Local skies have become much busier

Noaki Schwartz

NEWPORT BEACH -- John Wayne Airport has been ranked the 18th busiest

airport in the world during 1999, placing it in the top 3%, according to

a study done by a Swiss airport association.

Overall major facilities in California did not fare well in the study

that included 597 airports worldwide. Los Angeles, Oakland, Long Beach,

John Wayne and San Francisco all made the top 4%.

Los Angeles Airport was ranked fourth, Oakland eighth, Long Beach 12th

and San Francisco 24th.

The annual study, completed in late March, was compiled by the Airports

Council International -- a Switzerland-based association of the world’s

airports. Facilities around the world were ranked based on total landings

and takeoffs of both private and commercial planes.

John Wayne was sandwiched between two of Europe’s largest airports,

Charles de Gaulle in Paris and Heathrow in London.

Former Newport Beach mayor Tom Edwards, who helped write the 1985 John

Wayne Airport settlement agreement, said he was not completely surprised.

The same year John Wayne made the top 3% as one of the busiest airports

in the world, it also became the second-most dangerous airport nationally

in terms of near-collisions on runways. In 1999, the airport had nine

close calls on its runways.

“Every one of these airports on the list is exponentially larger than

John Wayne,” he said. “As far as I’m concerned, JWA is an accident

waiting to happen.”

Edwards added that “it’s criminal for the board of supervisors to

consider expanding this airport.”

Tom Naughton of the Airport Working Group, which supports the opening of

a new airport at the former El Toro Marine Corps air base, agreed.

He also said he was not surprised by the Federal Aviation

Administration’s decision Monday to install a new ground radar system at

the airport in an effort to reduce near-collisions.

“When you’ve got a small field like John Wayne and a lot of activity like

LAX, it’s a problem,” Naughton said.

The system would help controllers keep an eye on runways and taxiways.

Currently, controllers monitor ground traffic by using a combination of

binoculars and radio communications with pilots.

WORLD’S BUSIEST AIRPORTS

1. Atlanta

2. Chicago

3. Dallas/Ft. Worth

4. Los Angeles

5. Phoenix

6. Detroit

7. Las Vegas

8. Oakland

9. Miami

10. Minneapolis/St. Paul

11. St. Louis

12. Long Beach

13. Boston

14. Denver

15. Cincinnati

16. Philadelphia 17. Paris

18. John Wayne

19. Washington D.C.

20. Houston

21. London

22. Newark

23. Frankfurt

24. San Francisco

25. Pittsburgh