For those of you who have planespotted, or drive to the airport, you know that the intersection of Laurel and Pacific Highway takes you as close to the departure threshold as you can get at any major airport:



From the ground:



What amazes me is that, from this vantage point, you can barely hear the engines at takeoff thrust. How on Earth is it so quiet, so close to the aircraft? Does it have to do with those blast deflectors on the fence (if that's what they're called..)?

I don't think think it's quiet because of the blast deflectors, because those only deflect thrust, not noise. I'm guessing it's because they do a turn 'n burn after rolling past the displaced threshold, to avoid this specific problem. That said, there are airports where you can get even closer to the threshold with no blast deflectors and those are loud. I once walked behind Runway 30 at ISB on a small road during a 777 departure and that is to date the stupidest thing I have ever done in my life. I was under the impression that they were going to backtaxi to the threshold and then takeoff, but they went all the way and then gunned it at what felt like max thrust, like a Pakistani SXM. Be happy you have that blast deflector at SAN

Blast wall will deaden quite a bit of noise. Just like the walls along interstate highways deaden the noise from traffic.

And the buildings across Laurel that are now Solar Gas Turbines are the original home of the Spirit of St. Louis!

jimatkins wrote:

And the buildings across Laurel that are now Solar Gas Turbines are the original home of the Spirit of St. Louis!

Yes they are! In fact, there's a little marker I ran into indicating where the trip started.

KTPAFlyer wrote:

I'm guessing it's because they do a turn 'n burn after rolling past the displaced threshold, to avoid this specific problem.

As a Native San Diegan, I can attest that, on most of my flights: There was no more gradual of a thrust increase than any other airport. Maybe it's a geography/topography thing. I really don't know. I even remember when that old 727 Cargo plane departed from SAN, back in the day: I barely heard the engines from that vantage point. I certainly heard them watching it climb, however.

Whomever designed that fence behind that runway must've been a acoustics-engineering genius. It truly mitigates the noise incredibly well. How? I have no idea. Other airports at which I've been in similar spotting locations even with the thrust deflectors: Departing aircraft have always made more noise.

I'd venture a guess that the jet noise is often masked by the road noise.

All I know is that I am bummed that the airport erected those defection walls. Years ago, the deflection structures only protected the area directly behind the runway, leaving the rest open. Before 630am each Saturday morning when in law school, I hopped on my bike, with a thermos of coffee strapped to the back, and rode out to the end of the runway. I situated myself in the parking lot to the west (left of the runway) and sat on a parking stump with a clear view of the taxi and runway beyond. All the aircraft lined up awaiting the release of curfew and then, with a rumble and roar, each plane lumbered past me and positioned itself onto the runway. AA 767, DL 757 and so many more. I noted each aircraft as I sipped my coffee and many of the co-pilots waved at me as I raised my thermos cup in salutation. By 730am the initial crowd of planes had departed and I rode back to my hovel and opened my books.

Spending time at the end of KSAN's runway was a beautiful diversion. I still live within sight of the airport and often stop to watch a plane hurtling into the afternoon sky.

I agree with FlyHossD. PCH is busy. I5 is busier and 2 blocks away. That noise probably masks the jet noise.

JAAlbert wrote:

Spending time at the end of KSAN's runway was a beautiful diversion. I still live within sight of the airport and often stop to watch a plane hurtling into the afternoon sky.

..or in my case, driving down the 5 South and looking right now the runway. I've had some near misses with cars as a result. To this day, I can't help but look down the runway every time. When I'm with my girlfriend, she's nice enough to hold the wheel during that stretch of the freeway

Urban legend is that a Convair built B-36 was revving up at the end of the runway before the deflector was built and toppled an automobile.

There is no procedural difference departing SAN.

Coronado990 wrote:

Urban legend is that a Convair built B-36 was revving up at the end of the runway before the deflector was built and toppled an automobile.

Several years ago a business jet blew out the large windows of the restaurant that was situated near the Jimsair building. The Union-Tribune posted an interesting article summarizing the incident and the shock of the diners as the windows shattered and blew the patrons across the room.

rjsampson wrote:

...or in my case, driving down the 5 South and looking right now the runway. I've had some near misses with cars as a result. To this day, I can't help but look down the runway every time. When I'm with my girlfriend, she's nice enough to hold the wheel during that stretch of the freeway

Now that's an understanding girlfriend! For an airport and airline geek, SAN is a great airport. Lots of interesting vantage points (Radisson Hotel downtown, Laurel Street - top of the hill, I-5, Marston Point, Balboa Park, Solar Turbine parking lots, Liberty Station Park across the canal from the west end of the runway, etc, etc ...) and those planes hugging the hills on final approach - just breathtaking.

The blast walls probably redirect most of the sound waves up over the parking lot/intersection.

You'd be surprised how much sound can be blocked by objects between yourself and the source of the noise, for instance at work after an aircraft has pushed back from the gate, when a catering truck or fuel truck drives in front of the airplane, there is a very noticeable decrease in the amount of sound you hear, once the truck passes by it is back to full volume.

JAAlbert wrote:

rjsampson wrote:

...or in my case, driving down the 5 South and looking right now the runway. I've had some near misses with cars as a result. To this day, I can't help but look down the runway every time. When I'm with my girlfriend, she's nice enough to hold the wheel during that stretch of the freeway

Now that's an understanding girlfriend! For an airport and airline geek, SAN is a great airport. Lots of interesting vantage points (Radisson Hotel downtown, Laurel Street - top of the hill, I-5, Marston Point, Balboa Park, Solar Turbine parking lots, Liberty Station Park across the canal from the west end of the runway, etc, etc ...) and those planes hugging the hills on final approach - just breathtaking.

I couldn't agree more. Just last night I was having dinner at a spot in Little Italy downtown, watching every aircraft land at, literally 100 feet above me (and I know as I've made the approach with a GPWS).

With its heavy, consistent traffic on a SINGLE runway, beautiful surroundings, and planes hugging the hills: I would consider SAN to be the best planespotting airport in the world...

That is, if 80% of the traffic wasn't boring old 737s! The occasional BA 747, 787, and Charter (whatever it is), is truly a site to behold at SAN.

rjsampson wrote:

With its heavy, consistent traffic on a SINGLE runway, beautiful surroundings, and planes hugging the hills: I would consider SAN to be the best planespotting airport in the world...

That is, if 80% of the traffic wasn't boring old 737s! The occasional BA 747, 787, and Charter (whatever it is), is truly a site to behold at SAN.

My thoughts exactly! SAN is an amazing airport, but those 737s (and 320s) are a major yawn fest. Hopefully, we'll be getting some more interesting - and bigger - aircraft soon as the 787s and 350s become more common. Plus, my understanding is that Edelweiss Airline will be flying a 340 in and out of SAN this summer. I don't think we've ever seen a 340 at SAN.

JAAlbert wrote:

rjsampson wrote:

With its heavy, consistent traffic on a SINGLE runway, beautiful surroundings, and planes hugging the hills: I would consider SAN to be the best planespotting airport in the world...

That is, if 80% of the traffic wasn't boring old 737s! The occasional BA 747, 787, and Charter (whatever it is), is truly a site to behold at SAN.

My thoughts exactly! SAN is an amazing airport, but those 737s (and 320s) are a major yawn fest. Hopefully, we'll be getting some more interesting - and bigger - aircraft soon as the 787s and 350s become more common. Plus, my understanding is that Edelweiss Airline will be flying a 340 in and out of SAN this summer. I don't think we've ever seen a 340 at SAN.

An A340 at SAN?? You have to be kidding me. They will have to excavate the Point Loma peninsula west of Runway 27 for that aircraft to climb with a profitable fuel load.

I would wonder if Santa Ana winds would prohibit departures Runway 9 (only 8,400 feet, a major interstate, big ol' hill to clear).

I'm (mostly) joking of course. But a 340 on SAN's fat little runway? I'll believe when I see it.

But I hope I get to see it!