John Wayne Airport

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John Wayne Airport
Orange County Airport
IATA: SNA - ICAO: KSNA
Summary
Airport type Public
Operator Orange County
Serves Santa Ana, California
Elevation AMSL 56 ft (17 m)
Coordinates 33°40′32″N, 117°52′05″W
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
1L/19R 5,701 1,738 Asphalt
1R/19L 2,887 880 Asphalt
FAA diagram of John Wayne Airport (SNA)
Enlarge
FAA diagram of John Wayne Airport (SNA)

John Wayne Airport (IATA: SNA, ICAO: KSNA) is located in Orange County, California, between the cities of Santa Ana, Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, and Irvine. The Associated Press calls it John Wayne International Airport, although it does not offer international destinations. Originally named Orange County Airport, the county Board of Supervisors renamed it in 1979 to honor the actor John Wayne, who resided on Lido Island in nearby Newport Harbor and died that year. The airport serves both general and commercial aviation needs for the area. The main runway, at 5,701 feet, is one of the shortest of any major airport in the United States, effectively restricting use to aircraft no larger than a Boeing 757. Thus, the short runway, coupled with local noise restrictions, requires a takeoff at or near full power while holding the brakes then releasing the brakes, followed by a steep climb, a sudden reduction in power, and two turns closely following the Upper Newport Bay. Interesting fact is that some of the aircrafts following the braking and powering procedure enables the aircraft to take off using only a quarter to a half of the small runway. Landings almost always include the use of reverse thrust, though every aircraft that lands at the airport must be certified to do a brake-only stop within the confines of the runway.

The main passenger terminal, the Thomas F. Riley Terminal, is named for the late County Supervisor who lobbied for the airport's expansion in the 1980s. The Riley Terminal is divided into two concourses, A and B, with satellite buildings serving commuter flights. A separate terminal serves general aviation.

John Wayne Airport is 14 miles from Orange County's signature attraction - the Disneyland Resort. By contrast, Los Angeles International Airport is 35 miles from Disneyland.

A statue of the airport's namesake welcomes passengers passing through the arrivals area on the lower level.

Contents

[edit] History

The first airstrip on the grounds was constructed in 1923, when Eddie Martin founded a flying school on land owned by the Irvine Company. It was purchased through a land swap by the County of Orange in 1939 and remains under the County's ownership and management.

On June 19, 1950, the first commercial drag strip, the Santa Ana Drag, was started on a runway at the airport and ran every Sunday. Due to increased air traffic, the strip closed in 1959.

In 1967, the first terminal building for commercial passengers was constructed and named for Eddie Martin. The Eddie Martin Terminal was demolished in 1994, since replaced by the aforementioned Riley Terminal.

On August 16, 1987, Northwest Airlines Flight 255, flying from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, Michigan to John Wayne Airport with an intermediate stop at Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, Arizona, crashed upon takeoff from Detroit, killing all onboard except for a young girl.

Population and economic growth in the region spurred expansion and remodeling projects in 1974, 1980, 1982, and 1990. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, a new airport was proposed on the nearby site of the former El Toro Marine Corps Air Station. After a prolonged battle, however, the proposal was defeated and no new airport was built.

In 2003, SNA served 8,535,130 persons and 15,406 tons of air cargo. Additionally, 2003 saw 249,551 takeoffs and landings by general aviation.

In 2004, Chris Norby of the county Board of Supervisors, proposed changing the airport's name to The O.C. Airport, John Wayne Field, in light of the popularity of the TV series The O.C. He withdrew the idea after receiving negative publicity and angry responses from local residents.

[edit] Commercial airlines serving John Wayne Airport

[edit] Terminal A

[edit] Terminal B

[edit] External links

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