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 Aviation 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 FAA 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.

There is no pattern to the low flights. They disappear and then

for no apparent reason begin again.

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

over Laguna at various heights and frequency.

WHAT NOW: Reports of low flights have increased markedly in the

past couple of weeks.

WHAT’S SAID: “The flights start at seven, and they are so loud

right over our house,” said Mary Fegraus, a Bluebird Canyon resident

and executive director of the Laguna Canyon Foundation. “It’s easily

been two weeks now. I am so annoyed.”

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