Countywide : Boeing 757s to Land at Airport Despite Protests

Despite objections from noise-fearing North Tustin residents, Boeing 757 jetliners will become the largest planes to serve John Wayne Airport under a plan approved this week by the Board of Supervisors.

Delta Airlines is planning to start using a 757, probably for a daily flight to Salt Lake City, by Nov. 1, with a second scheduled daily flight to start by Dec. 1.

Supervisors approved Delta’s use of the planes at their regular meeting on Tuesday. Delta said the aircraft would have 187 seats.

The largest plane now using the airport is the McDonnnell Douglas MD-80, with 150 seats.

Larger planes have been unable to serve John Wayne because of noise limits and runway weight restrictions that affect fuel loads and numbers of seats.

Also Tuesday, the board voted to buy noise-monitoring equipment needed to ensure that the large planes do not exceed county noise limits as they fly over North Tustin, Villa Park and other communities especially sensitive to noise and air safety.

Noise from the aircraft will be monitored for six months. If it fails to perform as quietly as expected, county officials said, the B-757 could be barred from the airport.