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 headed out to sea until

released by the Federal Aeronautics Administration to turn back over

land. After 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 in

2002 and later invited them to visit the FAA headquarters in San

Diego County, which controls flight patterns.

There is no pattern to the low flights. They disappear, usually

after a barrage of complaints and then begin again, increasing when

no or few complaints are filed.

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

over Laguna at various heights and frequency.

WHAT NOW:

Last week, the City Council sent a packet to John Wayne Airport

containing documentation of the number of low-altitude flights over

Laguna Beach and a letter from the mayor informing airport management

of residents’ complaints.

The letter was not meant to replace individual complaints by

residents or business owners, which appear to be the most effective

means of reducing the flights, if only temporarily. Unfortunately,

residents are getting weary of making complaints.

WHAT’S SAID:

“That’s what they want; they want to wear us down,” North Laguna

resident Don Knapp said. “With the recent proposal to increase the

number of flights from John Wayne, it is likely that there will be

even more low-altitude flights over Laguna. We have to do something.”

WHAT’S NEXT:

City Manager Ken Frank has said Laguna needs to get other coastal

cities involved. Councilwoman Toni Iseman said she would raise the

issue at the California Coastal Commission meetings scheduled for

this week in Laguna Beach. Ideally, a couple of low-flying planes

will illustrate the problem. 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