New system is not a security hazard

Alan Murphy

I recently came across the Daily Pilot article “JWA tracking its

planes for residents” from the June 28 edition and hoped to clarify

some of the information that may have been misinterpreted.

In Wednesday’s “Forum,” a resident from Newport Beach echoed her

fears about our new technology for tracking flights traversing

airspace over and around John Wayne Airport (“Internet flight guides

seem a bit unsafe, unsound”). I must stress that the flight tracking

software is completely safe and its main purpose it to aid the public

in understanding how aviation, and specifically John Wayne, affects

their daily lives.

We put this software through an extensive review process prior to

finalizing it for public use to assure both the accuracy of the

information and the safety and security. This program does not allow

for “real time” information to the public. The software is equipped

with two security-related delays. The first is a 10-minute delay of

the actual radar data for security reasons. At that time a person

will be able to get an idea of the aircraft type and the altitude. If

the individual is interested in more information, there is a one-hour

delay replay function, which then provides information on the origin

and destination, the air carrier and the flight number.

I want to thank you for this opportunity to explain better this

new service provided by John Wayne. If you would like further

information about this new system or to try it for yourself, just log

onto www.ocair.com.

* ALAN MURPHY is the airport direction for John Wayne Airport.