The County of Orange approved the JWA Improvement Program to accommodate six additional gates in an extension to the main terminal building. Two new parking structures and other updates are also planned. The southern side of Terminal B will be expanded, the existing parking garage B1 will be demolished and replaced with a smaller B1 lot at a later date and a new C1 lot. Essentially the space taken by the B1 lot will be the location of the terminal expansion.
Due to more regional jet activity an interim ground level facility was built on the north and on the south side of the terminal. These interim facilities accommodates 2 gate areas each and are used by regional jet and regular commercial aircraft via air stair boarding. Both facilities are accessed from the outside doorway one level below at each end of the terminal. The buildings are pre-fab and meant to be replaced with permanent facilities once the airport expansion is complete.
The improvement program has started early construction. The existing RON (Remain Over Night) location for commercial aircraft will be removed and will be used for temporary parking. This will allow for the demolition of the B1 parking garage. The improvements are part of a multi-year program that is to be completed in stages allowing for continual operation and minimal disruption to the airport.
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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 two terminal areas, A and B, with temporary satellite buildings serving commuter flights. The Southern side of terminal B will be expanded to allow for six more bridged aircraft gates. Once complete the temporary satellite buildings will be removed and more permanent facilities for commuter flights will be in place. The improvements are allowed under amendments added in 2003 to the 1985 settlement agreement with the local community.
Terminal A and B are both within the same Thomas F. Riley building and security screened passengers can move between both terminal areas. Security screening lanes exist in both terminal areas right next to check in. Both security screening areas also have a "Fast Track" lane for first class and elite frequent fliers.
Both Terminal A and B host eateries, bars and shops, with a theme restaurant between the airside connecting area of both terminals. In the upper rotunda above the theme restaurant is an American Airlines Admirals Club (Terminal A) and a United Airlines Red Carpet Club (Terminal B).
Four baggage claim belts are in the arrivals area, 2 on the terminal A side and 2 on the terminal B side. Immediately outside the baggage claim is the curbside arrivals pickup area. Rental car offices are in between both baggage claim areas with most rental agencies onsite in the lower levels of the parking facility across the arrivals pickup area. Across the roadway from the arrivals pickup area is an island for public transportation including taxis, buses and the Disneyland Resort Express.
John Wayne Airport (IATA: SNA, ICAO: KSNA, FAA LID: SNA) is an airport in unincorporated Orange County, California, with its mailing address in Santa Ana, hence the IATA code. Other nearby cities include Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, and Irvine. Originally named Orange County Airport, the county Board of Supervisors renamed it in 1979 to honor the actor John Wayne, who resided in nearby Newport Beach and died that year.
The main runway, at 5,701 feet (1,738 m), is one of the shortest of any major airport in the United States, resulting in most passenger aircraft operating from the airport to be no larger than the Boeing 757. However, some larger cargo aircraft, such as the FedEx A310/300, fly from SNA. Some gates are built to handle planes up to the size of a Boeing 767, which can operate with payload/fuel load restrictions. No widebody passenger aircraft are currently in scheduled service to the airport. Carriers operating from the airport must compensate for the very short runway by either limiting range, lowering fuel weight, or imposing aircraft weight restrictions as needed.[citation needed]
John Wayne Airport is the sole commercial airport within Orange County. Even with the presence of commercial airline operations, general aviation use is significant. General aviation operations outnumber commercial operations and several facilities at the airport serve the general aviation and corporate aviation community. The other general aviation airport within the county is Fullerton Municipal Airport. Other commercial airports within close proximity are Long Beach Airport, followed by Los Angeles International Airport and LA/Ontario International Airport.[citation needed]
The most prominent airlines at John Wayne Airport are Southwest Airlines (23.3%), American Airlines (14.4%), and United Airlines (12.8%).[citation needed]
John Wayne Airport is 14 miles (23 km) from Orange County's signature attraction - the Disneyland Resort. By contrast, Los Angeles International Airport is 35 miles (56 km) from Disneyland.[citation needed]
A statue of the airport's namesake welcomes passengers passing through the arrivals area on the lower level
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 after Eddie Martin.
In 1990, the Thomas F. Riley Terminal opened to the public. 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 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 2004 Chris Norby, a member 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.
On March 31, 2008 Aloha Airlines, who began air service to the Hawaiian Islands in 2001, ended all of its passenger operations. This has left a void in air service to Hawaii, a popular tourist destination for Southern California residents, nonstop from SNA. In addition to the Hawaiian Islands, Aloha Airlines served Reno and Sacramento from SNA.
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 (19R/1L), coupled with the local noise restrictions, can require a takeoff at or near full power. Some aircraft operating from the airport may cycle to full power while holding at the runway then release the brakes when engines are fully spooled up. On operations from runway 19R a steep climb may also be required to allow for a power reduction at about 500-700 feet AGL for quieter overflight over the city of Newport Beach. For 19R 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 1L (normally during Santa Ana wind conditions) are not affected by these noise abatement procedures. Landings almost always include the use of reverse thrust.
The County prohibits commercial departures between 22:00 and 07:00 (08:00 on Sundays) and commercial arrivals between 23:00 and 07:00 (08:00 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 focus 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.
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 two terminal areas, A and B, with temporary satellite buildings serving commuter flights. The Southern side of terminal B will be expanded to allow for six more bridged aircraft gates. Once complete the temporary satellite buildings will be removed and more permanent facilities for commuter flights will be in place. The improvements are allowed under amendments added in 2003 to the 1985 settlement agreement with the local community.
Terminal A and B are both within the same Thomas F. Riley building and security screened passengers can move between both terminal areas. Security screening lanes exist in both terminal areas right next to check in. Both security screening areas also have a "Fast Track" lane for first class and elite frequent fliers.
Both Terminal A and B host eateries, bars and shops, with a theme restaurant between the airside connecting area of both terminals. In the upper rotunda above the theme restaurant is an American Airlines Admirals Club (Terminal A) and a United Airlines Red Carpet Club (Terminal B).
Four baggage claim belts are in the arrivals area, 2 on the terminal A side and 2 on the terminal B side. Immediately outside the baggage claim is the curbside arrivals pickup area. Rental car offices are in between both baggage claim areas with most rental agencies onsite in the lower levels of the parking facility across the arrivals pickup area. Across the roadway from the arrivals pickup area is an island for public transportation including taxis, buses and the Disneyland Resort Express.
The County of Orange approved the JWA Improvement Program to accommodate six additional gates in an extension to the main terminal building. Two new parking structures and other updates are also planned. The southern side of Terminal B will be expanded, the existing parking garage B1 will be demolished and replaced with a smaller B1 lot at a later date and a new C1 lot. Essentially the space taken by the B1 lot will be the location of the terminal expansion.
Due to more regional jet activity an interim ground level facility was built on the north and on the south side of the terminal. These interim facilities accommodates 2 gate areas each and are used by regional jet and regular commercial aircraft via air stair boarding. Both facilities are accessed from the outside doorway one level below at each end of the terminal. The buildings are pre-fab and meant to be replaced with permanent facilities once the airport expansion is complete.
The improvement program has started early construction. The existing RON (Remain Over Night) location for commercial aircraft will be removed and will be used for temporary parking. This will allow for the demolition of the B1 parking garage. The improvements are part of a multi-year program that is to be completed in stages allowing for continual operation and minimal disruption to the airport.
On February 17, 1981, Air California (AirCal) flight 336 (a Boeing 737-200), flying from San Jose, California to John Wayne Airport, crashed upon initiating a go around. The crew was cleared for a visual approach to Runway 19R while the controller had cleared another flight to take-off from 19R. The controller upon realizing the mistake ordered Air California 336 to go-around and the other aircraft to abort its take-off which it did. The Captain of the landing Air California aircraft delayed the go-around then selected the gear up before a positive rate of climb was achieved. The 737 with the gear up skidded down the runway before coming to rest. A fire started, 4 passengers sustained minor injuries, 91 other passengers and 5 crew exited without incident. The aircraft N468AC was damaged beyond repair and was written off. [6]
On December 15, 1993, a chartered IAI Westwind business jet carrying 5 passengers (including Rich Snyder, president of In-N-Out Burger) crashed while on approach to John Wayne Airport. The aircraft, which departed Brackett Field, thirty miles to the north, followed a Boeing 757 for landing, became caught in its 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.
The Colombian airport scenes in the film Clear and Present Danger were filmed at John Wayne Airport. The signs shown were simply translated into Spanish, but the styling of the signs is the same as used in the airport today. Some scenes from Jerry Maguire were filmed in the airport terminal building. Some introductory scenes of skateboarding movie Gleaming the Cube were filmed before major renovation work on the terminal. Some scenes from 8 Heads in aDuffel Bag starring Joe Pesci were filmed in the baggage claim area. The airport was portrayed as San Diego International Airport. The scene in The Insider where Jeffrey Wigand gets out of a car at the airport and is subsequently served with a subpoena inside an airport was filmed at John Wayne Airport. The airport was portrayed as somewhere in the midwest.
