California’s John Wayne Airport has been branded America’s scariest

A small airport in the middle of some of America’s most affluent communities is branded as one of the scariest airports in the world due to shortened runways and steep takeoffs to comply with local noise regulations.

John Wayne Airport (SNA), in scenic Southern California, is known worldwide for its fast-paced departures and boasts one of the world’s fastest takeoffs, with planes taking off at an angle of 25 degrees compared to the usual 10 degrees.

These rapid climbs provide a reverse roller coaster ride on every descent, but also serve to reduce Noise pollution in Highbrow hubs like Newport Beach, Irvine and Costa Mesa.

A particularly short runway – measuring 5,700 feet as opposed to the usual 13,000 feet – is likely to further fuel driver fears, forcing departing planes to climb almost immediately after takeoff in a particularly aggressive affair.

So from the start, SNA flights are fast, noisy and sudden – hence their dubious reputation.

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Known worldwide for its fast-paced departures, John Wayne Airport (SNA) in scenic Southern California boasts one of the fastest take-offs in the world, with aircraft taking off at an angle of 25 degrees compared to the usual 10 degrees to comply with local noise regulations

These rapid climbs make for a reverse rollercoaster ride on every departure, but also serve to reduce noise pollution in sophisticated hubs like Newport Beach, Irvine, and Costa Mesa

On its official website, SNA – which was named after the late Duke shortly after his death in 1979 – boasts about the tightened noise regulations responsible for every scare, stating that the airfield is surrounded by several residential communities.

“In order to reduce potential noise impacts from flight operations, [SNA] complies with some of the strictest noise regulations in the United States,” the operators explain.

The result is a nervous aviator’s worst nightmare, with planes sounding louder than usual on takeoff as they desperately try to soar over the affluent neighborhoods rather than roar directly overhead.

The steep takeoff slope was also implemented to meet this not-so-reasonable standard – requiring the planes to climb noticeably faster than usual.

As if that wasn’t unreasonable enough, back in 2013 the FAA was considering a proposal that would have seen launches cause even more stomach upset — a wayward route proposed by Newport Beach residents that would take planes across the ocean rather than the ritzy communities .

Luckily for travelers with a faint stomach, this plan was rejected as the complicated “S-turn” maneuver is usually reserved for airports that pose actual hazards such as mountains or nearby cliffs.

However, the government agency tasked with enforcing safety regulations at more than 20,000 private and public American airports actually considered the proposal, likely due to the wealth and power of those who broadcast it.

The airport, which receives quite a number of private planes daily, was named after the late western actor shortly after his death in 1979