A resident of Allway Gardens, Chen Ying-sung, 71, claimed the authorities were under-reporting noise levels. Noise pollution reached 78 decibels on the roof of his building, according to measurements he took with Mr Chan yesterday. ‘When it's the loudest, I can't hear the television,’ Mr Chan said.”
“Organizers of an anti-El Toro airport initiative say they have already gathered more than 45,000 signatures and predict they will collect many more than the required 71,206 by Sept. 1... ‘We've gotten a very enthusiastic response,’ said Jim Richert, the Lake Forest petition captain whose 85 volunteers have collected more than 4,000 signatures.”
“Newport Beach is spending $25,000 to find legal flaws in the initiative.” Newport Beach Mayor Dennis O'Neil acknowledged that his city’s attorneys are looking for ways to hamper the measure's passage.
“Court challenges were to be expected”, said Jeff Metzger, who is heading the initiative effort. For example, his organization feared being sued over the petitions' not having Metzger's address on them. New forms were quickly printed, but Metzger assured that the signatures collected on sheets without his address are still legitimate.
“Suzanne Slupsky, the Registrar of Voters election section supervisor, said petitions do not need to include a proponent's name and address.” Click here for the entire article.
“The case for the series of test flights that will take place Friday and Saturday lies in whatever sense of reality might result from having the experience.... Anything that lends a dose of real-life experience to the discussion is bound to have some value.”
The editorial says in part, “In the meantime, the tests draw renewed attention to unresolved questions over takeoff and landing routes. The county has long maintained that its preferred flight plans are safe and usable... The Air Line Pilots Assn. and the Allied Pilots Assn., two unions representing commercial air pilots, have opposed the takeoff routes because of worries about safety. They have argued for takeoffs to the west, which runs directly against the Board of Supervisors 1996 resolution banning takeoffs from existing runways over Irvine.”
“In the end, will a promise for no westerly takeoffs be honored at the end of the airport planning and construction process? There has been substantial turnover on the board since it endorsed an airport and authorized planning to go forward, with restrictions to protect surrounding residents and communities. So the question of good faith and keeping promises remains on the table. The supervisors on the current board should say where they stand on this issue.”
“The Irvine Co. is standing firm in its position not to get involved in the fight against the proposed commercial airport at El Toro Marine base. The company responded this week to a demand from the Irvine City Council for an explanation of its stance on the airport. The Irvine Co.'s carefully worded letter avoided placing the company on either side of the airport fight.”
"‘From our perspective, despite the confident voices in the El Toro debate, little is definitively known at this point about the consequences of the concepts being studied,’ wrote Gary Hunt, Irvine Co. executive vice president. ‘At the end of the day, the ultimate land-use determination for reuse of El Toro will be a public decision, not a corporate decision. We will be but one voice in the discussion.’"
Website Direct, May 27, 1999
Lawsuit Filed to Block Flight Demo for Violation
of State Law
The City of Irvine filed suit today, on behalf of those who "reside, work, conduct business or recreate in the City", seeking a Temporary Restraining Order, and Preliminary and Permanent Injunctions against the flight demonstrations. The lawsuit cites violations of the California Environmental Quality Act by the county. It points out that one flight route for the demo "has not been utilized at MCAS El Toro for over thirty years, since an airplane attempting to use that route crashed into a nearby hillside, resulting in the deaths of eighty-four servicemen." The other flight path has been opposed by the Air Line Pilots Association.
A hearing will be held in Judge Robert E. Thomas' court in Santa Ana next Tuesday, June 1 at 10:00 AM..
Courtney Wiercioch, county El Toro planning manager said, Thursday, that the demonstration would be difficult to reschedule if it was delayed by this lawsuit. The county is relying on the Marines to provide air traffic control, security and fire service and the Marines will depart by July 2.
In other flight demo related news, the website has learned that the 747 used in the demo will not be fully loaded during its two mid day takeoffs and therefore will produce less noise. Lifting capacity of the plane, and its ability to clear the mountains, is less during the heat of the day. During two daytime demonstration flights, the load on the plane will be reduced to two thirds of capacity.
"Irvine City Council members pledged... to sue Orange County to stop a planned test of commercial jet noise at El Toro Marine base next week." Irvine contends that "the county must obtain environmental approvals." The demos will include north takeoffs over Loma Ridge, a direction that military aircraft have not flown since a 1965 fatal crash, and which the Air Line Pilots Association opposes.
Editor:- All members of the El Toro Coalition oppose the county flight demo as a waste of public funds. While some groups decided not to fund a legal fight on this particular issue, they all are rooting for Irvine. The Irvine lawsuit may be a long shot, but if it delays the demo it will provide further evidence of the county's problems with its El Toro plans. The demo has already fallen eight months behind its original planned date of October 1998. Click here for the flight demo schedule.
In other El Toro related matters, both sides of the debate reached rare agreement to move ahead with plans for keeping the base stables, golf course, swimming pool and other recreational facilities open after the Marines depart on July 2.
The new city of Laguna Woods became the eighth member of the anti-airport El Toro Reuse Planning Authority. Former Taxpayers for Responsible Planning director Bert Hack is the city's representative on the ETRPA board.
Website Direct, May 24, 1999
Southwest Airlines Rewords Position on El Toro
in Exchange of Letters
Herb Kelleher, President of Southwest Airlines, wrote to Leonard Kranser, El Toro Airport Info Site Editor on May 20 as follows: “Let me give you my personal assurances that whether El Toro becomes a commercial airport is entirely up to the people. Southwest will abide by the will of the people. Southwest is not - in any way, shape, or form - involved in any political effort or campaign for or against El Toro.” He concluded, “I sincerely regret any confusion that press reports may have created...”
Kelleher was responding to a May 11 letter from Kranser which said in part, “Southwest Airlines has become embroiled in the bitter controversy over possible construction of an unpopular commercial airport.... Several hundred thousand Orange County residents strongly disagree [with a SWA official quoted in a county report] ... Southwest Airlines has unfortunately gotten labeled as pro-El Toro Airport, as a result of the recent statements...”
The controversy arose when county planners quoted a Southwest official as calling El Toro airport “a windfall for residents”, in a publicity article entitled “Southwest Airlines Looks Forward to Opening Day”. The county newsletter piece was then picked up by the LA Times and headlined, “Southwest Exec Lauds Airport at El Toro Base.” Kranser cited these articles in his letter to the airline president.
LA Times, May 24, 1999
“Service Begins at New Austin Airport”
Old airport closed
“Commercial jets began flying this weekend from ... Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, the first new major airport in the U.S. since Denver International opened four years ago. Austin’s older Robert Mueller Municipal Airport closed Friday.”
Editor:- When Denver International opened, the Denver’s Stapleton Field also immediately was closed.
Today’s Times carries an county advertisement announcing the addition of 2,000 parking spaces and other enhancements at JWA with the prophetic headline, “Easy Come, Easy Go at John Wayne Airport”. The airline industry has said that it will not support a two-airport system in Orange County.
“Facing a judgment as high as $10 million in a pending trial over jet noise from Toledo Express Airport [Ohio], the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority has sued its liability insurance carriers in an attempt to guarantee payment.” Some of the carriers have denied liabilty coverage under their insurance policies and may refuse to pay for harm caused to nearby homeowners.
“Judge Lawrence Grey... ruled last month in Fulton County Common Pleas Court that the port authority is liable for harm homeowners near the airport have suffered from aircraft noise. By attracting BAX Global, Inc., formerly known as Burlington Air Express, to set up nighttime cargo-hub operations at Toledo Express, the port authority created a nuisance for nearby residents, the judge ruled.”
“Recreational facilities at the El Toro base would be open to the public immediately after the troops march out in July, under a tentative agreement reached Friday between the county and the US Marines.” The agreement would give the county use of the 18-hole golf course, a driving range, horse stables, an indoor pool, a recreational-vehicle storage yard and the officers' club under a 90 day lease that can be renewed three times. “The county would open up the facilities to the public in addition to military personnel, who have used them for years.”
Editor:- El Toro airport opponents do not oppose non-aviation public use of the base facilities on an interim basis.
Website Direct, May 20, 1999
Flight Demo Schedule Published
The schedule for the demonstration flights on June 4 and 5 are now available on-line. Click here.
Three county supervisors sat silently while two of their fellow board members, and almost a dozen speakers from the community, raised major challenges to a costly and wasteful flight demo to be staged on June 4 and 5. Chairman Chuck Smith rudely cut off Irvine City Councilman Larry Agran, who had requested that an additional 90 seconds be added to his allotted 3 minutes in order to present his case against the demos. Then Smith, Silva and Coad voted to conduct the flights.
Questions were raised, but not answered, as to whether the county’s insurance carriers fully understand the risks they are assuming for flights being launched into rising terrain north and east of the base, despite the safety objections from both commercial airline pilots organizations.
Captain Stanley Sanders, an Allied Pilots Association safety committeeman, said in a prepared statement, that “The proposed flight tests will be invalid if Runway 25 [to the west over Irvine] is not the primary runway for takeoffs.” Captain Sanders delivered a statement from Robert Baker, Executive vice-president of American, opposing the county’s plans to rely on Runway 7 to the east. “Mr. Baker said, ‘Can we use Runway 7? Yes, under certain circumstances. Is it desirable? No, it is highly undesirable to use Runway 7 as a primary runway.’”
Captain Sanders also repeated American’s position, previously supplied to the website in a letter from Mr. Baker, that, “American Airlines would not support two airports in Orange County. John Wayne or El Toro but not both.”
“Orange County's plans for transforming El Toro Marine base into a commercial airport by 2005 have hit roadblocks that are putting the process far behind schedule and giving time to foes to mount stronger attacks.”
“ Hopes of getting air cargo flights at the base this summer have evaporated. A routine question of who will provide police protection after the Marines leave in July is stalled at a little-known commission in Sacramento. A state appeals court in San Diego will hear arguments today about why the county's environmental studies on the airport should be thrown out.”
“Other impediments--including the failure to get a crucial lease from the Navy for using the airstrip in July--have backers of the largest land-use project in Orange County on edge. ‘The best way for there never to be an airport is to have the field cold for a period of time,’ said Gary Proctor, chairman of the El Toro Citizens Advisory Commission, the [pro-airport] advisory body for the Board of Supervisors' planning effort.”
Three of the five supervisors, - Smith, Silva and Coad - are expected to band together and throw more money into the pro-El Toro airport PR campaign Tuesday. The supervisors will meet on Tuesday, May 18 at 9:30 AM to review and approve plans for a flight demo based on dubious flight paths.
Both Jon Russell, Western Pacific Regional Safety Chairman for the Air Line Pilots Association and Stan Sanders, Safety Committeeman for the Allied Pilots Association recently told the website editor that the flight paths selected will not work for “day in and out flying”. They predicted that parts of the demo may have to be flown by management personnel or 'test pilots" rather than by rank-and-file pilots.
County staff issued a blatantly misleading statement this week that, “The flight tracks proposed for the demonstration are much the same as those historically used by the Marine Corps.” In fact, the demo - and county plans for El Toro- would have all heavy aircraft taking off due north over the mountains, while all heavy military aircraft take off due south over the ocean for safety reasons.
The remainder of the flight demo aircraft will take off to the east from Runway 7, despite repeated safety objections from both pilots associations. However, under real operating conditions, pilots are expected to request safer westerly takeoffs towards Irvine.
The FAA Air Traffic Control Manual states that, “ if in the interest of safety a runway different from that specified is preferred, the pilot is expected to advise air traffic control accordingly. Air traffic control will honor such requests ...”
Rich LaVoy, President of the Allied Pilots Association, which represents the pilots of American Airlines, wrote to the county last year that, “The safest primary departure path, using the current runway alignment, would be to the west, into the prevailing winds and away from the rising terrain.. Our pilots will use the safest departure paths...”
Viewers are urged to attend the Supervisors meeting and also to express their feelings regarding this misleading waste of money by writing Letters to the Editors of newspapers.
April passenger traffic is down 5.4% versus the prior year (605,827 vs. 640,469), and YTD passengers are down 3.4% (2,319,941 vs. 2,391,256). Cargo tons are down 2.5% for the month (1,601 vs. 1,642) and 3.6% for the year (5,978 vs. 6,199).
Editor:- Doesn't sound like we need more airport capacity.
OC Register, May 14, 1999
“El Toro plan changes top $1.6 million”
“Supervisor Chuck Smith says the additional costs for P&D
Aviation led to a better proposal.”
“Repeated changes to the El Toro airport plan will add more than $1.6 million to the $23 million spent so far. County planners asked the Board of Supervisors on Thursday to approve $1,663,706 for P&D Aviation, the primary El Toro airport-planning consultant.”
“Supervisor Chuck Smith, who recommended several of the changes, said the additional costs led to a better plan. ‘You can't look into a crystal ball and decide what this airport is going to look like without looking at the alternatives,’ he said.”
“The county's original plan called for the closing El Toro Marine base to be the sole commercial airport serving 38.3 million annual passengers by 2020. John Wayne, in that plan, would handle only private planes and jets.”
“[Then] In the first change, supervisors decided to keep both airports for commercial use. Then they voted to develop two plans for El Toro, including one with a people mover connecting to John Wayne.”
“Last year they dumped the surrounding commercial development in favor of open space. Two months ago, they dropped the people-mover plan and opted for a larger El Toro airport.” Click here for more on the airport plans.
“The hiring of a Newport Beach attorney at $170,000 a year to help convert Orange County's El Toro Marine base into an international airport signals deep concerns about the project's management--and future, according to those most familiar with the project.” Airport opponents see the airport project as in disarray and far from a done deal. Click here for the full story.
“Matters considered routine -- hit snags and still aren't resolved. Airport backers who pledged that cargo flights and other aviation uses would begin this summer now must watch as the base gates close on July 2 with no activity until next year at the earliest.” "‘The planning process is 18 months behind schedule,’ said one airport supporter.”"
“Blame for the delays has fallen on El Toro program manager Courtney Wiercioch, chosen for her job even though she had no previous experience in managing a public works project.”
Editor:- Some see Wiercioch being set up as the scapegoat for a doomed airport project. Mission Viejo Mayor Susan Withrow, ETRPA chairperson said, "We've managed to stop them because of one underlying reality--they're trying to cram an international airport where it doesn't belong. They don't need more so-called experts. They need a miracle."
LA Times, May 12, 1999
“Irvine Will Put Warnings About El Toro Effects
on the Record”
“Council unanimously backs city brochure for home shoppers and
business thinking of moving in that details what county plans would mean.”
“Irvine will take the offensive in notifying those interested in buying or renting a home or moving a business there about the potential effects of the airport. Current sales disclosures by the Irvine Company don’t provide complete information about the county’s plans...” [Councilman Larry] “Agran said the booklet should include warnings that the airport is planned for 24-hour operations.”
“City officials [and other members of the anti-airport coalition] have been frustrated with the Irvine Company’s refusal to declare itself for or against the airport.” Last month, Councilman Mike Ward “sent a stinging letter” challenging the company to take a position. The city council will consider restrictions on further development by the company and measures to force full disclosure in sales literature. Irvine Company sales brochures leave the airport off the map.
“A Sacramento legislative showdown over the proposed El Toro airport will have to wait until at least next year. Assemblywoman Patricia Bates, R-Laguna Niguel, on Tuesday dropped two bills aimed at blocking an El Toro airport. The bills — the first legislative effort by the airport opposition — were scheduled for hearing today before the Assembly Local Government Committee.” She has continued the bills until early next year.
“One bill would require a countywide vote before bonds could be sold to build an airport. The other would change the makeup of the local panel deciding the future of the closing El Toro Marine base.”
“Bates argued that the bills were good government, but she met opposition from lobbyists working for the county, business interests, and the pro-airport group backed by businessman George Argyros. Labor, which has taken a back seat in the El Toro debate but has major clout in Sacramento, also proved a formidable opponent.”
"With the momentum that got going with some of this misinformation, I thought a better route to take was to do some education," Bates said. She said she would revisit the issue next year.” Bates allies, including viewers of this website, had sent hundreds of messages of support for the measures.
Editor:- AB 1248, the most potent of the two Bates bills would require voter approval of any airport revenue bonds to finance development of El Toro Airport. Because of extensive legal hurdles raised by airport foes, the county is not expected to have possession of the land, nor have the necessary FAA and environmental impact clearance, before the end of 2000 or 2001. Therefore, Bates’ bill can still serve its purpose if passed next year.
“A Southwest Airlines executive has spoken out in favor of a proposed airport at El Toro, prompting the mayor of Laguna Hills to call for a boycott of the company. In comments published in the most recent [county] El Toro planning newsletter, Southwest executive Bob Montgomery said he is "really looking forward to the day when the airport opens at El Toro." "El Toro is in just the right place to attract tourists and business travelers to your wonderful county," said Montgomery”
“His comments... prompted Laguna Hills Mayor Cynthia Greengold to call for a boycott of Southwest. She asked that a boycott proposal be placed on a City Council agenda. Councilman L. Allan Songstad Jr. said Southwest has alienated many South County residents... He added that he'll choose airlines other than Southwest for his travel.”
“A spokeswoman for Southwest in Dallas, said the airline will work with the community on plans for El Toro and hasn't made any commitment to offer flights there. She said that Montgomery gave his own opinions, but that he said nothing contrary to the company's position.”
Editor:- Southwest did not state whether its pilots will takeoff on runway 7, which is opposed by both commercial airline pilots associations. Neither did the official indicate whether SWA is willing to operate from both El Toro and John Wayne or whether they will join American, United and the Air Transport Association in rejecting a two-airport concept for Orange County.
Southwest does not accept e-mail from the general public. Write to:
HERBERT D. KELLEHERWebsite direct, May 9, 1999
Chairman of the Board, President, and Chief Executive Officer
Southwest Airlines Home Gate
P.O. Box 36611
Mail Drop 5MD
Dallas, Texas 75235-1611
fax (214) 792-4017
Normally, Assembly bills AB 1248 and AB 1479 should be approved in the Local Government Committee on their merits. Democrats, who make up a majority of the committee, normally would be expected to back AB 1248 because it removes from Republican-dominated Orange County, a special exemption, from state law, allowing county officials to issue airport bonds without a vote of the people. Inland empire assemblymembers on the committee normally would be expected to back both bills because they help the development of airports planned in San Bernadino and Riverside Counties that face competition if El Toro is built. Passage of the bills cost the state nothing, and they are both clearly good-government measures that empower the impacted communities.
Unfortunately, nothing about El Toro Airport ever follows normal rules. The County of Orange and the pro-airport Orange County Business Council are lobbying heavily to keep the two measures from ever getting out of committee on Wednesday. If they succeed in depriving the people of a right to vote on airport bonds, it will become more essential to pass the Safe and Healthy Communities Initiative.
Citizens groups have been actively urging fair treatment in the committee. Hundreds of letters, calls and e-mails, many from this website’s viewers, continue to be sent in support of these two bills that were put forth by Assemblywoman Pat Bates.
The Times says, “the developer is actually asking some good questions about the proposed airport, and the city's impatience with Donald Bren and company for not joining the chorus of ‘antis’ seems a bit misplaced.... The company says it is still gathering information. The question is: Is this fence-sitting or prudence? ...It seems more likely that it [the Irvine Company] hears the economic benefit arguments but has separate concerns about what an airport might mean for quality of life in the county.”
Suggesting that even “a developer perceived as all-powerful” can only offer “comment” at this time, the editorial concludes that, “At no time did the county give any indication that no airport was a serious option. Only a new vote, or successful litigation, or a change in makeup on the board, could change the basic drift.”
Website adds content from both sides of journalistic
spectrum, May 8, 1999
Business Journal - Base Offer Muddles El Toro Debate
OC Weekly - Question Mark Park
The pro-airport Orange County Business Journal reports that potential new policy in Washington, regarding the transfer of base property, is seen, by some, as good for the economics of the non-aviation Millennium Plan.
The OC Weekly continues its attack on the county's airport-in-a-park plan with Question Mark Park. Who would want to picnic under the flight path?
“Angry over leaks of confidential information, Orange County Supervisor Jim Silva said ... he will propose a new ordinance making it illegal to disclose details from closed board meetings or private communications to supervisors.” Silva wants to make any violation a misdemeanor punishable by a maximum of up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.
“Silva and other supervisors were upset last week that details of a confidential legal opinion by County Counsel Laurence M. Watson was disclosed in newspapers and made available over the Internet. The opinion justified the county's use of John Wayne Airport funds to help plan a new international airport at the El Toro Marine base. Supervisors had voted 3 to 2 against making the opinion public, over the objections of Supervisors Todd Spitzer and Thomas W. Wilson.” Editor:- Spitzer and Wilson have repeatedly objected to county secrecy regarding El toro plans.
Website direct, May 5, 1999
Economics of Airport and Non-Aviation Uses Compared
Millennium Plan provides more jobs and higher pay
County planners have yet to provide economic data for the currently preferred green plan for an airport-in-the-park. However, the pro-airport Orange County Business Council has commissioned an economic study. A comparison of that study, with ETRPA's economic analysis of the Millennium Plan, shows that non-aviation use of the base produces more jobs and higher pay.
LA Times, May 2, 1999 Website revised May 3,
1999
"O.C. Airport Millions Land in El Toro's Books"
"Funds cover most of the $23 million spent on plans"
"More than $14 million that could have been been spent on operations at John Wayne Airport in the past 5 years has been routed instead by county officials to pay for planning a commercial airport at the El Toro Marine base." This is the largest part of the $23 million spent so far.
Click here for the county's report of Sources and Uses of Funds.
Editor:- The information provided is inadequate as to detail. It appears that the figures do not include several million dollars of legal fees. Another $3 million is planned for flight demonstrations. $170,00 was recently allocated for TV advertising. Supervisor Todd Spitzer chided the county planners for being slow to reveal the amount of money that has been spent to date on the El Toro project. Program Manager Courtney Wiercioch was unable to provide a figure, when asked by Spitzer, at a recent Board of Supervisors meeting. The repo
Last night’s Taxpayers for Responsible Planning dinner netted over $50,000 for the organization’s legal and lobbying activities against the El Toro Airport. Bill Kogerman, head of the grass-roots group, pledged to continue the legal challenges which have, so far, derailed the county’s plan for interim cargo flights. Kogerman praised ETRPA for its roll in the fight and also promised support to the Safe and Healthy Communities Initiative.
Honorees, Assemblywoman Pat Bates and Supervisors Tom Wilson and Todd Spitzer spoke to the enthusiastic audience about their activities in opposition to the El Toro Airport. Bates set the tone, saying we will “Never, never, never give up.”
The county’s “green” plan to build parks alongside the proposed runways met with frequent derision. (See April 30 newsbrief.) Kogerman noted that the county has “stolen” many good ideas from the airport opponents, such as the recently announced plan to add a veterans memorial at the site. “However, the idea of putting parks right next to the runways is all theirs.”, he said.
LA Times, April 30, 1999
“Plans Unveiled for a Big Park at El Toro Base”
“The largest urban park in Orange County would curl inside the eastern edge of El Toro Marine base with two 18-hole public golf courses, an aviation museum, ball fields and an equestrian center, according to designs released [by the county] Thursday. Dubbed Veterans Regional Park, the 770-acre greenbelt replaces plans for an 800-acre business and industrial park, which were dropped from consideration a year ago by county officials”
"‘It's
so green, it's obscene,’ Meg Waters, spokeswoman for the anti-airport El
Toro Reuse Planning Authority, joked about the new park's design. While
she said the concept of parkland is sound, she wondered how many people
would enjoy playing golf with commercial jets roaring overhead. The northern
golf course would be several hundred feet from the end of the eastern runway.”
“A bluff-top site outside the park but on the present Marine base would be used for a southern campus of Cal State Fullerton, where planners hope to house artifacts in an Orange County natural-history museum.”
LA Times, April 28, 1999
“City challenges Irvine Co. on El Toro”
“Frustrated with the company’s silence on El Toro, Irvine councilmembers have demanded that the Irvine Company publicly takes a stand on the proposed airport. Company officials insist that because the detailed information isn’t yet available, they cannot and will not take a position either on the airport or on the non-aviation Millennium Plan”
“Councilmembers recently directed their lawyer to outline the city’s options for disclosing to new home buyers the ‘potential dangers’ if the airport is built.” A recently discovered document revealed that in the early ‘70s the company opposed commercial flights at El Toro for “reasons of safety and environmental compatibility.” Councilmembers indicated that these reasons still stand. The Irvine Company indicated that information about the proposed airport is provided to buyers “during escrow - after the buyer has agreed to purchase the home, but added that a question-and-answer handout should have been provided” at an earlier stage.
The Seal Beach City Council “unanimously voted to oppose the Safe and Healthy Communities Initiative ” that would require a voters majority for expanding an airport, a jail in a proximity of residential area, or a toxic landfill. The council also voted to oppose two El Toro related State Assembly bills, AB1248 and AB1479 (see Current News, April 26, below).
Editor:- Seal Beach council members have been pro-El Toro airport because of fears that the nearby Los Alamitos Air Station might be expanded if El Toro is not built. This remote possiblitiy was raised during the last supervisorial election, and the county is fanning the concern by studying Los Alamitos expansion as part of an El Toro environmental impact report.
In a predicted 3-2 vote, the Board of Supervisors “voted to spend $151,000 to buy airtime” for TV ads promoting an airport at El Toro. The Board also “refused to make public a county counsel’s opinion on the legality of using John Wayne airport funds for El Toro Planning.” Federal law prohibits use of airport funds for non-aviation purposes. However County counsel “concluded that John Wayne funds could be used because El Toro would be part of a county airport system.” Additionally, the Board authorized to include El Toro in a “$1 million runway-paving contract for John Wayne Airport,” and also “approved $125,000 to cover the Navy’s costs of preparing an El Toro environmental impact statement.”
ETRPA Board of Directors, in its monthly meeting, voted to accept the new City of Laguna Woods as an equal member. Laguna Woods will become a member after the seven member cities will ratify this addition.
The Board also expressed its support for the two pending bills submitted by Assemblywoman Patricia Bates. AB1248 is aimed at deleting an exemption, granted to Orange County, from a State law requiring voters approval for any revenue bonds to finance improvements to county airport facilities. AB1479 requires that any government agency designated as the Local Redevelopment Authority for planning reuse of closing military bases shall include in its members jurisdictions with general plan and zoning authority over any portion of the closing base. The LRA for El Toro consists of the County Board of Supervisors with no representatives of Irvine or Lake Forest. Recently the Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 to oppose these bills.
"When potential homebuyers ask about an international airport at El Toro" sales representatives at model homes around South County just "have a map that shows the houses and their proximity to El Toro." "The lack of information and concern from property value has potential homebuyers calling government officials--sometimes asking point-blank whether they should buy a particular house. Some callers had already signed a deposit check and were considering backing out." "State law requires sellers to disclose information that could affect the property value, including an airport." A representative from the "California Department of Real Estate," however said that "El Toro is different because its future is 'speculative,'" and, therefore "sellers are probably doing the right thing by telling buyers to do their own research."
In a related item, the Register reports that "county studies show Rancho Santa Margarita, Lake Forest, Monarch Beach, Anaheim Hills, Northwood and Coto de Caza will be exposed to 50-60 decibels averaged over a 24-hour period."
Editor note: One reason for the confusion is the objections
by commercial pilots to the county's proposed flight paths, suggesting,
instead to change the orientation of the runways, and sending the planes
over the unsuspecting communities of Anaheim and Villa Park.
"A Marine Environmental Impact Review Board" concluded that the county proposed flight demonstration "did not warrant a major environmental analysis because the county would be flying commercial aircraft similar to the chartered jets the marines use at the base." The demonstration calls for "as many as five different commercial jets to take off and land at El Toro up to six times each during a weekday and a weekend... and is expected to cost $2 - $3 million." The proposed airport calls for 412 flights a day - about one every 3 1/2 minutes.
In a related matter (see April 22 news item), a Register County Poll, asking whether the county should run TV commercials promoting an airport at El Toro, generated 1,427 responded, with 93% voting NO.
The Board of Supervisors, in its Tuesday meeting, will consider approval of over $150,000 for "a series of television ads" promoting an airport at El Toro. "Five different 30-second ads will run on several cable channels over the next six months." In addition, "two 30-minute programs will run on local community access cable channels." The $20,000 programs will "feature a talk show format with county planners and consultants discussing the proposed airport." The ads will promote commercial jets as "much quieter than military jets," and "the massive buffer zone that will absorb the majority of the noise" that surrounds "the lean, green airport at El Toro."
For the second consecutive year, first quarter passenger traffic at John Wayne airport went down. For the first three months of the year, 1,705,069 passengers used John Wayne, compared to 1,750,787 for the same period last year, a decline of 2.6%. This, on top of a 5.9% decline from the same period of 1997. At the same time, passengers traffic at Long Beach airport increased from 137,414 to 259,014, an increase of 88.5%, an increase attributed mostly to Win Air which started operations last November.
"Orange County officials are busily planning for one of the world's largest air cargo hubs at El Toro Marine Corps Air Station. They are not alone. From Victorville in the north to San Diego in the south, promoters are prospecting for gold in airport runways. Air cargo is booming. ... Seemingly everyone with a long strip of asphalt wants to run the next LAX."
"The El Toro cargo facility would be the nation's third-largest air-cargo facility in tonnage, if it were built today.... developers plan an even bigger cargo port ...at the former George Air Force Base. Not to be left out, LAX is planning to double its cargo capacity. Smaller but still hefty projects are under consideration at Ontario International, the former March and Norton Air Force bases, and in the San Diego-Tijuana area."
"Asked if FedEx wants to open a hub at El Toro, company spokesman Jess Bunn answers that FedEx already has a hub -- in Oakland. UPS spokesman Bruce MacRae says the carrier is "very, very pleased" with its regional hub at Ontario and a smaller operation it is building at Long Beach."
"Each of the proposed cargo airports suffers from potentially fatal flaws: political opposition at El Toro, LAX and San Diego, air quality rules at Ontario, fuzzy economics at the other sites."
"LAX: Los Angeles World Airports, the owner of LAX, proposes to more than double the massive complex's cargo capacity to 4.2 million tons a year by 2015 while expanding passenger capacity from 58 million to 98 million. Residents in surrounding communities object to the prospect of more noise, more smog, more traffic."
"ONTARIO: Already the region's second-biggest cargo airport, Ontario has plenty of room to grow. It sits astride four freeways, near many warehouses and distribution centers. The neighbors are friendly. Local planners long ago eliminated potential noise problems by barring homes from the airport's north, east and south sides. What Ontario does have is an air quality problem."
"EL TORO: While most of public attention and nearly all the catcalls have focused on county plans for a major passenger terminal at the old Marine Corps base, the county also proposes an air cargo center almost as big as LAX is today. By 2020, the El Toro airport would serve 71 cargo flights per day, most of them big Boeing 757s and 767s. Nearly half of these planes would land or take off between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m."
"If the advantages of El Toro as a cargo airport seem obvious, the disadvantages are equally clear. "The noise is going to be unbelievable," said Richard Janisse, manager of a rival air-cargo site in distant Victorville. "Flying noisy, smog-polluting airplanes over Leisure World all night long? I don't think it's going to happen."
"SAN DIEGO: Lindbergh Field is Southern California's third-busiest cargo airport, behind LAX and Ontario. City officials are eager to move cargo operations elsewhere to make room for more passengers. One possibility is Brown Field on Otay Mesa, several miles east of downtown."
Website direct, April 15, 1999
Airport Opponents on a Roll... Those fighting OCX
have never been more optimistic.
This week, the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority filed a new lawsuit against the county's environmental impact report. County planners, whose initial environmental report was found deficient by a Superior Court judge, simultaneously tried to appeal the judge's decision, as if they disagreed with her ruling, and also began to prepare a supplement to fix the deficiencies, as if they agreed with her ruling. Only problem is that state law doesn't allow doing both. This will delay the airport plan.
The county staff tried to sneak an open ended contract through the Board of Supervisors for repaving at John Wayne and El Toro. They got caught by the vigilant Todd Spitzer. It's okay to maintain John Wayne but El Toro isn't the county's property, guys!
Staffers also got caught trying to extend the FedEx and UPS air cargo contracts at John Wayne for only one year, rather than the normal two years, without the required two-thirds vote of the Board. Those who want an El Toro airport hope to move cargo flights there as soon as possible. When staff realized that they would need support from Supervisors Wilson and/or Spitzer, they switched UPS and FedEx to a month-by-month tenancy. So, air cargo at John Wayne is on a Mickey Mouse month at a time basis.
ETRPA completed a noise study that contradicts county "happy talk press releases. The study found that 240,000 residents will be bothered by El Toro noise, and 30,000 of them severely impacted.
Taxpayers for Responsible Planning is raising money for its continued legal attacks on the airport plan. TRP is also providing important financial support to the Safe and Healthy Communities Initiatve. Call now for reservations for the April 30th fundraising dinner.
See the news brief below, about the failed county attempts to begin air cargo from El Toro this year. When the base goes silent, that becomes the new noise baseline and the county's legal and environmental problems will mushroom.
"Cargo flights won't fly out of El Toro this year. Environmental hurdles and red tape will delay cargo flights and other interim uses... until sometime next year, Orange County officials said Wednesday." Irvine City Councilman Larry Agran noted that, "It's not red tape, its the law and citizens invoking the law."
The county had been pushing to begin flights after the base closes on July 1. An attorney for airport opponents, who have been delaying the flights by insisting on environmental compliance, said, "'It's like the wheels slowly are coming off the airport plan.'"
"A new El Toro plan that [El Toro proponents say] could defuse some of the intense controversy between North and South County by redesigning the proposed airport's runways will be included as an option in the project's environmental report, officials have announced. The plan, spearheaded by aviation engineer Charles Griffin and his associate Russell Niewiarowski ... would abandon the criss-cross pattern that currently exists at the El Toro Marine Air Base, and instead replace it with a V-shaped design in which the runways do not cross. [It is claimed that] the change would shift the flight paths for the proposed airport away from populated areas in South County and place them instead over acreage that has already been designated as permanent open space, Griffin said."
"Griffin noted that the county's current plans call for tearing up the runways before laying new concrete, meaning that changing the runway configuration could be made part of the reconstruction process."
Editor:- The proposal calls for aircraft to land from the mountaineous north, dropping down over Loma Ridge. A county study has found this route to be unacceptable for instrument approaches. Even tentative interest in the new concept by county planners and the City of Newport Beach leads to a suspicion that this may be used as a Trojan horse deceptive tactic. If the airport was built, there would be nothing keeping pilots from choosing the current, safer approach from the south. Then, all landings and takeoffs would occur over south county.
Newport-Costa Mesa Daily Pilot, April 12, 1999
"City officials vow to fight 'Safe Communities'
initiative"
"NEWPORT BEACH -- Pro-airport activists and city officials are vowing open warfare on a new voter initiative sponsored by El Toro opponents and warn the measure could spell doom for the proposed [El Toro] South County airport unless it is defeated. The Newport Beach City Council will debate tonight whether to spend up to $25,000 to commission a study that would examine potential legal flaws in the initiative."
""This is a real threat to the eventual development of El Toro," Newport Beach Mayor Dennis O'Neil cautioned at a town-hall meeting last week. "If this needs to be fought in court, then I would support Newport Beach being part of any legal challenge."
"Airport advocates said they have little doubt the airport opponents will succeed. "I have no doubt that it will qualify [for the ballot]", O'Neil said. "The concept behind it sounds like a pretty good idea -- people don't like toxic waste, people don't like jails," said Tom Wahl, a pro-airport consultant" paid by the county.
OC Register - "El Toro road use debated" The county's "airport plan assumes that almost half of the vehicle traffic will come from a nearby toll road" but "political opposition from airport foes - who have a majority on the toll-road board" - might block the county's options for connecting to the airport.
OC Register - "Regulators want more chemical tests at El Toro" The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's remediation project manager decided "it would be best if cleanup officials tested for the presence of perchlorate in a few more areas." Members of the Restoration Advisory Board - a citizen's group that is monitoring the cleanup - have expressed concern about the the possibility of the contaminant in other areas on the base. Cleanup problems could delay turnover of the base property to county ownership.
OC Register - "The county's plan to use the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station for cargo flights as early as July will not fly", according to Paul Eckles of ETRPA. Members of ETRPA returned from two days of meetings with officials in Washington to push their opposition to the airport plan.
LA Times - "Laguna Woods hired a consultant to study how airport noise and pollution would affect senior citizens because the county [environmental impact] study did not take them into account." The consultant's report was presented to the county as part of official comments critical of the El Toro environmental impact report. A superior court judge has required that the EIR be fixed to correct deficiencies.
Newport-Costa Mesa Daily Pilot, April 8, 1999
"Newport sees defeat of El Toro as costly"
"Mayor Dennis O'Neil tells Newport crowd he will fight like "junkyard
dogí to avoid expansion of John Wayne."
"Local [Newport Beach] officials supporting the El Toro airport proposal warned residents about the perils of defeat at a town-hall meeting... If the El Toro plan is defeated, it could mean dire consequences for the city of Newport Beach, the officials said. "In the next 20 years the county is going to produce another New York City within the borders of Orange County, [City Councilwoman] Glover said. "If El Toro does not happen, Newport Beach will stand alone against the county because everyone will want to expand John Wayne Airport.í Because of that, [Mayor] O'Neil said, he is prepared to fight like a "junkyard dogí if necessary to ensure that the El Toro airport is approved."
Website Direct, April 6, 1999
Supervisors predict victory for voters rights initiative.
Citizens for Safe and Healthy Communities began collecting signatures
today, to qualify an initiative for the March 7, 2000 ballot. Supervisors
Todd Spitzer and Tom Wilson were the first signers, at a ceremony at the
Hall of Administration this morning. The two Supervisors are honorary chairmen
of the grass roots campaign to bring more responsible planning to Orange
County.
Supervisor
Tom Wilson said, "This initiative would not be necessary if the countyís
planning process was on the up-and-up... but it has been hijacked by special
interests. When it comes to locating jails, airports and toxic landfills,
this measure has broad county-wide support because it brings back to the
people what they should have always had - a choice."
Supervisor Todd Spitzer called the kickoff of the initiative drive, "One of the most significant events in Orange County history. It is about whether we will take the power of decision making back to the people... and it's about time. This initiative is going to win because, with it, the citizens of Orange County will finally have a voice in the planning of their government."
Noting that the initiative has county-wide support, Spitzer reminded the public that the City of Brea had to fight "tooth-and-nail" against expansion of a landfill in that community and that the citizens of Yorba Linda had fought against expansion of Chino airport and against plans for a nearby jail.
Citizens for Safe and Healthy Communities completed the legal requirements for their ballot measure and will begin collecting petition signatures this week. To qualify, the committee must collect over 71,000 valid signatures by the end of August. The group intends to collect over 100,000 to cover duplicates and invalid names.
Anyone wanting to help by collecting signatures from their friends, neighbors and associates can e-mail the committee. Give 1) your mailing address, and 2) an estimate of how many signatures you will collect, and the petition blanks will be mailed to you.
The Safe and Healthy Communities Initiative will require that any airport, toxic landfill, or large jail near a residential area must be environmentally studied by the county and examined in public hearings in each impacted city. Then, the plan must submitted to the voters and receive a 2/3 approval. The initiative applies to the El Toro Airport as well as to any expansion of John Wayne.
Website Direct, April 1, 1999
Bert Hack to leave TRP Board of Directors for new
role.
Bert Hack has resigned from the Board of Directors of Taxpayers for Responsible Planning, to avoid any potential legal conflict of interests with his new role as City Councilman of the recently created city of Laguna Woods, formerly Leisure World. Hack will continue to be an active supporter of TRP in the fight against the El Toro Airport. Laguna Woods is in discussions regarding joining the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority, a coalition of cities opposed to an airport at the marine base.
"This week's decision by county supervisors, to build a bigger El Toro airport than previously planned, relegated John Wayne's future to a diminished role..."
"The county issued bonds to remake John Wayne and allow it to serve as many as 10 million passengers a year." The airport served about 7 million passengers last year. "The county still owes about $200 million in bonds. If future revenue drops so that the airport can't cover its debt, the county has already pledged that money from any other county-owned airport would be used."
"The fallout ... involves much more than the existing airport." Hotel operators and other business owners who depend on John Wayne are "worried".
Today's OC Register editorial cartoon
comments on the prospects for two airports in Orange County. Click here.
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here for previous news stories
