It Takes a Village to Fight the Federal Aviation Administration

Letters to the Editor
October 30, 2015

Editor:

I have finally had enough of the planes flying over my head in South Laguna waking me on the weekends at 7:03 a.m. I contacted all City Council members, John Wayne noise control and the FAA. Only one city council person responded and told me that they can’t do anything. Here is the ineffectual response I got from John Wayne noise control:

“Please, let me begin by explaining that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has exclusive regulatory jurisdiction over flight paths, and the pilot-in-command of each aircraft is responsible for safely maneuvering the aircraft in accordance with the FAA’s airspace procedures.

“In response to your comments below, aircraft departing John Wayne Airport to a destination to the east have historically flown much more south than Laguna Beach, over Dana Point, to commence an eastern turn. Aircraft are sequenced by FAA air traffic controllers and at times will fly over Laguna Beach at an average altitude between 9,000 feet and 10,000 feet. This will vary on a day-to-day basis dependent upon FAA vectoring/sequencing and separation procedures. The County of Orange, the airport proprietor, has no control over aircraft in flight.  The County of Orange does, however, strictly regulates noise abatement issues at John Wayne Airport in reference to the Phase 2 Commercial Airline Access Plan & Regulation, and General Aviation Noise Ordinance.”

The FAA in Long Beach wants details. He has me recording the time of the flight, the color of the plane (carrier) and the height. Tuesday morning from 7:08 am to 7:19 seven planes flew over my house. I am giving him details but I am unclear as to what he can or is willing to do.

We must stop this invasion of our airspace. I would like to suggest that we all join forces – Village Laguna, Laguna Beach Republicans and South Laguna Civic Association – to let them know that we won’t tolerate this new air pattern. We need as many people as possible contacting the FAA in Long Beach because he told me he hadn’t had that many complaints: (562) 420-1755 then 0 for an operator. Ask for the operations officer on duty. I talked to Kevin.

They need to either change the flight path or climb higher to mitigate the noise. If Newport Beach can get results, why can’t we?

Michele Monda, Laguna Beach

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