Category Archives: Education

Open Letter to Supervisor Horvath – Preserving Whiteman Airport: A Vital Hub for Emergency Response, Public Safety, Community Prosperity & Aviation Education

Dear Supervisor Horvath,

I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to express my deep concern about the potential closure of Whiteman Airport in Pacoima, California. As a Flight Instructor at Glendale Community College and a member of the aviation community, I would like to bring to your attention some additional critical points that highlight the significance of Whiteman Airport.

Emergency Operations:

·         The County Firebase Chief emphasized Whiteman Airport’s essential role in emergency operations during the recent CAC meeting.

·         The runway at KWHP is crucial for helicopter departures, especially in urgent situations, serving as a hub for equipment staging during emergencies.

Public Safety and National Security:

·         Whiteman Airport is vital for county-wide relief efforts, medical services, and law enforcement operations.

·         It is a designated home for press operations and utilized by the Secret Service during the President’s visits.

Community Support:

·         Every Neighborhood Council surrounding Whiteman Airport has voted to keep the airport open, reflecting strong community support.

·         Polls indicate a vast majority of residents want Whiteman Airport to remain operational.

City Council Dynamics:

·         Concerns about the impartiality of the decision-making process, with significant City Council and Pacoima Beautiful influence on the CAC.

·         The insistence on the County bearing 100% of sound remediation expenses raises questions about fairness.

Environmental Considerations:

·         Recent studies show lead levels below EPA acceptable levels, similar to other areas in Los Angeles.

·         The aviation industry’s ongoing transition to unleaded fuel addresses environmental concerns proactively.

Noise and Curfew Issues:

·         Disproportionate focus on noise and curfew issues with less than 340 possible incompatible units near the airport.

·         Lack of discussion on curfew for Union Pacific trains or trucks on San Fernando road, contributing significantly to greenhouse gas emissions.

Lack of Attention to Aviation Commissioners:

·         LA County Aviation Commissioners’ insights and recommendations seem overlooked in the decision-making process.

Economic Opportunities:

·         Closing Whiteman Airport could hinder economic benefits from emerging technologies like eVtol aircraft.

·         Whiteman Airport could serve as a natural springboard for air taxi services, fostering economic growth and technological advancement.

Reliever Airport Importance:

·         Whiteman Airport serves as a reliever airport, playing a critical role in alleviating air traffic congestion and promoting efficient airspace management.

Glendale Community College Legacy:

·         While GCC has not been at Whiteman Airport since the 1930s, its aviation program has operated there for over a decade.

·         The potential closure would profoundly impact GCC’s aviation program, jeopardizing student success and weakening the longstanding partnership with Whiteman Airport.

·         GCC serves as a vital contributor to the aviation industry by training pilots and aviation specialists, addressing the critical need for skilled professionals in the field. The closure of Whiteman Airport would impede the college’s ability to continue producing well-trained individuals essential to the industry’s growth and success.

In conclusion, I implore you to reconsider the decision to close Whiteman Airport. Its continued operation is crucial for the aviation community and local economy, as well as for emergency response, public safety, and national security. I believe that preserving Whiteman Airport aligns with the best interests of the community, the County, and the broader goals of sustainable aviation.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Edwin Sahakian

Certified Flight Instructor

Glendale Community College

Edwin Sahakian  l President  l  Ardwin Freight  l  Telephone +1 818 827 5216  l  Facsimile  +1 818 827 3216  l edwin.sahakian@gmail.com

About the author:

Ed Sahakian has dedicated a significant amount of his time to aiding Glendale College Students advance their aviation aspirations. Besides teaching courses at GCC, he was an early influence in shaping the Aviation and Space Club at the college, and regularly flew students, who did not have access to other planes for scheduled sponsored fly-ins, in his Cirrus, or his Cessna Citation Jet, so that every student interested could participate.  Additionally, he fully sponsored a FAASTeam (FAA WINGS) full-day Safety Standdown open to the public held at a well-known local hotel.

PERMITS (STCs) ALLOWING PILOTS TO USE UNLEADED FUEL AVAILABLE NOW!

LOS ANGELES, CA – The Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) needed for spark-ignited piston engines in the General Aviation fleet to be used with unleaded fuel is now available for purchase!

General Aviation Modifications Inc. (GAMI) has officially begun selling supplemental type certificates (STCs) for its G100UL 100-octane unleaded avgas. – “GAMI is excited to announce the opening of its online G100UL STC store,” the company said. “All gasoline-powered airplanes and engines in the FAA’s type certificate database are covered by the STCs for G100UL, which is the first and only FAA-certified, totally lead-free, high-octane avgas.” GAMI Website here.

The Goal: GAMI says it is looking to have the fuel available in California by mid-2023.

Background: The aviation industry has been desirous of unleaded fuel for many decades. 100LL itself was introduced over 50 years ago and has been the only fuel in the country for piston-powered aircraft that could assure safe operation for those needing that octane rating. The FAA and the Aviation Industry can now celebrate the now-achievable scientific result. Fuel distribution, the next challenge, is already being addressed.

MORE NEWS ALL THE TIME: FAA Granted Universal Hydrogen Approval To Test Fuel-Cell-Powered Aircraft – Plus, electric vertical and conventional flight (eVtol and eCtol) aircraft developers are being funded by big business interests assuring us that electric air taxi operation soon is a reality.

Our current So Cal airport system will be unable to supply the demand for air travel by 2050. (Reference: Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG). Reliever airports and improved airport transportation access systems will be essential. SCAG Website Here.

Airports like Whiteman, Camarillo, Oxnard, Van Nuys, Redlands, and Santa Monica, will help to assure their surrounding neighborhoods of economic growth and a source of employment, but also of the associated community services provided, and the essential part that they can play in the next phase of our transportation system.

SCAUWG.ORG is dedicated to Safe Airspace Development and Aviation Education.
You can experience our site devoted to Airspace & Aviation Safety at www.scauwg.org

10,000th Free Airplane Flight for Kids

For those who desire to search toward the sky for success, this story should serve as an inspiration and a testament that helps to prove Whiteman is a valuable community asset that needs to stay nurtured, polished, and kept shiny like any other prized jewel.

10,000th Free Airplane Flight for Kids – to be Celebrated on November 26th at Whiteman Airport

The 10,000th young person is to get a free “Young Eagles” airplane ride from the pilots of Chapter 40 of the Experimental Aircraft Association based at Whiteman Airport will be on Saturday, November 26, 2022.

There should be about 75-85 flights provided on that day to kids between 8 through 17. All kids are invited to discover the gift of flight, and the rides are entirely paid for by the pilots.

The “Young Eagles” is an EAA National Program, and Chapter 40 has been providing these complimentary introductory flight experiences on the 4th Saturday of every month at San Fernando Valley’s Whiteman Airport since 1992 (except on Christmas Day or Eve). Young Eagle events start at 10:30 a.m. and run to about 2:00 p.m.

EAA Chapter 40 is arranging a VERY special flight for the lucky youngster. Details will be forthcoming.

Caveat: we will not fly if the weather that day is not safe. The alternate date if that happens will be Dec 17.

For More Information about this story, I invite those who decide to build rather than tear down to contact Dave Kolstad – Chapter 40 Young Eagles Coordinator – D_kolstad@yahoo.com YoungEaglesDay.org

WHITEMAN AIRPORT OPPOSITION GROUPS NEED A BETTER CRYSTAL BALL!

WHITEMAN OPPOSITION GROUPS NEED A BETTER CRYSTAL BALL!

LOS ANGELES, CA – Whiteman Airport is the key to Pacoima’s economic future. Some of the airport closure advocates present during CAC presentations say that they want representation and justice for a neighborhood that deserves better. For them, closing a valuable enterprise that provides jobs, education, and community services, in the Pacoima area is their answer. Recently their airport noise concerns were not substantiated by the now-concluded study.  The future is greater than presently addressed and has been ignored. Whiteman airport may be the most important gateway to the next generation of neighborhood development.

“Washington, DC, Oct. 18, 2022 – The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) welcomed President Biden’s signing into law this week of the Advance Air Mobility Coordination and Leadership Act, which will promote policies, procedures, and programs to support the integration of this emerging aviation sector into America’s transportation infrastructure.

Advanced air mobility (AAM) is an air transportation system that moves people and property by air between places using electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, in local, regional, intraregional, rural, and urban environments.

AAM utilizes aircraft ranging in size from single-passenger vehicles to large shuttles to make cities, underserved communities and geographically distant regions more accessible.” – Dan Hubbard, NBAA

NASA, Major Airlines, our Armed Forces, and big business have invested millions of dollars toward this next-generation air travel potential. Contracts and plans for eCTOLs and thousands of eVTOLs are inked and scheduled. Private industry and government planning agencies are in motion. The question is, do the organizations that feel Pacoima deserves better, also feel that they deserve to be left behind? Should Pacoima erase the already existing Whiteman Airport pathway to the future that will allow their neighborhood to join with the rest of LA, and participate in the transportation and blossoming economic future?

Those that don’t recognize the onset of the sustainable transportation era, and the support for and the benefits of future economic development need to seriously consider shopping for a new crystal ball.

Recommended reading might include this Aviation Today Magazine article focused on developments at the recent NBAA-BACE convention. Panelists at NBAA Discuss Certification and Infrastructure for Advanced Air Mobility – Avionics International (aviationtoday.com)  –  To find out more you are invited to join us at www.scauwg.org

Your Comment and Ideas Wanted

The Southern California Airspace Users Working Group - SCAUWG - Wants your COMMENTS and IDEAS!

As aviators and aviation enthusiasts that utilize the Southern California Airspace you probably have concerns.  You probably have formulated some ideas that might make the airspace safer, or possibly some ideas about how best to navigate the area.  Perhaps you have a suggestion regarding how charting the airspace can be improved?

SCAUWG has traditionally tried to be the eyes and ears of the So Cal airspace professional.  SCAUWG is tasked with providing insight to the FAA regarding airspace safety improvements and SCAUWG is additionally tasked to act as a source of educational content meant to aid the aerospace community so that flight safety can be enhanced.

We at SCAUWG believe that the LA Basin airspace may be as complex, indeed probably more complex as any in the world.  Visitors arrive here from all corners of the globe.  Reminding ourselves that there is little in this busy space that remains static is important.  Ever changing technology and diverse methods of flight are just some of the ingredients that make our airspace truly dynamic.  Even the current health concerns we share influence the NAS.

It would probably be easy to rest upon our laurels.  But that is not enough!  Great results happen when great minds collaborate, and we desire Great Results!

So, please contribute, please be part of the solution that as airspace professionals we can be proud of.  Leave your comments, ideas and suggestions below.  There may be a short delay before making submitted comments visible.

PLEASE NOTE:   Posts are designed to elicit COMMENT from WEBSITE VISITORS so that same can both inspire a virtual community information exchange, and possibly encourage further discussion amongst SCAUWG members.  ALL POSTED REPLYs and COMMENTs should be interpreted as those that REPRESENT THE AUTHOR alone, and NOT SCAUWG, or SCAUWG.ORG.

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