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1923 Eddie Martin opened Eddie Martin Airport after signing a five-year lease with the landowner, the Irvine Company. Martin also opened a flying school and established Martin Aviation, one of the nation's oldest aviation firms. 1926 Martin acquired the Airport's first hangar, a portable wooden structure. 1928 One year after his historic trans-Atlantic flight, celebrated aviator Charles Lindbergh landed at Eddie Martin Airport. 1939 Eddie Martin Airport was acquired by the County or Orange and became a public Airport. It is also the year that the FAA gave it the designator SNA, after Santa Ana, which was the largest city near the Airport at the time. 1940 Construction began on a new County airport after the Board of Supervisors appropriated $7,500 to build a 2,500-foot paved runway and taxi strip a mile south of Martin's Airport. 1941 In September, the new County airfield was completed. Martin Aviation (the company) moved to the new facility. The Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in December. Within weeks, all civilian flying was halted within 150 miles of the West Coast. 1942 The federal government entered into a $1-per-year lease with the County of Orange for use of the Airport during the war. 1946 William Nichols, a long-time County employee, was named the Airport's first full-time manager. 1948 Three years after the end of World War II, the War Assets Administration returned the Airport to the County. 1952 The first regular airline service began when Arizona-based Bonanza Airlines signed a lease agreement with the County. Using Douglas DC-3s, Bonanza provided daily service to Los Angeles, San Diego, El Centro-Yuma and Phoenix. 1950 Famed film pilot Paul Mantz moved his operations from Burbank to Orange County. His arrival, along with his fleet of airplanes, brought much publicity and a needed lift to the Airport, which was trailing the much smaller Fullerton Municipal Airport in operations. 1955 Airport operations grew as more people flocked to Orange County. The number of private airplanes increased from 125 to 300. 1957 The Board of Supervisors created a five-member Airport Commission to serve as an advisory body. The first members were appointed in 1958. 1958 Sunday drag strip racing on the short runway, on the Airport's west side, was curtailed due to the rising number of aircraft housed at the Airport. The drag strip was turned into a tie down area. 1959 The FAA control tower opened (south of its present location). Donald M. Hobbs, veteran manager of Fullerton Municipal Airport, was appointed the Airport's second full-time manager. The Board of Supervisors approved a resolution calling for construction of a 10,000-foot runway. It was later reduced to 5,700 feet. 1961 AVOR (Very High Frequency Omni Range) instrument navigational aid was installed. 1963 Paul Mantz and Frank Tallman opened the Tallmantz Movieland of the Air International Flight and Space Museum on airport property. 1965 Orange County Airport opened its new runway. Supervisor Thomas Riley stands on the cliffs of Galaxy Park anddeclares jets will never fly out of Orange County 1967 In May the new terminal, dedicated by then-Governor Ronald Reagan, opened for business. The building was financed by a $705,000 loan from the County Retirement Fund. The 1961 Master Plan had called for a 15,247 square-foot building and anticipated 400,000 passengers annually. Upon opening, the terminal was handling an average of 30,000 per month. Airport officials had surveyed major west coast airlines, all of whom said Orange County had too few passengers to make entrance worthwhile. Air California began nonstop service to San Francisco operating two turboprop Lockheed L-188 Electras between San Francisco and Orange County. 1968 Airport Manager Donald M. Hobbs retired. The County of Orange Board of Supervisors hired Robert D. Bresnahan from Riverside Airport. Bresnahan became the Airport’s third manager. Bonanza introduced the Douglas DC-9 jet aircraft to the Airport’s commercial fleet. Bonanza merged with Pacific Airlines and West Coast Airlines and changed its name to Air West. 1969 An ILS (Instrument Landing System) navigational aid was installed. Air Cal added the Boeing 737 to the Airport's jet fleet. 1970 Howard Hughes bought Air West and renamed the airline Hughes Airwest. 1971 "Ecolog I," the nation's first permanent airport noise-monitoring system was installed. Norman Ewers was hired as the Airport's (and the nation's) first Airport Noise Abatement Officer. 1972 The Orange County Board of Supervisors declared Orange County Airport had a "noise problem" as defined by California’s State Noise Standards. This was the first such action in California. 1973 The Airport recorded 682,984 operations and placed second in the nation, behind only O'Hare Airport in Chicago. Lawsuits over aircraft noise levels were filed against the County, adding to a series of previous suits totaling more than $27 million. 1977 The Orange County Superior Court awarded Harry Rinker $261,000 in damages and court costs relating to aircraft noise and his upper Newport Bay home. The Noise Abatement Working Group was established to get airport staff, FAA, and airlines to share information regarding operating procedures and noise mitigation matters. This committee was later renamed the Noise Advisory Committee and was expanded to include homeowners’ associations. 1978 SEPTEMBER A different jury refused to award $1.4 million to 98 plaintiffs involving 57 properties. (An appellate court in San Diego ruled in 1977 that the Federal Government preempts the County's authority over landings and takeoffs.) OCTOBER Airport Manager Robert Bresnahan resigned amid continuing controversies surrounding growth of the Airport. Raul Regalado was hired as the fourth Airport Manager. He served just 18 months before leaving for San Jose, California. 1979 JANUARY The FAA ruled that pilots could no longer reduce power below 1,000 feet in altitude, a procedure developed by Hughes and Air Cal to reduce noise impacts on Newport Beach and Santa Ana Heights. JUNE The Board of Supervisors renamed Orange County Airport in the memory of the late movie star and Newport Beach resident, John Wayne who passed away on June 11, 1979. Tracor, Inc. installed a sophisticated noise monitoring system. The FAA inquired into whether the County of Orange had granted an exclusive right for service to incumbent air carriers (Hughes Airwest and Air Cal) and excluded all others. The FAA later determined that it had, and required that operating capacity be made available to new entrants. The Board of Supervisors commissioned a two-phased Airport Master Plan for a facility that could handle the County's increasing passenger demand. 1980 SEPTEMBER Murry Cable, a former Army helicopter pilot, military airport manager and County administrative manager, was hired as the Airport's fifth manager. During his tenure, Cable led the Airport and County through the approval of the 1985 Master Plan and Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and development of the landmark 1985 Settlement Agreement. These plans paved the way for the improved airport terminal and related facilities, and instituted controls on flights, passengers, and noise levels. OCTOBER A new Master Plan, which began in June 1979, was completed. It called for increasing allowable daily airline departures from 41 to 55, and required airlines to introduce quieter jets. It also called for $75 million in improvements, including new parking structures and a terminal. Air California changed its name to “AirCal”. Republic Airlines took over Hughes Air West, one of only two airlines that served John Wayne Airport. Western Airlines initiated service. A John Wayne Airport Noise Abatement Committee was established to serve as a forum for questions, concerns and recommendations of individuals and homeowners groups. DECEMBER Frontier Airlines initiated service. 1981 FEBRUARY AirCal's Flight 336 from San Jose hit the main runway in an aborted landing accident that injured 34 people. The runway was closed for 50 hours for an NTSB investigation. SunAire initiated service and ended service seven months later. JUNE The first Commercial Airline Access Plan was adopted by the Board of Supervisors to divide 41 average daily departures as follows: AirCal - 23.5; Frontier Airlines - 2; Pacific Southwest Airlines - 2; Republic Airlines - 11.5; and Western Airlines - 2. Golden West Airlines and Imperial Airlines initiated service. U.S. District Judge Terry Hatter, Jr. rejected the Airline Access Plan after Pacific South West (PSA) claimed the plan was discriminatory. OCTOBER Pacific Southwest Airlines (“PSA”) initiated service, bringing the total number of commercial airlines to five. 1982 JANUARY Superior Court Judge Bruce Sumner ruled that the environmental impact report EIR 232 was inadequate, halting the Master Plan, Access Plan and an associated plan for noise control and land use. JULY The Board of Supervisors ended their search for a new general aviation airport and for a regional airport site in Orange County. On an AirCal appeal, a Federal Appeals Court overruled Judge Hatter's 1981 decision allowing the County to implement the provisions of its Airline Access Plan. AUGUST To commemorate the Airport’s namesake, the John Wayne Associates commissioned sculptor Robert Summers to create a bronze statue of “the Duke.” Air Irvine initiated service. NOVEMBER A nine-foot bronze statue of John Wayne was dedicated to the County of Orange and installed at the Airport. The statue was commissioned by the late movie star's family and other community members. 1983 MARCH The Board of Supervisors voted to draft a new Master Plan in two phases, allowing up to 73 daily noise-regulated departures in 1990 when the new terminal and other improvements were completed. APRIL Golden West Airlines discontinued service at John Wayne Airport. JUNE American Airlines initiated service. For the first time, an airline offered direct service beyond the Rocky Mountains. The new 60-foot FAA Control Tower was completed, adjacent to Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting Station #33 on the west side of the airfield. SEPTEMBER A Republic Airlines DC9-80 dropped hot pieces of metal from an engine over Dover Shores and Westcliff in Newport Beach. Homes were damaged due to fire, but no one was injured and the plane returned safely to the Airport. Air Spur initiated service. DECEMBER Air Irvine discontinued service at John Wayne Airport. The Tallmantz Movieland of the Air Museum closed. 1984 JANUARY Dash Air initiated service and discontinued service seven months later. JUNE The final transition to FAR Part 36 Stage 3 air carrier operations, resulting from implementation of noise and access regulations, was complete. John Wayne Airport was the first airport in California to have 100% air carrier operations by aircraft meeting Stage III requirements. NOVEMBER Air Spur discontinued service at John Wayne Airport. 1985 FEBRUARY The Board of Supervisors approved a new Master Plan and Environmental Impact Report (EIR 508) for the Airport Improvement Plan. The centerpiece of the plan was a new terminal, which was 12 times the size of the facility built in 1967. West Air initiated service. APRIL Fifty-five noise regulated departures were authorized along with two-for-one “tradeout” provisions to encourage airlines to use quieter aircraft as part of the Phase 1 Commercial Airline Access Plan, effective April 1985 through March 1990 (or upon opening of the new terminal, whichever is later). America West, Jet America and Continental Airlines began service. John Wayne Airport was served by nine commercial airlines: Air Cal, America West, American, Continental, Frontier, Jet America, PSA, Republic, and Western. The Board of Supervisors approved a $34 million plan to reduce noise in Santa Ana Heights. The plan includes purchase assurance, sound attenuation and rezoning for industrial use. MAY JWA in conjunction with Wilbur Smith Associates, released its first Economic Impact Report from data collected in 1983. In Orange County, JWA’s Output was $3.5 million and employment was 54,440. JULY Mid Pacific Airlines initiated commuter service. NOVEMBER Imperial Airlines discontinued service at John Wayne Airport. DECEMBER A final judgment regarding the Settlement Agreement is filed and signed by Honorable Terry J. Hatter Jr. in Federal Court. The 20-year Agreement between the County of Orange, the City of Newport Beach, the Airport Working Group (AWG) and Stop Polluting Our Newport (SPON) set limits on noise levels, commercial departures, number of passengers and scope of the capital improvements. The FAA completed a study showing that, over time, the three approaches to John Wayne Airport Instrument Landing System (ILS), Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Radio Range, (VOR), and Visual(refers to a type of approach to a runway) were used equally. After 12 years of service in a variety of County positions, including Chief Aide to Supervisor Harriet Wieder, George Rebella was named the Airport's sixth manager by the Orange County Board of Supervisors. 1986 JANUARY The State of California reduces its definition of noise "impacted area" from 70 to 65 dB CNEL. APRIL The General Aviation Noise Ordinance (GANO), governing noise levels for general aviation aircraft, went into effect. MAY The Board of Supervisors hired the joint venture firm of HPV (Holmes & Narver, Inc., Ralph M. Parsons Company, and Van Dell and Associates) as project construction manager of the design and construction of the $310 million Master Plan project. The project included a 337,900 square-foot terminal designed to serve a maximum of 8.4 million annual passengers, 8,400 parking spaces, runway and taxiway improvements, on-site roadways, and improvements to terminal roadways, terminal access, and 22 local intersections. AUGUST Western and Frontier airlines discontinued service at John Wayne Airport. OCTOBER Northwest and Republic Airlines merged. 1987 JANUARY The FAA shut down the Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR) approach to John Wayne Airport due to interference caused by construction of high-rise buildings near the Airport. United Express initiated service. SkyWest Airlines initiated service. Stateswest Airlines initiated service. Resort Airlines initiated service. MARCH The FAA installed a non-directional beacon to provide an alternative instrument landing approach to the existing Instrument Landing System. APRIL Trans World Airlines (TWA) initiated service. Delta Airlines bought Western Airlines. JULY American Airlines bought Orange County-based AirCal. Leason Pomeroy Associates (LPA) was selected as the architect for the new terminal. AUGUST Revenue bonds worth $242 million were sold to finance the Airport Improvement Project. The bonds sold out in 20 minutes, with an average coupon rate of 7.91%. The debt service requirement, which began in April 1990, was $20 million per year. SEPTEMBER United Airlines initiated service. OCTOBER Alaska Airlines bought Jet America and initiated service. Dedication ceremonies were held for the west side general aviation facility. General aviation aircraft were moved to the west side of the Airport. NOVEMBER The Martin Aviation's Beechcraft building was demolished. Delta Airlines began using a Boeing 757, the largest aircraft to operate at John Wayne Airport at that time. 1988 FEBRUARY The Airport's long-term parking area closed to make way for construction. MARCH A terminal groundbreaking event titled "Flight 1990—JWA's Flight to the Future" was held. APRIL The Airport Site Coalition, partially funded by the FAA and under the auspices of the Southern California Association of Governments, began a 20-month study to recommend an additional Orange County airport site. Mammoth Air initiated service and discontinued service six months later. USAir initiated service after purchasing PSA. JUNE The construction contract for the new terminal was awarded to Taylor Woodrow. JULY Taylor Woodrow, general contractor, began construction of the new terminal. AUGUST The Board of Supervisors named the terminal built in 1967 in honor of Orange County pioneer aviator Eddie Martin. OCTOBER Ground was broken for the Costa Mesa Freeway (SR 55) ramps to provide direct and exclusive access to and from the new terminal. DECEMBER A Localizer Directional Aid (LDA) was installed in place of the old VOR navigational aid. The LDA duplicated the old VOR approach pattern and was not affected by nearby high-rise construction. The Airport served 4.48 million passengers in 1988. For the first time since 1980, passenger levels dropped slightly (1.5%). National and Dollar joined Hertz, Avis and Budget in providing car rental services at the Airport. Terminal architect, Leason Pomeroy, unveiled the design for the new terminal. 1989 FEBRUARY The Eddie Martin Terminal was dedicated. A comprehensive study determined future concession needs at the new terminal. The Fokker 100, made in the Netherlands, qualified as a Class E departure. The FAA awarded Orange County a planning grant for a Master Plan Update Study for general aviation. MARCH The Southwest Parking Structure B1 opened. It was the first building to be completed under the Improvement Project. The Board of Supervisors established a 10-member Airport Arts Task Force. The Task Force was charged with evaluating the feasibility of exhibiting art in the new terminal. The Board of Supervisors selected Host International, McDonalds, Paradies Shops and MBE, Inc. as food, news and gift concessionaires for the new terminal. MAY Taylor Woodrow and Stott Steel held a “topping off” ceremony to celebrate completion of the framing of the terminal. The construction contract was completed for the West Side Development (North) Project which included construction of taxiway B. Also included was development of new general aviation tie down areas and some FAA navigation aides to move them from the East side of the airfield to make way for what is now the Thomas F. Riley Terminal. The widening of Campus Drive began. JUNE The short-term parking lot, in existence since 1967, permanently closed to make way for construction activities related to the Campus Drive widening. Eleven-year-old Tony Aliengena departed John Wayne Airport at the start of his 19,000 mile, around-the-world flight in a Cessna. In Moscow, Tony delivered a "friendship scroll" to Russian officials, and then returned to John Wayne Airport on July 22. The San Juan Capistrano youth was the youngest pilot to circumnavigate the globe. A ground breaking was held for the Campus Drive widening project. Congress prohibited joint military/civilian aircraft use of the Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro. SEPTEMBER The French-built Airbus 320 passed noise tests at John Wayne Airport for Class E departures. OCTOBER "This is going to be a top-quality facility,” Supervisor Thomas F. Riley said during a media tour of the facility. It was the first official tour of the project since “topping off” ceremonies were held in the spring. NOVEMBER After a year-long process of public input and hearings, the Board approved a Phase 2 Access Plan and Regulation for the period October 1, 1990 to Decmber 31, 2005. Staff was directed to prepare the actual text of the Access Plan consistent with the policy decisions and return to the Board for ratification of the Access Plan. See's Candies and Creative Croissants were selected by the Board of Supervisors to provide “specialty” shops in the new terminal. Resort Airlines—Orange County's only locally based commuter airline—discontinued service. The airline had made seven daily flights between John Wayne Airport and Los Angeles International Airport. DECEMBER Northwest Airlines qualified the Airbus 320 for service at John Wayne Airport. 1990 JANUARY John Wayne Airport's new terminal was named after longtime Fifth District Supervisor Thomas F. Riley, in whose district the Airport was located. MARCH Orange County aviation pioneer Eddie Martin died at the age of 88. The Board of Supervisors created the Airport Arts Commission and appointed five members. The statue of John Wayne was removed from its pedestal in front of the Eddie Martin Terminal. It was taken to the Hoka Hey Foundry in Dublin, Texas where it was made for refurbishing before being placed inside the new Thomas F. Riley Terminal. JUNE Freeway ramps between the Airport and the Costa Mesa Freeway (SR-55) opened. Air-Lyon bought Martin Aviation. August 1990 - The Board ratified the text of the Phase 2 Access Plan on an emergency basis at the August 29, 1990 meeting. The Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution to increase the parking fees to $14 per day in the terminal lots and $7 per day in the overflow parking. SEPTEMBER The Thomas F. Riley Terminal was dedicated and opened for service. The Airport’s first art exhibit, “Transportation Images and Urban Landscapes,” was displayed in the new terminal. Guided tours were started for those interested in learning more about the Airport and its history. OCTOBER Phase 2 of the John Wayne Airport Access Plan was implemented. Following the resignation of former manager George A. Rebella, Janice M. Mittermeier was named Airport Director. Midway Airlines initiated service. NOVEMBER The Airport Noise and Capacity Act of 1990 was adopted and signed into law by President Bush. The Act called for a "phase out" of Stage 2 aircraft and required federal review and approval of any restrictions on Stage 3 operations. John Wayne Airport's existing noise limitations were grandfathered under the new Act. Alpha Air initiated service. 1991 JANUARY Airport Director Jan M. Heimeier created an Assistant Airport Director position and named O.B. Schooley. FEBRUARY Continental Airlines filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. MAY USAir discontinued service to John Wayne Airport. JUNE The Airport Corporation of America was selected to conduct a supplemental economic study for the John Wayne Airport General Aviation Master Plan. America West Airlines filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Midway Airlines discontinued service at John Wayne Airport. SEPTEMBER The County of Orange celebrated the one year anniversary of the Thomas F. Riley Terminal. American Airlines qualified the Fokker 100 for service at John Wayne Airport. Alaska Airlines qualified the Boeing 737-400 for service at John Wayne Airport. DECEMBER The County of Orange became a member of the Southern California Regional Airport Authority (SCRAA). Taylor Woodrow filed suit against the County regarding the Northwest Parking Structure A1. Tallmantz Aviation filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. 1992 APRIL In anticipation of modifications to the Federal Aviation Administration’s Advisory Circular governing noise abatement departure procedures (AC 91-53A), JWA initiated a Noise Demonstration Program. Air carriers serving JWA operated a series of different departure procedures producing a data set that allowed the identification of procedures that provided the best noise environment for “close-in” and “distant” residential communities. Sierra Pacific/Morris Air Group initiated service. MAY Airport Administration/County office space opened in the new terminal building. 1993 JANUARY Southwest Airlines qualified for Class E aircraft during its noise tests. Commuter American Eagle changed its name to Wings West. MARCH Morris Air was acquired by Southwest Airlines. McDonnell-Douglas tested its MD-90 aircraft and received one of the lowest noise ratings ever. The aircraft qualified as a Class E aircraft. APRIL USAir resumed service. JULY The Airport issued $79,755,000 in revenue bonds to refund a portion of the outstanding 1987 bonds. The transaction provided for a reduction in Airport debt service payments of $11.7 million over the 25 year bond term. AUGUST Roadway operations and signage programs for the Airport were implemented. OCTOBER Reconstruction and concrete overlay of overnight aircraft parking in front of the Eddie Martin terminal began. Stateswest Airlines discontinued service at John Wayne Airport. Jetstream International initiated service. NOVEMBER An elevator was installed at Gate 14 for commuter passenger usage. DECEMBER County fuel tanks and pumps for the Airport, Sheriff, and Fire Department vehicles were installed. On approach to John Wayne Airport, an Israel 1124A corporate jet crashed in a vacant lot off Edinger Avenue, 3.5 miles north of the Airport. It was determined that the aircraft’s loss of control was caused by wake turbulence from a United Airlines aircraft. 1994 JANUARY Jetstream International discontinued service at John Wayne Airport. MARCH Reconstruction and concrete overlay of the runway (RWY 1L/19R) surface began. Extension of Taxiway K between RWY 1L/19R and Taxiway B began. APRIL The overlay of airfield Taxiways B, D, E, F, G, J and L began. MAY Decorative security grilles were installed on the airfield side of the Northwest (A1) and Southwest (B1) parking structures. Southwest Airlines initiated service. AUGUST UCO demolition was completed. UCO was an FBO located near Newport Beach Jet Center and went out of business. Their lease hold was redeveloped to include “T” hangars and GA tie downs. SEPTEMBER Alpha Air discontinued service at John Wayne Airport. NOVEMBER Reno Air initiated service. DECEMBER The Eddie Martin Terminal was demolished. United Parcel Service (UPS) initiated regularly scheduled all cargo service. The County of Orange declared bankruptcy. 1995 MARCH Federal Express began service flying the A300 and A310, the largest aircraft operated at JWA. MAY County of Orange Interim-Chief Executive Officer Bill Popejoy formed a task force for the purpose of identifying and evaluating means by which John Wayne Airport could provide revenue to the County's General Fund, including via sale to a third party. Arizona Airways initiated service at John Wayne Airport and discontinued service four months later. JULY The first MD 90 was operated out of John Wayne Airport by Delta Airlines. Janice Mittermeier was named Interim-Chief Executive Officer for the County of Orange. OCTOBER John Wayne Airport received authorization from Bankruptcy Court to begin paying in full its undisputed pre-petition vendor claims. O.B. Schooley was named Airport Director by the Orange County Board of Supervisors. |
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