John Wayne Airport's new "fly friendly" program
If you are an Orange County resident, you’re most likely familiar with the sound of jets flying overhead. Last week, the John Wayne Airport announced its new “Fly Friendly” program. The goal of this program is to reduce jet noise as well as minimizing environmental impacts through the incentivization of private jet operators.
The program focuses on the education of pilots. One effort included in the “Fly Friendly” program changes flight routes for jets. Instead of pushing jet engine noise toward residential areas, the noise will be pushed out toward the pacific ocean.
Pilots who demonstrate the greatest reduction in nighttime departures and arrivals, or who contribute up to $4,500 annually to ecological restoration campaigns being undertaken by the Newport Bay or Irvine Ranch conservancies to offset aircraft impacts will receive top marks and be publicly recognized by the Board of Supervisors and John Wayne Airport officials as outstanding.