Favorite A.P., not because of any aesthetic aspect of it's archatectural design, but... (engines, FAA)

[Montana Griz]

.......because of the effect on departing passengers whose plane is assigned to Runway "20R' for take-off

The single primary Runway (20R) is 5701 feet long...one of the shortest of any major A.P. in the U.S. This length plus the noise restrictions ordinance, cause some first-time passengers to experience a somewhat "different "take-off". Certain planes up to the size of a 757 require that the engines be "run-up" to almost "full-power" (approx 97%) before the Brakes are released. In many instances a VERY (and I mean VERY) steep "climb-angle" is also incorporated into the take-off. It literally pins you to your seat back. This allows the pilot to reduce the engine power at approx 500 to 700 feet of elevation so as to reduce the Noise Level as the plane goes over the city of Newport Beach. Several years ago I was in a "fully loaded" DC-9 that went thru this type of take-off and the guy next to me just about "passed-out".

As a comparison, San Diego's primary runway is 9401 feet long..........Both John Wayne (aka Orange County) and San Diego A.P. have just a single primary runway.

[DMenscha]

SJC's 30 R runway was pretty short too back in the 70's. PSA jocks used to get sent over to it at times. Those guys wore the paint off the numbers.

[Montana Griz]

Originally Posted by Montana Griz

.......because of the effect on departing passengers whose plane is assigned to Runway "20R' for take-off

The single primary Runway (20R) is 5701 feet long...one of the shortest of any major A.P. in the U.S. This length plus the noise restrictions ordinance, cause some first-time passengers to experience a somewhat "different "take-off". Certain planes up to the size of a 757 require that the engines be "run-up" to almost "full-power" (approx 97%) before the Brakes are released. In many instances a VERY (and I mean VERY) steep "climb-angle" is also incorporated into the take-off. It literally pins you to your seat back. This allows the pilot to reduce the engine power at approx 500 to 700 feet of elevation so as to reduce the Noise Level as the plane goes over the city of Newport Beach. Several years ago I was in a "fully loaded" DC-9 that went thru this type of take-off and the guy next to me just about "passed-out".

As a comparison, San Diego's primary runway is 9401 feet long..........Both John Wayne (aka Orange County) and San Diego A.P. have just a single primary runway.

..

........Sorry, should have mentioned the A.P. I was talking about at the beginning of the above quoted post was:..John Wayne (aka Orange County, CA A.P.)...........I'll have a bettter day tomorrow

[texdav]

I frankly like the smaller airports.

[Retroit]

We have a lot of old airports with short runways that were built in the early days of aviation that the FAA would never allow to be built today.