SOUTHLAND LEADERS URGE FAA TO DEVELOP REGIONAL PLAN.

Byline: Bill Hillburg Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON - Southern California community leaders pressed Federal Aviation Administration officials Tuesday to resolve the region's growing demand for air travel and to include a potential El Toro airport in the mix.

The closed El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, repeatedly rejected by Orange County voters as the site for a second county airport, was the major topic of a closed-door Capitol Hill meeting organized by The Coalition for a Truly Regional Airport Plan and Rep. Jane Harman, D-Redondo Beach.

Frustrated Navy officials recently announced they would sell the base to developers. Coalition members urged that the sale be delayed while Orange County officials work out other options in an effort to meet to the county's air travel needs.

``I think the meeting went very well. We shared a lot of ideas among ourselves while communicating to federal officials that we want a regional solution rather than a single giant airport at LAX,'' said Los Angeles City Councilwoman Ruth Galanter. ``We need to share the burden of added demand and air traffic.''

The coalition encompasses a variety of interests, ranging from Inland Empire and Antelope Valley leaders seeking added flights at Ontario and Palmdale to foes of expanded operations at Burbank and Los Angeles International airports.

FAA chief Jane Garvey told the group the FAA was looking favorably on a request for $500,000 for a study by the Southern California Regional Airport Authority on future airport needs. A final decision on the grant is expected next month.

Burbank City Councilwoman Stacey Murphy also said the meeting was positive.

``We're willing to do our part to meet demand, up to a reason,'' she said. ``We also want to improve Burbank Airport. But we have to be careful that the airport doesn't overwhelm our city.''

Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Pasadena, who met recently with Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta, said Garvey was very aware of the needs and unique issues at the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport.

Ontario Mayor Gary Ovitt told federal officials his city would welcome more flights, but that federal help would be needed to improve freeways and street access around Ontario International Airport, which is owned and operated by the city of Los Angeles.

Inland Empire officials are also interested in adding commercial and cargo service at the former Norton Air Force Base in San Bernardino, the closed George Air Force Base in Victorville, and at March Air Force Reserve Base in Riverside.

Other attendees at Tuesday's meeting included Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Huntington Beach, a strong supporter of the El Toro airport plan; Ron Bates, Los Alamitos city councilman; and Francisco Alonzo, mayor of Monterey Park.

Galanter, noting that airlines have recently been vying for the limited available flight slots at Long Beach Airport, said a solution must be found soon. A recent study by the Southern California Association of Governments estimated that the region's annual airline passenger total will increase from the current 80 million to 157 million by 2020.