Whiteman Airport | |||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||
| Operator | Los Angeles County | ||||||||||
| Serves | Greater Los Angeles | ||||||||||
| Location | Pacoima | ||||||||||
| Opened | 1946; 80 years ago (1946) | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 305.7 m / 1,003 ft | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 34°15′33.57″N118°24′48.35″W / 34.2593250°N 118.4134306°W /34.2593250; -118.4134306 | ||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||
  WHP Location within Los Angeles/San Fernando Valley Show map of San Fernando Valley WHP WHP (the Los Angeles metropolitan area) Show map of the Los Angeles metropolitan area WHP WHP (California) Show map of California | |||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||
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Whiteman Airport (IATA:WHP,ICAO:KWHP,FAALID:WHP) is ageneral aviation airport in the northeasternSan Fernando Valley community ofPacoima, in the city ofLos Angeles,California,United States.
The airport was founded asWhiteman Air Park in 1946 on a farm by pilot Marvin Whiteman Sr. as a non-tower controlled, private airport. Later, Whiteman Manufacturing Co. was built on the airport's west side. In 1970, the airport was purchased by theCounty of Los Angeles. During the 1980s, the name was changed to "Whiteman Airport", but it is still commonly referred to as "Whiteman Airpark" by old-time local pilots.[1]
The airport is open to general aviation aircraft 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is home to over 600 aircraft, and numerous aviation-related businesses.[2][3] The airport can handle small aircraft as well as medium turboprops and jets, although little jet traffic is seen on its rather narrow runway. The control tower is operated bySerco (not theFAA) and is in operation daily. The single runway hasrunway end identifier lights (REILs),pilot controlled medium-intensity runway lighting (MIRLs) and aprecision approach path indicator (PAPI). Full- and self-service fuel is available around the clock. The airport has an automated weather observing system (AWOS) with data available continuously by radio and telephone.[3]
TheLos Angeles County Fire Department Air Operations unit is based at Barton Heliport (KPAI),[4] adjacent to the southeast of this airport.[5]
Whiteman Airport hosts two flight training programs: Vista Air Inc., a privately ownedPart 61 flight school, andGlendale Community College’sPart 141 aviation program. Both institutions provide comprehensive instruction, including ground school, real-time flight training, and simulated flight exercises inCessna aircraft. Student pilots can obtain theirPrivate Pilot License (PPL),Instrument Rating (IR), andCommercial Pilot License (CPL) through these programs. Unfortunately, since the airport does not have anInstrument Landing System (ILS),Van Nuys Airport andHollywood Burbank Airport are alternative practice areas for these procedures.
The airport is home to Senior Squadron 35, Cadet Squadron 137, and Los Angeles County Group 1[6] of theCivil Air Patrol, as well asEAA Chapter 40 and a branch of theYoung Eagles. The mission of the EAA Young Eagles Program is to provide a meaningful flight experience – free of charge – in a general aviation aircraft for young people (primarily between the ages of 8 and 17). Flights are provided by EAA members at Whiteman Airport and worldwide.
Safety concerns due to airplane crashes, along with noise pollution concerns due to the widespread use oflead inavgas have led some nearby residents and local politicians to make repeated calls for the facility's closure.[7] As a result, theLos Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a plan to look at what would be necessary to close the airport, and RepresentativeTony Cárdenas requested a comprehensive safety review.[8]
Los Angeles councilwoman Monica Rodriguez, Council District 7, joins 501(c)(3) Pacoima Beautiful in seeking Whiteman's closure. No plans or disclosures have been released specifying which entities, public or for-profit, might acquire the land and facilities if closed, nor to what use they might be put.[9]
Other groups, such theSunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council, are opposed to closing the airport, citing the many benefits it provides to the community including jobs, youth and outreach programs, and multiple public safety and emergency services based at the airport.[10]
Although there have never been any injuries to people on the ground, there have been multiple incidents involving aircraft based at Whiteman Airport.[11][12]
