Newport officials, residents to meet with FAA
Some Newport Beach city officials and residents are heading to the Federal Aviation Administration’s Los Angeles offices Wednesday to assess John Wayne Airport’s controversial one-year-old flight route and to advocate for changes.
Since the route was implemented last March, residents from Corona del Mar and Newport Coast have complained of more noise.
The meeting comes as the FAA plans for another flight path, one that would apply to the remaining half of all departures. JWA is one of the nation’s many airports undergoing a transition to satellite-controlled navigation.
FAA officials modified the current route twice to accommodate noise issues, ending up with a procedure called STREL.
But residents say its satellite accuracy concentrates more planes — and thus more noise — over certain parts of the city. They also complain that planes are turning back toward land earlier than they used to, instead of flying well offshore.
“The first step in dealing with the FAA is getting them to recognize the legitimacy of the complaints,” said Councilwoman Leslie Daigle, who chairs the Aviation Committee.
City Manager Dave Kiff, Newport Coast resident Martin Kraty and Robert Taylor, a resident in the Sea Island neighborhood near Newport Dunes, plan to attend.
Twitter: @mreicher