Board OKs slate of JWA projects

Paul Clinton

County supervisors approved a package of projects Tuesday that, they

said, should make the airport a secure and more user-friendly place.

Supervisor Jim Silva, who represents Costa Mesa and much of

Newport Beach, said the improvements greatly enhance an airport

already known for its ease and convenience.

“It will not only make it a safer place, but we’re also concerned

about the [convenience] of our passengers,” Silva said. “What I’ve

always tried to do is make this county friendly to business.”

John Wayne Airport, a popular airport for business travelers, saw

a half-dozen new measures pass the board. Supervisors green-lighted

the purchase of a $1.02 million fire truck, stamped their approval on

sound-proofing for 15 Santa Ana Heights and Newport Beach homes and

hired a maintenance company for the newly expanded baggage system.

The new fire truck will replace a 1969 fire truck that is known to

break down, airport spokeswoman Ann McCarley said.

The 3,000-gallon aircraft and rescue vehicle will be paid for

mostly out of federal funds. The Federal Aviation Administration is

funding 80% of the purchase.

Most notably, the board approved a maintenance contract for the

airport’s newly installed expanded baggage carousel. In meeting a

December federal requirement to screen all checked bags, airport

managers added 5,200 feet of conveyor belts. That goes with the 3,300

feet of belts installed when the Thomas F. Riley terminal opened in

1990.

Bags can now flow directly from the ticket counter to the

screening area to the plane.

“It’s a seamless process for the passenger,” McCarley said. “It’s

an easy, convenient airport to fly in and out of.”

The board hired FMC Technologies Inc./Airport Services for the

work. The three-year contract, for $4.43 million, expires in June of

2006. It also includes maintenance of fire doors.

Airport managers also hired AMD Construction Group to install

sound-proofing material on 15 homes in Santa Ana Heights and Newport

Beach. The company, for $567,000, will add double-paned windows,

sound resistant doors and insulation.

The airport has already installed the improvements on 331 homes.

The FAA pays for 80% of the work, with the airport chipping in the

remaining 20%.