NEWS & PROPOSALS THAT NEED YOUR COMMENT!
WHITEMAN AIRPORT – Recent Aviation Commission Meeting – Information &
Update
“The two new Commissioners. appointed by Supervisor Horvath were in attendance for
their second meeting. The large conference room above Vista Aviation was
standing room only with over 60 people in attendance. There were 24 speakers, the
majority Whiteman Airport tenants, businesses, and users. The longer-serving
Commissioners commented that the meeting was one of the best they have attended
and the energy in the room was very high. OUR challenge is to find a way to get that
energy in front of the Supervisors. Five Cadets, Three Senior Members and three
Parents of Cadets in Sq 137 spoke. The Cadets drove home the value of the Airport to
them, and their future. It was also noted how diverse the youth are who use the airport.
Please write to your Supervisor and tell them how important the airport is to you,
the community and the future. Encourage them to talk with the Aviation
Commissioners they appointed to better understand the value of the airports.
(SEE EMAIL INFO BELOW)
Whiteman Airport has been very busy lately with Runway 16L at Van Nuys being
closed, the 18 flight schools at Van Nuys, are all coming to Whiteman for pattern
practice. The tower closes the pattern when 5 aircraft are flying “closed traffic”. If you
get caught up in this, the tower will tell you the pattern is closed and ask your
intentions. I believe they will allow you to depart the area but will not allow any closed
traffic. This has caused students at Vista Aviation to not be able to solo, other tenants
to not be able to conduct quick test flights (once around the pattern), and other types of
flights.
During the week any time after noon seems to be the most likely time to encounter the
closure. Your “intentions” means your choices are to either depart the area, or prepare
to tie down your aircraft. Unfortunately, the ground controller may not warn you of the
pattern issue. You then find out after you have completed your runup and request to
take off. This results in an unnecessary cost. Possibly 0.1-.0.2 hours on the Hobbs
meter, which may mean $15 to $30 for the plane plus any instructor time as well.. It
should all end soon with the reopening of 16L, but expect Van Nuys students to still
spend a lot of time at Whiteman.
I attended a meeting at Van Nuys Airport on April 1, 2025. At the meeting Los Angeles
World Airports (LA City) stated it is their intent to begin charging landing fees to all
itinerant aircraft (aircraft not based at Van Nuys Airport) at a rate of $6.40 per 1,000
pounds. The stated goal is to pay for all of the costs of operating the airport with these
fees. Tenants, except Part 135 operators, are exempt from the fees. No one knows
what they plan on using the $18 million in rent they collect for.. – Jim Miller – Whiteman
Airport Association – Friends of Whiteman Airport”
Aviation Commissioners can be addressed by calling or sending email to:
Claudia M. Delgado
(626) 300-4611
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
Contact Information: Supervisor Fact Sheet – Click Here
For the County Supervisors Executive Office:
Supervisors Executive Office Email
.
Additional 4/30/25 Aviation Commission Meeting Coverage – Special to SCAUWG.ORG
written by Matthew Stone.
Attendees lamented that the Whiteman CAC meetings of 2021-23 had not seen such
large crowds.
Meeting themes of the night included:
- Widespread anger over Lindsey Horvath’s decision to unilaterally deny FAA
funding to a critical County facility with no public input whatsoever. - Re: Pacoima Beautiful and other anti-airport protestors – there was plenty of furor
in that room against anti-airport messages. - An incredulity at even considering the elimination of LA County’s breadwinner
airport; Whiteman is the most fiscally successful of the 5 County airports and
subsidizes the other four in the system as well. - Discussion about Pacoima Beautiful raised concerns about its substantial ties to
various local politicians and the numerous lawsuits–brought by former Pacoima
Beautiful staff which alleges the nonprofit has routinely engaged in discriminatory
practices and harassment in violation of labor law. - It was pointed out that are current legal woes for Pacoima Beautiful as there appear to be various lawsuits naming Pacoima Beautiful levied by ex-staffers.
The new Commissioners, Charles Nelson and Jerilyn Lopez-Mendoza, did attend the
meeting.
- Medoza was about 25 minutes late. To her credit, Mendoza acknowledged her
tardiness at the meeting’s end, apologized and insisted it “will not happen again” - Mendoza also acknowledged Penny Alderson’s (Vista Aviation) offer to tour WHP and expressed interest in such action.
- Nelson asked about the results of the WHP “land study’ initiated in Oct. 2024
which per Jason Morgan LACDPW are somewhat expected in late 2025 or early
2026.
Webmaster’s note: The “closure (Land) study” author is charged with researching grant
assurance obligations. It has been discovered that KWHP by regulation is entitled to
stay in operation per a perpetual benefit resulting from a real estate purchase in
1999. See details and documentation HERE.
Study author: Trifiletti Consulting
info@trifiletticonsulting.com
213 315 2121
Furthermore: Your Input for the Following is Solicited:
FAA Extends Comment Period on Aircraft Data Protections – Act Now
NBAA members and other industry stakeholders now have until June 4 to comment on
the FAA’s plan to enhance business aviation security by removing personally
identifiable information (PII) from the FAA Aircraft Registry, an effort the association
strongly supports.
More Information HERE.
Special Airworthiness Information Bulletins (SAIB) – 2025-04.pdf –
Issued. Supported by EAGLE that has called on pilots to report unleaded experience –
Coalition seeks to help FAA validate safe options – Unleaded fuel usage
sought. Details Here.
FAA Wants To Drop FSS Radio Network –
“Radio calls to FSS have dropped by 99% in the past 20 years.” From AVweb – “The
FAA intends to decommission the radio network that allows pilots to contact Flight
Services by radio. In a Notice of Intent published late last month in the Federal Register,
the agency says hardly anyone uses the service anymore because they use their
phones and computers. “In the mid-1980s, Flight Service received 22,000 service
requests per day across this network, while today they receive fewer than 300 per day,”
the agency said in the notice. “In turn, from over 350 Flight Service stations with over
3,000 employees 40 years ago, there are now only two (2) facilities with fewer than 200
specialists.” Emergency frequencies will be monitored by ATC. – The FAA is accepting
comments on the plan until May 27 by mail at 800 Independence Ave. SW,
Washington, DC 20591, ATTN: Manager, Flight Service, Safety & Operations, AJR-B1
or online quoting docket FAA-2025-0558. “
FAA plans to shut down RCO network, seeks feedback comment
AOPA urges pilots to comment –
Pilots’ days of contacting flight service from the air
using the network of remote communications outlets (RCOs) appear to be numbered
following the FAA’s publication of its notice of intent to decommission the RCO system
largely because of a significant decline in its use – The FAA said written comments
should be submitted by May 27. AOPA will share its comments on the RCO plan with
the FAA and encourages members to do the same.” – Department of Transportation,
Federal Aviation Administration – [Docket No. FAA-2025-0558] – Please send written
comments:
By Electronic Docket: www.regulations.gov (Enter docket number into search field).
By mail: 800 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20591, ATTN: Manager, Flight
Service, Safety & Operations, AJR-B1.
For the Story Click Here.