SAN Departure Pattern
 

Driving home from work last night around 7pm I noticed a plane departing SAN to the east over the city rather than the normal west take-off pattern to go over the ocean prior to turning around to head east. I had to do a double take because I had never seen it before. Does this happen often?

It was likely due to the fog that hit downtown early last evening. I frequently fly back into SAN in the evening, and around 1:50 flights we land from the west. This almost always occurs in low visibility situations, but I suppose it could be due to heavy Santa Ana's occasionally.

I figured that was the case, but I just hadn't seen it before.

The reason is they can do an ILS approach (CAT1) to runway 9. So, they will sometimes land and takeoff to the east when it gets foggy, although sometimes the airport just gets shut down completely. Once in the early AM, I saw an aircraft land to the east, while aircraft were lined up to take off heading west. Runway 27 (to the west) is a visual approach, and I don't think there will ever be an ILS approach because there are too many vertical obstructions in proximity of the approach path.

Personally, in the course of probably 50 arrivals and 50 departures from SAN, I have always arrived and departed to the west, but I have seen reverse operations before.

I was most surprised to find out that wikipedia has good information on the approach patterns and such for SAN. Might be worth a look if you're interested.