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Whiteman Airport

Coordinates: 34°15′33.57″N 118°24′48.35″W / 34.2593250°N 118.4134306°W / 34.2593250; -118.4134306
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Whiteman Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
OperatorLos Angeles County
ServesGreater Los Angeles
LocationPacoima
Opened1946; 78 years ago (1946)
Elevation AMSL305.7 m / 1,003 ft
Coordinates34°15′33.57″N 118°24′48.35″W / 34.2593250°N 118.4134306°W / 34.2593250; -118.4134306
Map
WHP is located in San Fernando Valley
WHP
WHP
Location within Los Angeles/San Fernando Valley
WHP is located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area
WHP
WHP
WHP (the Los Angeles metropolitan area)
WHP is located in California
WHP
WHP
WHP (California)
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
12/30 1,256 4,120 Asphalt

Whiteman Airport (IATA: WHP, ICAO: KWHP, FAA LID: WHP) is a general aviation airport in the northeastern San Fernando Valley community of Pacoima, in the city of Los Angeles, California, United States.

The airport was founded as Whiteman 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 the County 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 by Serco (not the FAA) and is in operation daily. The single runway has runway end identifier lights (REILs), pilot controlled medium-intensity runway lighting (MIRLs) and a precision 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]

Runway

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Whiteman Airport (2021)
  • Runway 12/30: 4,120 x 75 ft (1,256 x 23 m), surface: asphalt

Barton Heliport of the LACoFD

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The Los Angeles County Fire Department Air Operations unit is based at Barton Heliport (KPAI),[4] adjacent to the southeast of this airport.[5]

Flying clubs and groups

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Whiteman Airport is home to Senior Squadron 35, Cadet Squadron 137, and Los Angeles County Group 1[6] of the Civil Air Patrol, as well as EAA Chapter 40 and a branch of the Young 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.

Criticism and Possible Closure

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Safety concerns due to airplane crashes, along with noise pollution concerns due to the widespread use of lead in avgas have led some nearby residents and local politicians to make repeated calls for the facility's closure.[7] As a result, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a plan to look at what would be necessary to close the airport, and Representative Tony 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 the Sunland-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]

Accidents and incidents

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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]

  • On November 12, 2020, a Cessna plane coming in for a landing at Whiteman Airport crashed into a residential neighborhood in Pacoima after experiencing engine failure. The pilot was killed, and the crash damaged electrical wires, cars, and at least one home.[11][12]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Los Angeles Times, February 1, 1987: "Airport Panel Seeks Tower at Whiteman" Linked 2014-05-17
  2. ^ Martha, Willman (1 March 1998). "Safety Record Vexes Airfield on City Fringe". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on December 24, 2013. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  3. ^ a b "Whiteman Airport". Los Angeles Department of Public Works. 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  4. ^ Barton Heliport (KPAI)
  5. ^ "Air Operations". Los Angeles County Fire Department. Retrieved 2007-02-17.
  6. ^ Los Angeles County Group 1
  7. ^ Uranga, Rachel (2022-05-16). "After plane crashes and close calls, pressure mounts to close this L.A. airport". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2022-05-20.
  8. ^ "LACo Supervisors seek review of steps for Whiteman Airport closure". spectrumnews1.com. Retrieved 2022-05-20.
  9. ^ "Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez Motion Aims to Protect Pacoima Residents from Health and Safety Risks of Neighborhood Airport". 10 December 2020.
  10. ^ "General Board Meeting Agenda" (PDF). Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council. 12 January 2022. pp. 2–3. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  11. ^ a b "Recent plane crash in Pacoima increases debate over safety of Whiteman Airport". www.msn.com. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
  12. ^ a b "Pilot Killed After Small Plane Crashes In Pacoima Neighborhood; Councilwoman Calls For Airport To Be Shut Down". 2020-11-12. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
  13. ^ Powell, Amy (2022-01-10). "Pilot pulled from crashed plane in Pacoima moments before Metrolink train slammed into aircraft". ABC7 Los Angeles. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
  14. ^ Suter, Leanne (2022-04-20). "Sylmar plane crash on embankment near NB 210 Freeway leaves pilot dead, FAA says". ABC7 Los Angeles. Retrieved 2022-05-20.
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