Los Angeles floats plan to save El Toro Airport

Chances of the former El Toro Marine Corps Air Station in Orange County, Calif., becoming a vital part of the National Airspace System–seemingly killed by

By Harry Weisberger • Contributor

August 4, 2008

Chances of the former El Toro Marine Corps Air Station in Orange County, Calif., becoming a vital part of the National Airspace System–seemingly killed by a referendum last year–have been revived by a city of Los Angeles proposal. The proposal would have the federal government retain the base and lease it to Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), operator of Los Angeles International, Van Nuys, Palmdale and Ontario international airports.

The 27-page memo from L.A. Mayor James Hahn to Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta stated, “It would be a modern tragedy for El Toro to be lost as an invaluable aviation asset,” which “should be dedicated to benefit the citizens of the entire nation.” The airfield, with its five runways–the longest 10,000 feet–was closed in 1999 after 57 years of use. The Orange County plan for El Toro as a regional airport was derailed by a March 2002 ballot initiative that changed base land-use zoning to bar aviation activity.

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