John Wayne Airport

Orange County Airport, 1950s

Orange County Airport terminal, circa 1967

Orange County Airport terminal, 1971

The first airstrip on the grounds was constructed in 1923, when Eddie Martin signed a five-year lease with James Irvine to operate a flying school on land owned by the Irvine Company.[11] It was purchased through a land swap by the County of Orange in 1939 and remains under the county's ownership and management.

Martin added the first hangar in 1926.[11] In 1935 Howard Hughes staged his world speed record-setting flight from the Eddie Martin Airport.

With the opening of the Santa Ana Army Air Base in 1942, the adjacent Martin Field was temporarily closed.[11]

After serving as a military base during World War II, the Santa Ana Army Airfield was returned by the federal government to the County with the stipulation that it remain open to all kinds of aviation uses.

Terminal groundbreaking, October 1988

In addition to continuing to serve aviation, the field became an important drag racing center. From 1950 to 1959, C.J. "Pappy" Hart[12] and Creighton Hunter operated the Santa Ana Drag Strip, credited for being the world's first commercial drag strip,[13] on the airport runway every Sunday, when it was closed to air traffic.

The original single runway was 4,800 feet (1,500 m) long, on a magnetic heading of 210 degrees (Runway 21) and 30 degrees (Runway 3). In 1964 the airport was rebuilt, with its present two parallel runway configuration, oriented 190/10 degrees magnetic. The longer runway, 19R (now 20R), at 5,701 feet (1,738 m), is only 901 feet (275 m) longer than the old Runway 21 but long enough to accommodate jet airliners. A full instrument landing system (ILS) was also installed.

In the 1950s, the only airline flights were Bonanza's few flights between Los Angeles and Phoenix, via San Diego. In 1963 Bonanza started nonstop F27s to Phoenix, and to Las Vegas in 1965; in 1967 Air California started Electra nonstops to San Francisco, 48 flights a week each way. The first scheduled jet flights were Bonanza DC-9s later in 1967.

In 1967, the 22,000-square-foot (2,000 m²) Eddie Martin Terminal was built to accommodate 400,000 annual passengers. Remodeling added two passenger holding areas in 1974, a new baggage claim area in 1980 and a terminal annex building in 1982, bringing the facility to 29,000 square feet (2,700 m²).

Nonstop flights reached Salt Lake City in 1976–77 (Hughes DC9s), Denver in 1982 (Frontier MD80s), Dallas/Fort Worth in 1983 (American MD80s), Chicago in 1986 (AirCal 737-300s), and New York Kennedy in 1991 (America West 757s).

AirCal MD-80 jet at John Wayne Airport, 1981

After the Orange County Airport was renamed John Wayne Airport on June 20, 1979,[14] the John Wayne Associates commissioned sculptor Robert Summers to create a bronze statue of "the Duke." The 9-foot (2.7 m) statue, created at Hoka Hey Foundry in Dublin, Texas, was dedicated to the County on November 4, 1982. Today, the bronze statue is in the Thomas F. Riley Terminal on the Arrival Level.

The bronze statue of John Wayne in the airport's main lobby, 2009

In 1990, the Thomas F. Riley Terminal opened. The aging 29,000-square-foot (2,700 m²) Eddie Martin Terminal was replaced with a modern 337,900-square-foot (31,390 m²) facility. The new facility included 14 loading bridges, four baggage carousels, wide open spaces and distinct roadside arrival and departure levels. In 1994, the then-unused Eddie Martin Terminal was demolished. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, a new, larger airport was proposed for the nearby site of the then recently closed El Toro Marine Corps Air Station. However, after a series of political battles, combined with significant opposition from residents in the vicinity of El Toro, the proposal was defeated, and no new airport was built.

In 2011, additional terminal space was added and existing terminals were refreshed as part of a $543 million expansion project.[15] A new Terminal C with six additional gates was built along with dedicated commuter gate areas in the new Terminal C and new commuter facilities in Terminal A. A new parking lot C was added along with additional support facilities such as a Central Utility plant.

In June 2020, a name change was requested, due to comments the actor made believed to be in support of white supremacy to Playboy in a 1971 interview.[16]

In September 2020, Orange County officials have planned to end all of JSX operations at SNA on January 1, 2021, stating it is "no longer welcomed".[17][18] This announcement prompted the airline to seek support from customers, encouraging them to contact the Orange County officials for reconsideration in order for the airline to continue operations at Orange County.[18] Since December 2020, the airline has filed a lawsuit against the airport, stating that it has “refused to offer any accommodations” to the airline. It stated that the airport “discriminatorily chose" to terminate the airline's operations at SNA "in favor of two large airlines [Spirit and Allegiant Airlines]...” which the former already operates the same flights to Las Vegas, Reno, and Oakland.[19] Shortly afterwards, the airline won a temporary restraining order, preventing the airport officials from terminating the airline's operations in which a spokeswoman said the airport will comply.[20]

Terminals

Terminal C gate areas

Terminal C commuter gates

There are 22 gates in total. 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 Thomas F. Riley Terminal is divided into three terminal areas, A, B and C, with dedicated commuter gate areas at the north end of Terminal A and south end of Terminal C.

All three terminals, A, B and C, are within the same Thomas F. Riley building and security screened passengers can move "airside" between all terminal areas. Security screening lanes exist in all three terminals adjacent to check in. All security screening areas also have a "fast track" lane for first class and elite frequent fliers along with full TSA Pre Check availability based on TSA defined schedules. Switching between terminals indoors before security "landside" is also possible, the check in counter areas between all three terminals have connecting walkways to allow access between all terminals. Complimentary Wi-Fi is provided in all three terminals.

John Wayne Airport did not have any regularly scheduled international service up until 2010 when Air Canada began operations to Toronto, Canada.[23] Some airlines have also offered international service to Mexico from 2012 until 2019; there is currently no scheduled passenger service operated from Orange County to Mexico. Flights from Canada complete immigration and customs formalities in Canada via United States border preclearance.

Alaska Airlines provided international service to Vancouver in 2002. However, a stop in Seattle (or change of planes) was required shortly after launch as John Wayne Airport was not authorized for pre-clearance or international flights by U.S. agencies.[24]

Canadian airline WestJet provided non-stop year round service to Vancouver since May 2011.[25] WestJet also provided seasonal service to Calgary from June 2011, until ending flights in 2013.[26][27] As of 2020, the Canadian airline has suspended service to SNA until March 5, 2021.[28]

Southwest Airlines subsidiary AirTran Airways began a new service in June 2012 from John Wayne Airport to Cabo San Lucas and Mexico City. This was the first international service to use the new FIS in Terminal C.[29] After its merger with AirTran was completed in 2014, Southwest continued to operate the Mexico flights under its original brand. However, Southwest then ended its service to Mexico City (MEX) from SNA in January 2017 before completely discontinuing all flights to MEX in March 2019.[30][31]

Mexico's low-cost carrier Interjet began a new service in October 2012 from Orange County to Guadalajara and Mexico City.[32][33] It ended both flights in July 2014; the airport officials are seeking a replacement.[34]

Alaska Airlines began a Mexico service in October 2015. The airline began offering non-stop flights from John Wayne Airport to Los Cabos on October 8 and Puerto Vallarta on the following day, October 9. Alaska Airlines has continued this service to each airport on an every-other-day rotation.[35][36] Since August 2019, the airline has discontinued flights to Mexico.[37]

On March 3, 2020, it has been announced that Canada's flag carrier, Air Canada would start new daily flights to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada starting from June 2020, and then delayed to September 8, 2020, which would have marked its return to service to Orange County after 10 years.[38][39] It previously operated flights to Toronto, Ontario, Canada from April 8, 2010, becoming the first-ever international airline to serve Orange County, until it ceased flights later that year.[23][40] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the airline has since postponed its launch. According to airport director Barry Rondinella, the airline is expected to start operations sometime in May 2021.[41]

Southwest Airlines will resume international flights to Puerto Vallarta and San José del Cabo in Mexico starting March 11, 2021.[42] It previously served flights to Puerto Vallarta from June 18, 2015 until March 2017.[43][44][45] Southwest has also served flights to Cabo San Lucas until March 2020, alongside terminating other destinations at the time due to passenger limitations following a 1985 settlement agreement.[46]

Allegiant Air is expected to begin flights at SNA with eight new routes, starting with Boise, Grand Junction, Medford, and Provo from February 12, 2021.[47] This news comes following the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing new slots to some restrictive airports in the United States.[48]

Sun Country Airlines is expected to begin operations at SNA to Minneapolis and Dallas/Fort Worth on May 6, 2021.[49][50][51][41]

In an attempt to resume international service to Mexico, airline officials have been in negotiations with Mexican low-cost airline Volaris, which has applied for an Orange County slot.[48][34]

A 1985 settlement agreement defined the scope of operation for John Wayne Airport in how it affects the local community. The area that lies directly south of John Wayne Airport is considered a noise sensitive area. The agreement in conjunction with a Phase 2 Commercial Airline Access Plan and Regulation controls the number of noisier operations (mainly commercial aircraft) allowed from the airport. Noise abatement enforcement is carried out with the aid of 10 permanent noise monitoring stations. These stations are placed in areas that exceed a community noise equivalent level (CNEL) of 65 dB.

The short primary runway (20R/2L), coupled with the local noise restrictions, can require a takeoff at or near full power (95–97% power). Some aircraft departing from the airport may cycle to full power while holding at the runway then release the brakes when engines are fully spooled up (shortfield procedure). On operations from runway 20R a steep climb may also be required to allow for a power reduction at about 500 to 700 feet (150–210 m) for a quieter overflight over the city of Newport Beach. For 20R departures, a left turn after departure to 175 degrees allows for a passage over Newport Beach within the confines of the noise abatement profile. Departures from 2L (normally during Santa Ana wind conditions) are not affected by these noise abatement procedures. Landings almost always include full flap extensions, and the use of full reverse thrust. Extension of the runway is almost impossible, as it on both ends is enclosed by freeways and, past the freeways, numerous residences and businesses which would require relocation in case of such a proposition, which is a costly endeavour.

The county prohibits commercial departures between 10:00PM and 7:00AM (8:00AM on Sundays) and commercial arrivals between 11:00PM and 7:00AM (8:00AM on Sundays). Exceptions can be made for an emergency, mechanical, air traffic control or weather delay, which is beyond the control of the airline.

In 2003, the settlement agreement was amended to increase operations, but focused on increases only for aircraft meeting the lowest noise signatures.

Access and noise reports are published by the airport and are available to the public. These reports are generated on a regular basis and outline curfew exceptions per carrier and overall noise impact.[52]

John Wayne Airport has been rated as one of the nation's scariest airports. In order to compensate for a short runway, and to comply with local noise restrictions, pilots frequently take off at an angle of 20 to 25 degrees, compared to 10 to 15 degrees at other airports.[53]

John Wayne Airport covers 504 acres (2.04 km²).[1] The airport has multiple general aviation facilities, an airline concourse building split into three terminal areas, and 2 paved runways.

The shorter runway 20L at SNA, circa 2014

• Runway 2L/20R: 5,701 by 150 feet (1,738 m × 46 m), used by commercial aircraft and general aviation serving most incoming and departing traffic to the west of the airport. This runway is ILS equipped.
• Runway 2R/20L: 2,887 by 75 feet (880 m × 23 m), used by smaller general aviation aircraft and light aircraft.

Private jets on the apron at John Wayne Airport at Atlantic Aviation

The airport is the home base for approximately 450 general aviation aircraft.[66][67]
The General Aviation Master Plan adopted in the early 1990s limits John Wayne Airport to two FBOs (fixed-base operator). Effective January 1, 2021, these two fixed-base operators are Clay Lacy Aviation and ACI Jet. [68] In addition to supporting fuel sales and other aircraft services, these companies lease facilities to flight training, charter, and aircraft maintenance businesses.

• FBOs:

  ACI Jet

  Clay Lacy Aviation[69]

• Airport businesses

  Clay Lacy Aviation[70]

  Martin Aviation Aircraft Maintenance

  HeliStream

  OC Helicopters

  Orange County Flight Center

  Regency Air

  Sunrise Aviation

  Western Avionics

On February 17, 1981, Air California (AirCal) Flight 336 (a Boeing 737-200), with 105 passengers and five crew members, was flying from San Jose, to John Wayne Airport and crashed upon initiating a go-around. The crew was cleared for a visual approach to Runway 19R while the controller had cleared a smaller plane to take off from 19R. Upon realizing that the landing aircraft might overtake the departing one, the controller ordered the flight to go around and the other aircraft to abort its takeoff, which it did. The captain of the landing Air California aircraft delayed the go-around then initiated a gear up procedure before a positive rate of climb was achieved, causing the plane to stall. The 737 then banked left at low altitude causing the left wingtip to make contact with the runway. Then the nose came down, striking the ground, and the airplane spun around and skidded down the runway before coming to rest in the margin. A fire started, but the passengers and crew exited the plane. Of the passengers, four sustained serious injuries, and 29 suffered minor injuries. The aircraft, registered N468AC, was damaged beyond repair and was written off.[76]

On December 15, 1993, a chartered IAI Westwind business jet carrying two flightcrew members and three passengers (including Rich Snyder, president of In-N-Out Burger), crashed while on approach to John Wayne Airport. All five occupants were killed in the crash. The aircraft, which departed Brackett Field, 30 miles to the north in La Verne, followed a Boeing 757 for landing, became caught in the 757's wake turbulence, rolled into a deep descent, and crashed near the intersection of State Route 55 and Edinger Avenue. The crash investigation led to the FAA requirement for an adequate period between heavy aircraft and following light aircraft to allow wake turbulence to diminish.[77]

On February 13, 2017, Harrison Ford accidentally landed his Aviat Husky on taxiway C, to the left of runway 20L. A Boeing 737 was holding short of 20L on the taxiway when Ford overflew them.[78]

On June 30, 2017, a Cessna 310 twin-engine aircraft crashed short of a runway into a highway median on Interstate 405. The pilot made a mayday call shortly after taking off from John Wayne Airport and attempted to land after being cleared for emergency landing on runway 20R. Two people on board were injured in the crash.[79]

On August 5, 2018, a Cessna 414 scheduled to land at John Wayne Airport crashed into a Staples parking lot a few blocks north of the airport in nearby Santa Ana, killing at least five people.[80][81]

On January 26, 2020, a Sikorsky S-76B helicopter took off from John Wayne Airport at approximately 9:06 am PST carrying retired NBA basketball player Kobe Bryant along with his 13 year old daughter, and 7 others bound for Camarillo Airport for a basketball event in Thousand Oaks. En route, the helicopter crashed into a hillside in Calabasas south of U.S. Route 101, killing everyone onboard. The helicopter had been seen in distress under heavy fog, according to witnesses. The cause of the crash is currently under investigation.[82][83]

Orange County Sheriff's Department

John Wayne Airport has been the main base for the Orange County Sheriff's Department since 1985 when the county's board of supervisors approved the purchase of two Hughes MD500E aircraft nicknamed "Duke I" and "Duke II" which is the famous nickname of the airport's namesake. It was decided to be more practical to have two deputies operate the helicopter rather than a deputy and a civilian. In 1998 the OC Sheriff's Department traded up for a new helicopter, the McDonnell Douglas MD600N. At this time the OCSD became the first law enforcement agency to operate the MD600N. These helicopters were faster, quieter, and safer.

Today the ASU, or Air Support Unit operates of fleet of American Eurocopters AS350B2 or "ASTAR" for short. The first arrived in March 2005 and the second in March 2006. More recently the department purchased a Bell UH-1 Huey for purposes of SAR, or search and rescue.[84]

Costa Mesa Police Department

The Costa Mesa Police Department operated an ASU out of John Wayne Airport for 41 years. The division was called "ABLE" for Airborne Law Enforcement. They finished servicing their community in 2012 with the last helicopter platform being three Eurocopter EC-120 "Eagles".

Lyon Air Museum, founded by Major General William Lyon in 2009, is located in a hangar on the west side of the airport. It focuses particularly on World War II military aircraft and vehicles. The museum hosts the Collings Foundation, an annual flight experience program, every spring, allowing the public the opportunity to fly in a historic Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress or Consolidated B-24 Liberator.[85] The air museum features a rotating selection of antique cars from General Lyon's personal collection every year for a limited time. Past features include a collection of the General's Duesenbergs and Packard collections.

The area around John Wayne Airport has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate (Csb) characteristic of coastal Southern California.

• California World War II Army Airfields
• Santa Ana Drags

Media related to John Wayne Airport at Wikimedia Commons

• Official John Wayne Airport website
  • John Wayne Airport terminal maps — layout
  • John Wayne Airport improvement program
  • John Wayne Airport settlement agreement
• Orange County Sheriff's Department John Wayne Airport Police Services
• Aerial image as of March 2004 from USGS The National Map
• FAA Airport Diagram (PDF), effective January 28, 2021
• FAA Terminal Procedures for SNA, effective January 28, 2021

• Resources for this airport:
  • AirNav airport information for KSNA
  • ASN accident history for SNA
  • FlightAware airport information and live flight tracker
  • NOAA/NWS weather observations: current, past three days
  • SkyVector aeronautical chart for KSNA
  • FAA current SNA delay information