Yes: ‘We Need a World Class Airport’

There appears little common ground in the debate over whether to build a civilian passenger-cargo airport at El Toro Marine Corps Air Station once the military leaves by 1999.

An unscientific survey by The Times shows deep divisions and resentment over the issue among many Orange County residents.

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There should be some type of international airport there, but there should be some restrictions so there’s not 24-hour flights to disturb the people down there. But I do think the county definitely does need more airport capacity than it currently has.

David Johnson

40

Yorba Linda

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These people that don’t want an airport out there, they’ve been living with this noise from the planes for years, and 15 years ago there weren’t very many houses out in that area. The people that live out there are the ones that will use these facilities the most.

Jim Koch

41

Anaheim

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We’ll have this opportunity only once to use that land for the expanding aviation needs of Orange County.

Eleanor Tucker

70

Newport Beach

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We need to enter the 21st century.

Gerry Lumian

65

Newport Beach

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I’ve flew out of El Toro since 1946. I was in the Marine Corps for 32 years. All those other people are brain-dead if they think there shouldn’t be an airport there.

Raymond Dewees

75

Mission Viejo

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It’s a great chance to use the last great space that we have. With this much space I think there’s a way to build it so it won’t interfere with the people in South Orange County.

Ciel Fitzpatrick

45

Newport Beach

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We need a world class airport in Orange County.

Thomas Tersigni

64

Costa Mesa

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There should be an international airport at El Toro Marine Corps Air Station once it closes in 1999 for the good of the businesses in the county, to keep industry here, to attract industry here, to keep the county thriving.

Ron Saienni

50

Dana Point

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Orange County needs this kind of growth and expansion to compete in the world. I don’t know why the people are concerned about noise and safety factors; it’s already an airport.

Scott Smith

39

Newport Beach

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In the interest of air commerce, we should have an airport at El Toro. I’ve studied the airport analysis and it looks like a viable operation. It meets all the FAA requirements.

Harry Terrell

74

Santa Ana Heights

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There are a few selfish people in the communities of Irvine and Laguna Beach who have a “not in my backyard” attitude rather than looking at the economic scenario for Orange County as a whole, with regards to tourism and business.

Dale Kinney

35

Costa Mesa

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We should have a major airport in Orange County, for ease of commuting, for business and the money it will bring into the county.

Pat Thomas

64

Huntington Beach

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I’m not one of these people who come from about 50 miles away and say, ‘No airport, no airport!’ I live in El Toro about two miles away from the airport and I realize there’s going to be noise problems, but that’s part of the deal.

Frank Rose

48

Lake Forest

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El Toro should be an international airport because the future of the Asian Pacific Rim business is coming to California, and it would be able to handle all the traffic and all the business that is coming to Orange County. An El Toro International Airport would be a good benefit to Orange County.

Manuel Figueroa

67

Anaheim Hills

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It should be an international airport, it would be the highest and best use of the facility. It would be an economic benefit to Orange County.

Tom Davis

54

Irvine

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When I lived in Irvine I was for the El Toro airport;, when I lived in Costa Mesa I was for it; and now I live in Newport Beach and I’m still for it. The county taxpayers have voted twice overwhelmingly in two elections to have this facility made into an international airport. The people have spoken. If need be, we’ll go to a third election.

Richard Taylor

40

Newport Beach

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We need a regional airport for all the obvious reasons: the future of business, the future of travel and for the future of the state.

Dick Cameron

55

Fullerton

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We definitely need another commercial airport. John Wayne is too small and dangerous an airport and El Toro should carry most of the commercial traffic. I’m sorry the people who live near El Toro find that difficult to accept.

James Tufo

58

Fountain Valley