Project 99 Newsletter, June 1999

A Plan of Action to Protect and Improve Our Community
A Note from Larry Agran Chair of Project 99

Dear Neighbor,

        It was an historic moment.  On Saturday, June 5, 1999, at the conclusion of the County's El Toro "noise demonstration," a Boeing 737 lifted off from El Toro.  With the "noise tests" over, we can now say with confidence that we witnessed the last commercial airliner that will ever fly out of El Toro.

        The County's noise demonstration was a non-stop fiasco.  There were weather-caused delays, an unexpected military aircraft landing that forced re-schedulings, tailwinds that caused   last-minute runway changes, and another $1.3 million wasted by the County.  All this occurred amid warnings from the Airline Pilots Association - they warned against dangerous take-offs on El Toro's northerly runway toward the Loma Ridge. This is where, on June 25, 1965, seventy-two Marines and a crew of 12 perished in Orange County's worst air disaster.

        What did the noise test prove?  Nothing we didn't already know.

        A sound monitor which was operated by Project 99's Dave Kirkey near the Irvine Spectrum recorded a decibel range from 94 to 107 - nearly as loud as a circular saw - as a 747 landed.  "This is consistent with what we recorded at LAX," Kirkey said.

        Kirkey's LAX recordings - and a humorous narrative - can be heard on Project 99's new CD, Take the Test!  With this handy audio tool  - now available to Project 99 supporters - you'll be able to conduct your own "noise test" at home.  If you'd like a copy of the CD, call our office at (714) 544-5410.

       The fallout from the El Toro noise test now paves the way for our ultimate victory.  The days of considering an El Toro airport as a viable option are over.

        As always, your continuing support has been invaluable.  Thanks again. * * * * * * * * * * *

"Noise Demonstration" Lives Up to Its Name
$1.3 Million Taxpayer-Subsidized Test Increases Opposition to Proposed El Toro Airport

        It was late.  It was loud.  It was disruptive.  The only good thing you     can say about the County noise demonstration at El Toro is that it's over with.

        In the end, 25 landings and takeoffs were recorded at 10 strategically placed monitors beneath El Toro's southern approach route and the northern and eastern departure routes.  County  officials said the results would not be available for weeks.  But the reality is available now.

        El Toro is louder than County officials had projected.  Monitors in Aliso Viejo recorded 81 decibels from a Boeing 767 and 87 decibels from the 747.  At Leisure World (now Laguna Woods) the sound readings ranged from a low of 76 decibels to more than 101 decibels - much higher than the average "65 decibels or less" County officials had predicted.         Friday's test was delayed then participating planes were held from taking off at Burbank and Phoenix because of clouds in Orange County.  Air traffic control at Ontario International Airport held an Atlas Air Boeing 747, hoping for a break in the cloud cover to allow a visual approach.  At 8 a.m. - two hours after the scheduled landing time - they gave their "OK," but the weather closed in again. After an hour of circling over the ocean, the jumbo jet went back to Ontario, its El Toro landing scrubbed.

        Even though there were no Friday morning landings, the test failure drew more than 50 calls to a County noise complaint line when the 747 circled the coast near Laguna.  When the test finally began at 4 p.m., the complaints overloaded the County phone lines.  Hundreds of complaints arrived by e-mail.

        Thousands of interested spectators gathered near El Toro to watch the demonstration.  Most of them were shocked by the jet noise that was louder than expected.

        "It's louder and more disturbing than I had been led to believe," said Linda Steiner of Laguna Niguel.  "If the County wanted to convince us that an airport is a bad idea, they have,"

        Irvine City Council member Dave Christensen was also on hand for the test.  The noise created is "absolutely incompatible with any type
of outdoor use," Christensen said.

        After a weekend of delays and disruptions, it was apparent that the County's $1.3 million noise test did prove one thing:  An airport at El Toro won't fly. * * * * * * * * * * *

CORRECTION:  In the May edition of Project 99's newsletter, it was stated that "No 747's would be used in the 'noise demonstration' even though this noisiest of all aircraft would be a major part of the County's international airport plan."  One day after the newsletter went to press, County officials added the 747 to their test program.  It was indeed the "noisiest of all aircraft" in the test. * * * * * * * * * * *

Project 99 Compact Disc Invites you to "Take the Test"
        Once again, Project 99 has developed a superior alternative. This time it's a compact disc noise test you can take in the comfort of your own home.  Compared to the County's $1.3 million dollar "noise demonstration," the CD is a real smart deal.
 
        The County's plan called for a few dozen test overflights at El Toro - a test they admitted was scientifically worthless (especially when you consider that under their own scaled-down plan there would be 824 landings and take-offs every 24-hours!).

        Not to worry.  In contrast, Project 99 has put a human face on the reality of noise - and for a tiny fraction of the County's cost.

        Told with humor, but with a practical focus, the new CD - Take the Test! - allows listeners to experience the effects of disruptive everyday sounds in relation to their noise decibel (db) levels.

        Will airport noise truly be "no louder than a vacuum cleaner," as the County promises?  Now, with the help of Take the Test! you can find out.

        What sort of disruptive effects would an airport at El Toro have on sleep, watching television, reading, or just relaxing?  Order the CD and learn.

        Take the Test! was produced by Lucille Walker who joined the Project 99 Management Team three years ago, shortly after her retirement as a Special Events Producer.  Together with her husband, Tommy Walker, Lucille produced the ceremonies for the 1976 Centennial of the Stature of Liberty in New York, the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, Harvard's 350th Anniversary, and many other spectacular events.

        "I hope our CD will wake up the residents of Orange County to the devastating effects of noise pollution from the proposed airport," Walker recently said.

        Walker distributed the humorous CD to the crowds at the County's noise demonstration.  "Noise has a cumulative effect," she said.  "With Project 99's CD you'll be able to appreciate the harmful effects of jet noise pollution that an airport at El Toro would bring."

        Take the Test! was engineered by Dave Kirkey, a County resident who co-founded Eagle Canyon Music with his wife Adrienne.  Dave was also behind the controls of Project 99's first successful CD, Under the Flight Path.

        "It was a great success," Kirkey said about the first CD.  "We continue to receive requests for it from around the world.  I'm looking forward to the same reaction to our new CD."

        The narrator of Take the Test! is Blake Chambers who recently co-wrote and starred in the highly acclaimed local stage comedy, The El Toro Murder Mystery.  The play poked fun at the conversion of MCAS El Toro to a commercial airport.  When members of Project 99's management team saw the play, they knew Blake's voice was perfect for the CD narration.

        Take the Test! is now available to  Project 99 supporters.  To order your copy of Take the Test! call (714) 544-5410.

Project 99 is a special project of the Tides Center, a duly registered public charity. Donations to Project 99/Tides Center are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.