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By Soo Kim
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An airport in the Greater Los Angeles area is one of the most tightly controlled and challenging airports to fly out of because of its strict noise regulations, a former pilot has said.
Dan Bubb, a former airline pilot and a historian and professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, spoke with Newsweek about John Wayne Airport's unique procedures, which present dangers that go beyond typical weather-related challenges.
"One of the more dangerous airports to fly in and out of is in Santa Ana, Orange County—John Wayne Airport," Bubb said. "This is not so much due to weather, but noise abatement procedures."
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Locals Push for Noise Control
Located in a densely populated area of Orange County and surrounded by affluent residential areas such as Newport Beach, the airport enforces some of the strictest noise rules in the United States.
The regulations are part of a 1985 noise-limitation agreement between the county and Newport Beach, which caps passenger and traffic levels at the airport and imposes unusually steep takeoffs in a bid to minimize noise.
Residents of Newport Beach have historically lobbied for strict regulations to maintain peace and quiet in their community. As reported by the Los Angeles Times in August 2013, locals have long sought measures to limit flight noise, resulting in policies that make John Wayne Airport one of the most highly controlled in the nation.
Challenging Takeoff Conditions
According to Bubb, these noise reduction procedures create operational risks for pilots. "Before pilots rotate the airplane off of the runway, they must first hold the brakes and apply full power. Once they reach a certain altitude, they must pull the power back to minimize engine noise," he said.
This process, while effective in reducing noise, puts the plane into what is called a "dirty configuration," where flaps and landing gear are still deployed. "If the airplane gets too slow in this configuration, it could stall, which means it no longer achieves lift, and gravity begins to pull it to the ground," Bubb said. He added that pilots face additional pressure to strictly adhere to these rules because airlines can be fined for noise violations.
The airport's main runway measures about 5,700 feet, according to the Federal Aviation Administration's website. The runway is significantly shorter than the average commercial runway length, San Francisco's SFGate reported in March 2023.
As a result, planes departing from the airport must climb at a steep angle of up to 25 degrees—about 10 degrees steeper than normal—to quickly gain altitude before reducing engine power, the Times said in its 2013 report.
This maneuver ensures that aircraft glide over the multimillion-dollar homes in Newport Beach without generating excessive noise, but it also increases the complexity of takeoffs.
The airport itself acknowledges these challenges on its website: "John Wayne Airport (SNA) is one of the most noise sensitive airports in the United States. The airport is located in the center of Orange County, California, surrounded by several residential communities. To mitigate potential noise impacts from aircraft operations, the airport maintains some of the most stringent noise rules in the United States."
The county's General Aviation Noise Ordinance regulates operational hours and maximum permitted noise levels for general aviation flights, with exceptions allowed only for safety emergencies or air traffic control instructions, the airport added.
Pilot Preparedness
Despite these challenges, Bubb emphasized that all pilots flying in and out of John Wayne Airport and other airports are expected to be fully prepared for all conditions.
"In general though, the FARs (Federal Aviation Regulations) stipulate that all pilots—not only airline pilots—must be fully knowledgeable about the airports they fly in and out of, which includes getting a weather briefing," he said.
While John Wayne Airport poses unique challenges due to its noise abatement procedures, Bubb noted that airports such as Denver International Airport—which Turbli, a turbulence forecast tool, ranked among the top 10 most turbulent airports in 2024—also present significant difficulties, though for different reasons.
Denver's location near the Rocky Mountains makes it prone to turbulent updrafts, downdrafts and harsh weather conditions, which pilots must anticipate and prepare for, Bubb said.
Alaska's Ketchikan International Airport is known for its strong crosswinds and relatively short runway. Bubb said pilots flying there must undergo additional training and receive a special endorsement from an instructor.
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