No flights of fancy with change in...

No flights of fancy with change in airplane routes

I agree totally with Ralph Warrington that the flight path from

John Wayne Airport appears to have changed (“Notice a change in the

flight paths from JWA?”). In fact, last year I called the airport and

mentioned all the same things he discussed in his letter and

specifically that the noise monitors located at the Newport Dunes

were not picking up the planes making the turn early.

The person I spoke with said that was not the case and they had

logs to prove it. However, on any given day you can stand on

MacArthur, anywhere between San Joaquin Hills Road and East Coast

Highway, and watch the planes coming across Corona del Mar out to the

ocean. They are nowhere near the noise monitors at the Dunes.

Some planes still do fly down the Back Bay and get picked up by

the monitors, but many do not.

DOROTHEA PERRIN

Newport Beach

Changing flights have a source to the south

Ralph Warrington’s letter Thursday about the increase in airplane

flights over Corona del Mar is correct. John Wayne Airport traffic no

longer must follow a path over Newport Bay but is now able to fan out

over a large area, south and west, on takeoff. A similar effect has

occurred with air traffic coming in to Long Beach Airport flying over

Irvine, Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach and Seal Beach

Without the El Toro Airport, and the subsequent opening up of the

air space at El Toro, residents of many north county and coastal

cities experience increasing noise as air traffic increases at JWA

and Long Beach. On the other hand, with an El Toro Airport open, its

departing air traffic would fly to the east and north over mostly

uninhabited land while Long Beach in-coming traffic would have to fly

a path over the ocean, not over north county cities, so as not to

interfere with El Toro air space.

The absence of an active airport at El Toro has the effect of

increasing air traffic over coastal and north county cities.

SHIRLEY CONGER

Corona del Mar

There won’t be anything special about this election

The Daily Pilot editorial on Thursday, (“Council must avoid

special election”) is right on the money. The four remaining council

members must find a way to resolve the deadlock that exists by their

next council meeting on May 5. The logic presented by the editors

provides a good solution -- Mike Scheafer as the compromise choice --

but is totally dependent on Mayor Pro Tem Chris Steel doing “the

right thing”.

History shows us that this is unlikely.

As bright, articulate and well-intentioned as Eric Bever may be,

the specter of a troika of narrowly focused Westside “improvers” on

the dais sends a shiver down the spines of many residents in other

parts of the city.

If the council members continue to dig in their heals at the next

meeting, which seems likely, then one of them needs to show some

leadership and make a strong case for an acceptable alternative. As I

have previously stated in other letters, Walt Davenport seems like

the right man at this time. However, if the council members find his

candidacy not acceptable there were others available from the pool of

applicants with strong credentials -- Planning Commission Chairman

Bruce Garlich, for one. And, since “the process” is entirely in their

hands, they could even anoint someone not part of the double baker’s

dozen of candidates -- the ever-steady Bob Graham, for example.

In any event, I agree with the editors that failing to select a

replacement for Karen Robinson, and thereby forcing the city to go

most of the year with no way to reach consensus on critical issues,

is an unacceptable alternative. This will be a true test of character

for our elected leaders. We will soon find out if they are up to the

challenge.

GEOFF WEST

Costa Mesa

Salata deserves a park in his name, and much more

I am indeed privileged to be writing this letter in support of

rededicating and renaming the Bonita Canyon Park to the “Paul Salata

Sports Park.” The contributions Salata has made to our community are

countless. He is a true humanitarian who not only cares about and

loves children and people, but he continues to show his compassion by

always giving to and doing for others.

The world is a better place because Paul Salata is a part of it. I

have been involved in professional football for more than 50 years

and have never met a kinder or more caring individual in our field

than Salata. He gives from the heart and never quits giving.

Bonita Canyon Park was named after a street. There is no emotional

attachment to the current name. That park does not even have an

entrance from this street. The city of Irvine named it after a place

that no longer exists. Renaming this park is an opportunity to do

something special for a man who asks nothing in return for his acts

of kindness.

It is truly an honor for me to call Paul Salata my friend. He is a

blessing to have as part of our community and it is time that we give

a little something back to the man who gives everything to us. It

would be nice to do it now while he is here to see that we love and

care about him. Let’s show him that he is truly treasured by all who

know him.

Let’s rename the park “Paul Salata Sports Park.”

JACK FAULKNER

Administrator of football

operations/pro personnel

St. Louis Rams