Mailbag: JWA noise impacting CdM residents

On March 29, the Daily Pilot published a letter from Jennifer Keller of Corona del Mar regarding John Wayne Airport. I was glad to see this letter because it convinced me I was not imagining hearing things.

I have lived in Corona del Mar for 35 years and often read about the people who lived in the Back Bay and Eastbluff. I felt sorry for these folks but was glad it was not in my backyard.

Well, after returning from an extended trip last summer, I thought something had changed with the noise from the aircraft. Starting at 7 a.m. we are subjected to a background of constant droning noise, which gets softer midday and then picks up again in late afternoon.

I can see the planes are closer to us than they used to be, and many of them turn back toward land in a much shorter loop than they used to take. This allows them to fly north in less time but brings them over the east side of Corona del Mar and west side of Laguna Beach, instead of the open area south of Crystal Cove.

In addition to these changes, we are subjected to plane noise lasting later than 11 p.m. most days. I thought JWA had a curfew. If true, someone is not paying attention.

Richard A. Kain

Corona Del Mar

After being awakened at 7 a.m. by planes rumbling overhead, I decided to look into what had changed. I have lived in CdM for years and never had plane noise or planes flying overhead. Beginning in February everything changed — planes were flying over Fashion Island and next to my home. What I found out was that the flight pattern has been changed. The new plan (STREL) is supposed to direct the planes to fly down the middle of the Back Bay and then one mile out over the ocean before turning north or south.

Instead of flying down the middle of the Back Bay, the planes are routinely taking off and flying on a diagonal over Fashion Island and CdM. This new-and-improved plan allows the pilots to deviate by banking over land rather than the ocean. The effect of all of this is that the airlines save money on fuel but negatively impacts all of CdM.

The west and east sides are subjected to the takeoff noise and downtown CdM has to endure the plane noise from the ones that are saving fuel by banking over land instead of the ocean. Another change that is adding to our peace and serenity is that the airlines are no longer required to take off and climb the way they used to be.

Again, the airlines save money on fuel by climbing on a more gradual ascent, but the residents suffer because we can now see and hear the planes because they are flying lower. The only way to regain our peace and quiet and reclaim our town is to speak out.

Kay Rackauckas

Newport Beach

Had El Toro passed, you would not have had to deal with a lot of this. CdM is part of our city of Newport Beach, and all of us must shoulder the responsibility for the noise and aggravation within our city.

We have been residents of Baycrest for 25 years. The jets have been waking us up, and disturbing our part of the city, starting at 7 a.m. forever.

Mike Zimmerman

Newport Beach