Jim wrote on Nov 4, 2006 10:38 PM:Miramar is the only place for a civilian airport. The Navy Claimed Miramar was essential for its mission, but they abandoned it. When the Marines left El Toro for Miramar, El Toro's Comander said Miramar was less suited for the Marines. The Marines need to deploy aircraft to Camp Pendleton, 29 Palms and the desert bombing ranges. The centraly located former March Air Force Base is ideal. Currently when the Marines deploy troops by large airplanes they use March. High speed Marine Jets operating off carriers would still find March conveniate. If we don't start asking now for the use of Miramar, we may never have a regional airport. That is if you don't count LAX.

Hello wrote on Nov 5, 2006 4:48 AM:Why does the Port Commission contiue to WASTE tax payers money studying and sending this idea to vote when the Defense Appropriations Bill has it clearly written in it that joint use of a military air base as a civilian airport is not going to happen. Move on and find somewhere else. The Marines are going no where.

Howiek wrote on Nov 5, 2006 5:19 AM:The answer to this entire issue lies within the above article: “About 80 miles east of San Diego lies a target-rich environment with a number of Marine facilities such as Yuma, Twentynine Palms, Barstow and Naval Air Station El Centro, which, combined with operations from Miramar, could be consolidated into a new master training facility with resulting cost reductions. Such a base could also be superior to Miramar and more in tune with Middle Eastern topography. With it could come increased safety, security and operational flexibility.”

Art wrote on Nov 5, 2006 7:09 AM:I have read the admiral commentary several times and find many of his statements are almost word for word identical to those of ASAP21 head Clacker. So I ask did the Admiral pen this commentary himself or did he merely lend his name to the SDCRAA/ASAP21 propaganda? Has the Admiral asked for a visit to Miramar? He could fly into San Diego and see how un-busy SDIA is. Admiral let me make it clear to you, it’s not a new airport the developers want it’s the land both at Lindbergh and East Miramar. If you come to San Diego for a visit you will see what I mean.

Prediction wrote on Nov 5, 2006 9:15 AM:Paul McCarthy's wrong. You only have to ask yourself one question: Do we need a new international airport? After answering correctly, the other two questions are moot. Prop. A will fail on Tuesday, as it deserves to.

Dick wrote on Nov 5, 2006 9:37 AM:This is the same editorial which appeared here on October 28th. It was published verbatum in the U-T on November 1st. The Airport Authority ghost writers should have at least changed a few words.

Alfred wrote on Nov 5, 2006 10:19 AM:McCarthy's noise argument doesn't wash. The MV-22 alone has an acoustic signature 75% lower than the legacy aircraft it will be replacing: CH-46E Sea Knight and CH-53D Sea Stallion. Additionally, anyone who's spent any time in the fleet, whether it be in a MAG or CVW, around EA-6Bs, A-6Es and F-14s knows that there is no contest with regard to their noise signature compared to the F/A-18 and F-35. The older aircraft were/are much noisier. Sorry Paul but your argument is specious, at best.

Bill2 wrote on Nov 5, 2006 10:54 AM:As was pointed out in a recent letter - as long as we have a war minded government in control we will have politicians who do not care about the wants or NEEDS of the people. I am SO glad that Mirimar - with its proximity to our balmy beaches and totaly nude girly shows is so much like Iraq - so that they can train in conditions similar to where they are fighting. Now all they need to do is saturate the area with depleted uranium like we are doing in Iraq. Maybe we SHOULD put the San Diego airport WAY out in the middle of the desert somewhere. Maybe industry would follow and take the congestion with it.

Robert Gray Army Airfield wrote on Nov 5, 2006 2:39 PM:Is it a full moon? There's a lot of emotion here. Robert Gray Army Airfield. Do your own research

Bill2 wrote on Nov 5, 2006 8:51 PM:OOPS! I forgot - Mirimar is not the home of the Marine Grunts - sorry fellows - It is the party club for the Marine fly boys. Camp pendleton is where the ground-pounding Marines train.

Osprey What? wrote on Nov 6, 2006 6:10 AM:The transition from vertical to lateral flight greates a noise contour around Miramar greater than that of the F-18. This is called hypersonic blade tip transition. Anyone who's been around the Osprey knows this and it's poor safety record, they also know it's the reason the military hasn't released the environmental findings for basing the aircraft at Miramar. Sure, it might be quieter in cruise, but you are fooling yourself if you think it's quieter. Absent the noise issue, how many will die for this aircraft? Furthermore, just how will the 40,000lb thrust engine on the JSF be quieter than that of the 20,000 lb engined AV-8 which can't be based at Miramar? Answer? It won't. Enough public fraud from San Diego's new real-estate barrons known as the Department of the Navy. They've conducted the largerst land grab in history using a Federal Law loophole to sieze all the prime real estate we let then "borrow" and they now want to sell to the highest bidder. The law says any base closure goes to the airport first. And people wonder why nothing closed? (recall the MCRD issue) You people are just plain stupid and suckered by the military like a bunch of lemings. The military makes more money if the property doesn't become an airport or airport expansion. Real simple like. Miramar is closing in 2013. The Airport Authority will be vindicated and you will all be scratching your heads wondering why. The military will probably try to sell Miramar for soem outrageous amount too. Bank on it.

Mislead wrote on Nov 6, 2006 6:23 AM:Port Commission - No longer runs the airport. Their abismal leadership led to this. Prediction. Miramar is gone in the 2013 BRAC, should have been gone this time around. Oh the influence of Duke Cunningham. The F-35 isn't in the fleet. It's busy melting VSTOL Pads at Lockhead, a problem with that must heat and thrust. The F-35 VSTOL is one noisy bird. Fraid to tell you that.

Art is Dreaming wrote on Nov 6, 2006 6:27 AM:Lindbergh will never close, even with a new airport. Look at the other airports and their problems. Why increase need on a new Miramar airport by closing the most viable GA airport - Lindbergh.

Prediction wrote on Nov 6, 2006 7:16 AM:Dear Opsrey What? I hope they don't base the Osprey at Miramar. I am familiar with its 'saftey' record and am horrified that the program wasn't killed long ago. That said, keeping the base there with any mix of aircraft is preferable to the clogged roads and freeways, hotels, car rentals, cargo facilities, and other nightmares that a new commercial airport would bring to Miramar. Not to mention the around-the-clock noise in surrounding communities. Keeping the 'new real-estate barrons known as the Department of the Navy' in charge of Miramar is infinitely preferable to letting people like Malin Burnham have their way with that property.

Richard wrote on Nov 6, 2006 2:06 PM:The V-22 is a much less noisy aircraft that the Helicopters it is replacing. This is proven and is one of the secondary reasons that the Marines like it so much!

CR wrote on Nov 6, 2006 2:55 PM:Did they forget that they had the former Naval Training center to use for airport expansion in San Diego? Instead of thinking ahead, they allowed it to be developed with houses/condos, all of which have owners who will complain about airport noise. Just because they were too stupid to use land that was readily available, why try to kick the military out of another base? They have been told it won't work together, they have been told it is against new Federal law--apparently they just can't understand plain English. Maybe the airport board is a bunch of illegal aliens?

Get real people wrote on Nov 6, 2006 7:17 PM:Prediction, they plan on 70 of them. Enjoy the noise. Osprey Quiet? That's freakin' hillarious. CR... The military conversion of NTC was identical to the new boradway complex. The City got snowballed and the military made a killing. Airport expansion never had a chance.