Planes flying out opposite direction
 

out of curiosity, why do planes fly out the opposite direction at D
SNA? instead of flying out over the ocean they take off going immediately eastbound

During Santa Ana wind conditions, the traffic flow is reversed from normally departing towards the ocean. BTW, runways at SNA are oriented north-south so the unusual departures would be to the north.

planes fly best when taking off and landing into the wind. The wind normally comes eastward off the ocean at SNA, except in Santa Ana conditions (like today) when the wind comes out of the east from the desert.

The only aborted landing I had at SNA was during Santa Ana conditions. Very windy and the 757 was all over the place. Rear wheels hit hard, then full power and wheels up for a go around. Good thing the pilot pulled it up as we touched down more than halfway down the runway, and she would have been on the 405 by the time the plane stopped.

I have had two aborted landings at SNA, and one was from the Santa Anas. Part of the problem with SNA is also that the runway is shorter than usual...but it's never as fun as landing at HOU, where they have to brake so hard your eyeballs want to leave their sockets!