WHAT: Low-altitude commercial airline flights over Laguna....

WHAT:

Low-altitude commercial airline flights over Laguna.

WHAT’S BEHIND IT:

Flights out of John Wayne Airport take off over the ocean until

released by the Federal Aeronautics Administration to turn back over

land. Following the closure of the U.S. Marine Air Base at El Toro,

some commercial airliners began flying over Laguna Beach at an

appreciably lower altitude, making the inland turn earlier, which

saves time and fuel. Residents were told that new technology made the

earlier release possible.

City officials and residents complained to the Federal Aviation

Administration and to the noise complaint office at John Wayne

Airport. They were told that flight patterns had not been altered.

FAA officials met with some residents at a Bluebird Canyon home

and later invited them to visit the FAA headquarters in San Diego

County, which controls flight patterns.

Flights begin shortly after 7 a.m., when John Wayne opens, and fly

over Laguna at various heights and frequency.

WHAT NOW:

The City Council is scheduled to discuss the problem at the Nov.

17 meeting.

WHAT’S SAID:

“Flights are coming over Bluebird Canyon its seems like every two

or three minutes,” said Kimberly Leeds, environmentalist and mother

of a toddler. “It’s driving me crazy.”

WHAT’S NEXT:

People who are annoyed by the low flights can call the John Wayne

noise abatement number, 252-5185, and the FAA Noise Hotline for the

Western Region at (310) 725-3638, or write FAA Regional

Administrator, P.O. Box 92007, Los Angeles Ca., 90009.

-- Barbara Diamond