JWA tracking its planes for residents

Deepa Bharath

The airport on Thursday launched an Internet flight-tracking system

on its Web site that will allow the public to look at air traffic

around John Wayne Airport.

AirportMonitor is a Web-based tool that will show live and

historical graphic depictions of air traffic between five and 80

miles around Orange County’s airport, spokeswoman Ann McCarley said.

She said airport officials believe that this service “will be a

great tool to the community.”

“It shows them where the noise monitors are,” McCarley said.

Airport Director Alan Murphy said the system will “provide the

public with an accurate and realistic view of the air space around

their communities.”

“I believe that providing this great technology will help educate

the public as to how airlines and air traffic operate in the air

space,” he said in a statement.

The Web site has a map of the area and shows airplanes, each

color-coded to indicate arrival at or departure from John Wayne

Airport. About 10 airports nationwide use this system, McCarley said.

The system went online Thursday afternoon. It will cost the

airport $42,000 for the first year and $94,300 over three years.

The new system should “be reassuring to residents,” former Newport

Beach Councilman Dennis O’Neill said.

“It will show them that the flights that arrive and depart are

staying true to the intended flight path,” he said. “People so far

have been complaining that they see too many planes flying over their

homes. Now they can see for themselves.”

* DEEPA BHARATH covers public safety and courts. She may be

reached at (949) 574-4226 or by e-mail at deepa.bharath@latimes.com.