B737-800
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Other / Unknown
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Ground Conflict; Less Severe
Flight Crew Executed Go Around / Missed Approach
Procedure
At approximately 1;700 AGL on final approach; fully configured; tower cleared another aircraft to line up and wait on our landing runway; following traffic ahead of us on the approach. The departing aircraft received his takeoff clearance as we were around 1;500 AGL; but delayed his takeoff roll. Tower instructed that aircraft to get moving due to traffic on short final. At about 800 AGL; that traffic had still not begun to roll. At about 700 AGL; I elected to go around.I have had this happen at this airport too many times lately; and have had voice conversations with the tower; and submitted ASAP reports on prior occurrences. The worst case I saw was that the preceding traffic finally rotated as we were about 200 AGL; and the jet blast over the runway was unacceptable. I have decided that if the departing aircraft is not off the ground by the time we are at 700 AGL; I will go around. I have also been the aircraft waiting to depart when I was cleared ahead of traffic on short final and refused that clearance; so as not to jam the arriving aircraft in a similar way.I have a file and pictures that I would like to forward to the tower supervisor regarding an accident that occurred at this airport in 1981 that started with exactly this scenario; to remind them of eventual possible consequences of clearing and aircraft to depart ahead of another on short final.If the arriving aircraft is inside of LEMON and/or below about 2;000 AGL; the tower should hold departing aircraft instead of trying to rush them out.
A B737-800 Captain reported going around at SNA after the tower cleared an aircraft for takeoff in front of them; with what the reporter felt was insufficient spacing.