Newport leaders seek JWA curfew through 2020

Paul Clinton

NEWPORT BEACH -- City leaders have added five years to the nighttime

curfew in a proposal to extend flight restrictions at John Wayne Airport,

potentially securing protection against the roar of jets over houses in

the city through 2020.

The curfew, put in place in the late 1960s, was added to the 1985

settlement agreement that led to the installation of a bevy of controls

on flights, noise and development at the airport.

Under the terms of a proposed extension, which would continue the

flight limits through Dec. 31, 2015, the airport’s curfew couldn’t be

changed by the Orange County Board of Supervisors until Dec. 31, 2020.

That gives the city five more years than was included in the first draft

extension that was tentatively approved Feb. 26.

Adding to the curfew provision was intended to give residents living

under the flight path more peace of mind, officials said.

“If it goes in, it can come out,” Councilman Dennis O’Neil said.

“Ordinances can be changed.”

Under the curfew, departures are allowed from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday

through Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday. Arrivals are allowed from

7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday

County supervisors and the City Council are scheduled to consider the

extension deal at separate meetings on Tuesday. The Airport Working Group

and Stop Polluting Our Newport, both part of the original agreement, must

also sign off on the deal.

To replace the 1985 restrictions, which are set to expire at the end

of 2005, city and county leaders have crafted a package that would

probably lead to minor increases in flight activity at the airport.

The deal allows the county to increase the noisiest daily flights from

73 to 85, the number of gates from 14 to 18, the annual passenger limit

from 8.4 million to 9.8 million and the number of cargo flights from two

to four.

Supervisors have voiced their support for the proposal, which was put

together by Newport Beach leaders. Officials with both the working group

and Stop Polluting Our Newport also have said they support it.

“This agreement has been pushed by the Board of Supervisors,” airport

spokesman Justin McCusker said. “Everybody’s in agreement on it.”

Despite the local optimism, concerns still remain over public threats

by an airlines trade group to sue to overturn any extension of flight

limits.

Also, Federal Aviation Administration leaders have been noticeably

absent from the debate, leading deal makers to fear the regulator will

preempt the agreement.

“It’s a good deal if it can be enforced,” said Barbara Lichman, the

executive director of the working group. “In that way, it would be a

sweet deal.”

* Paul Clinton covers the environment, John Wayne Airport and

politics. He may be reached at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail ato7

[email protected] .