One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Southern California Has 3 of the Nation's "Scariest" Airports
Which take-offs and and landings give you white knuckles as you clutch the arm rest (or the poor stranger next to you)?
The blog for Airfare Watchdog came up with an unranked list of the 10 scariest airports to take off or land on in the United States. It adds one caveat: "These days, flying is one of the safest ways to get from point A to point B." Three airports on the list are in Southern California.
John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana made the list because of its strict noise reduction requirements. That means that during takeoff pilots have to ascend and full throttle and then suddenly cut back their engines. That explains why takeoff from John Wayne has been compared to a space shuttle liftoff.
San Diego International Airport is scary because of its location. It's near downtown, surrounded by mountains to the north and east, and there's Mexican airspace to contend with to the south. The site says tailwinds blowing in from the west "force nose-to-nose takeoffs and landings."
The Catalina Airport to the north of Avalon is scary for a couple of reasons. Its runway is short (and as you can see in the picture above, there isn't much room for error). Pilots can also expect to brave downdrafts and turbulence as they land. Heavy rains means the runway is full of potholes, loose asphalt and soft softs. (On the bright side, hikers can take in beautiful views at the "Airport in the Sky" once they land.)
The seven others airports that round out the scary list are Aspen/Pitkin County Airport in Aspen; Midway International Airport in Chicago; Sitka Rocky Gutierrez Airport in Sitka, Alaska; Yeager Airport in Charleston, West Virginia; LaGuardia Airport in New York; and Telluride Regional Airport in Teulluride, Colorado.
Any others?
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
