“Supporting Airports, Strengthening Communities”
Please check for updates:
* Above obtained from CS SW OCT 31, 2024
Historical Perspective:
About the photos - Special to SCAUWG.ORG from Matthew Stone - "The first two images and last are from--of all things--a cigarette matchbook issued on behalf of Whiteman Air Park, undoubtedly by Marvin Whiteman has Whiteman's name stylized as he had it in his company signs. This little matchbook gave remarkably detailed pattern info for WHP (which was using its old runway then (I would guess 18/36)), such as its 800 ft TPA.
The other photos date to much later...the late 1960s and show the surrounding area. The most notable feature of these are the first clear views of Whiteman's racetrack. (Per Jim Miller, Marvin Whiteman had put that project together on the basis of his own involvement with stock cars and to keep racing nearby but off the streets.)" - M.S.
Special Notices:
This Page (2) was Added 01/14/2026 For Whiteman Airport Page 1 Please Click Here
News, Challenges, Events & Correspondence:
01/14/2026 Current Subject: Unrealized Needed Airport Maintenance. Suggested has been that Supervisor has ordered verbally that no FAA Funding intentionally meant to sustain the needed repairs, be accepted so as to eliminate the 20-year grant assurance contract and allow for airport closure. Well, no evidence of a written directive seems to exist, but the fact is no grant has been applied for, and needed maintenance has gone unrealized.
Well, it appears that the truth was revealed in writing on Supervisor Horvath's website. Below is the webpage dated March 4, 2024.
THANK YOU to Matthew Stone for his diligent work collecting WHP press material.
HORVATH REVEALS: THIS IS IT! ON HER WEBSITE, AND IT REFERENCES AN LAC BOARD MOTION DATE!
-The Link:
https://lindseyhorvath.lacounty.gov/whiteman-airport-unleaded-fuel/
SEE PARAGRAPH #3:
"Moreover, Chair Horvath emphasized, the County will not seek future funding from the FAA that would further lengthen aviation operations at Whiteman Airport, a measure that is also in alignment with her November 7 motion on the future of the 78-year-old airport."
November 7, 2023 Motion 20 Reimagining Whiteman Airport
Statement Of Proceedings
November 7, 2023 BOS Meeting Transcript Comments re: Motion 20 begin on page 283.
1151446_110723.pdf
1/14/2026 Special to SCAUWG.ORG: Review Notes of the 1/13 Sun Valley Area Neighborhood Council Meeting w/ Guest Speaker Imelda Padilla - Reported by Matthew Stone Guest Contributor -
The 1/13 meeting of the Sun Valley Area Neighborhood Council (SVANC) began at 6pm and went to its 7:50pm limit (the library hosting the event was closing as everyone piled out). The event was attended by roughly 30 people. Los Angeles Councilwoman Imelda Padilla (Council District 6 (CD6)) spoke for about 45 minutes from 6:10pm to just shy of 7:00pm prior to departing.
Imelda Padilla received a long list of questions from SVANC regarding local matters and a handful of questions from the public--my own included.
My questions to Imelda Padilla (with the LACP article proposing Whiteman be turned into a soccer stadium in hand) were:
Are you aware of this proposal, put forward by Veronica Padilla-Campos ([her] sister) and do you support it? What is your reaction to this suggestion to close this airport after seeing its important work meeting the devastating events of the January 2025 fires?
Imelda Padilla acknowledged she did read the 'make Whiteman into a soccer stadium' LACP article this morning (1/13) and is aware of Padilla-Campos' proposal.
Asked about her stance on the matter, Padilla demurred that she is 'so committed to other matters in CD6, including Van Nuys Airport as it deals with its landswap plans' that she is uninterested in political participation related to Whiteman (as it is in Monica Rodriguez' Council District 7) and directly referring to her similar April 9th, 2025 answers to me. When I reminded Padilla that Whiteman is a County facility subject to County oversight, she referred the matter to Lindsey Horvath. Padilla had no retort to the mention that Whiteman is a County-wide matter by virtue of its County-owned status and regional operations.
The only 'defense' Imelda Padilla put up regarding her sister Veronica Padilla-Campos' soccer stadium was referring to the quote in the LACP article wherein Padilla-Campos insisted her group (Pacoima Beautiful) has "never suggested that the emergency part of the airport be closed." When confronted with the facts that the LA County Fire Chief already explained the importance of and need for Whiteman's tower (which would not remain in the event of closure) to realize LA County's existent operations as-is and the reality that CALFIRE and other emergency operators use the airport/runway itself (not LA County Fire's co-located Barton Helipad), Padilla had no real retort.
Imelda Padilla simply re-emphasized the claim that Pacoima Beautiful has 'never advocated against the emergency services there.'In response, I noted that contention does not mesh with the realistic effect closure would have (LA County Fire's Barton Helipad operations would be, at best, hindered and CALFIRE/others' ability to operate would be flat out eliminated). While she did not get combative, emotional or rude, Padilla did not go any further on the question of Whiteman's future--instead referring it to local nonprofits (no specific names) and other pols (M. Rodriguez/Horvath) as a matter for them. As with the April 2025 meeting, Padilla abdicated any sort of involvement in the matter of Whiteman Airport despite its proximity.
Later on in the meeting, I publicly spoke to highlight the poor reasoning Imelda Padilla (who had left) had given--reminding attendees of the County-wide nature of the matter as well as the looming threat that the Pacific Palisades' plight could have befallen Sun Valley or other places. In a brief 1 minute comment, I pointed out that Imelda Padilla was essentially leaving local people voiceless about the airport's future despite its proximity and the enduring local and political interest in it. While the crowd was respectfully quiet, there was certainly no outward disapproval of those sentiments.
In chatting with folks as the meeting adjourned and people quickly piled out of the closing library, it was quite obvious that there is plenty of local interest in the issue of Whiteman Airport and that the general 'vibe' of the neighborhood council members was supportive of the airport, disapproving of closure particularly. None of the several I personally spoke to seemed moved by Imelda Padilla's contention that "it is a District 7 matter." To them, it is of interest and a topic for further discussion.
I believe Imelda Padilla was honest...she is probably not actively participating in anti-Whiteman efforts at this time.With Imelda Padilla's allies and people close to her (such as her sister Veronica Padilla-Campos who proposed the stadium idea) involved in anti-WHP efforts, Imelda Padilla has no real reason to actively involve herself. On the other hand, her actions signal very, very strongly that she favors closure even if she doesn't say so. Deliberately vague answers and a refusal to condemn closure efforts lends credence to this belief, especially after the January 2025 fires.
Regardless of her own stance on airport closure, the stadium proposal or other Whiteman-related politics, Imelda Padilla is shirking the matter and its broader implications. On that alone, she is failing her constituents. As busy as she is, this is an item that belongs on her plate--but she isn't dealing with it publicly. - MS
01/10/2026
Dear Whiteman Airport Community and Stakeholders,
Happy New Year and thank you for your continued engagement in the Whiteman Airport Land Use Study!
On behalf of the Study team, we would like to thank everyone who attended and participated in the Whiteman Airport Land Use Study Open House held in December 2025, as well as those who engaged with us through other outreach activities throughout the past year. Your time, thoughtful questions, and feedback are an important part of this process.
The materials shared at the Open House are now available at the links below. All Open House materials have also been translated into Spanish to ensure broad accessibility.
As a reminder, LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath commissioned this Study to evaluate both the economic impacts and land use considerations of the Airport site—examining the following scenarios:
- Airport closure and alternative uses.
- Airport remains operational and includes community serving uses such as employment training, education, etc.
The Study is being conducted by the team of aviation and economic experts whom you met at the Open House, working with the support of the Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity and in collaboration with the County Chief Executive Office and the Department of Public Works.
The next phase of the Study will focus on evaluating the costs and benefits associated with the land use scenarios presented at the Open House. The Study team is currently compiling stakeholder feedback received to date and completing the economic impact analysis to inform a comprehensive and thorough report that provides options and advises the Board of Supervisors on the future of the airport. We anticipate sharing the Study findings with the Pacoima and Whiteman Airport communities, and with stakeholders more broadly, in Spring 2026.
Thank you again for your participation, your perspectives, and your continued interest in the Whiteman Airport Land Use Study. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to 213-924-7666 or info@whplandusestudy.com.
Sincerely,
The Whiteman Airport Land Use Study Team
To Visit the Land Use Study Website for the Details Thus Far CLICK HERE
01/10/2026
FAA Guidance re: Approval Permission for Airport Closure / Federal Grant Assurance Program
As Whiteman Airport currently enjoys the benefit of perpetuity (detailed earlier on these pages) due to LA County's purchase of Real Property included in the Whiteman Airport Master Plan.
Read Detailed FAA Guidance related material CLICK HERE
01/07/2026 Below is a copy of a letter I (James Miller) was asked to share with Whiteman Airport Association Members concerning Requests For Proposals at Van Nuys Airport for development of a specific leasehold which has been divided into two separate lease holds. The big takeaway is that LAWA is changing the possible use of the land from smaller piston aircraft to larger Part 135 jets. The implied result would be fewer piston tie downs and increased costs for those who choose to stay. The result will most likely lead to increased demands on Whiteman Airport for tie downs and hangars and possibly forcing an Aviation training facility out of business. (Note: This represents yet another business who would consider Whiteman Airport as a base of operations if the County was entertaining long term leases.)
December 30,2025
I hope that this lease update had more holiday cheer for you and less critical news.
On December 5th, LAWA issued RFPs for 5 expired leaseholds at Van Nuys airport. The Southwest Aviation leasehold was included in this grouping and split into two separate RFPs. The first parcel encompasses the Paramount site and the second, the rest of the leasehold to the South. In the RFP for the Southern part of my leasehold, LAWA is expanding the boundaries to include a vacant lot fronting Hayvenhurst and a part of the former Green Hornet site. Both sites are being promoted as having aviation development potential, even though the current land use, or FAA restrictions and/or airport specific plan precludes aviation development for these parcels.
As a current tenant, pilot, business operator and plane owner, you should be aware that the proposed use of my leasehold going forward is for general aviation use, not propeller use. (Note that LAWA utilizes a general aviation term to define aircraft over 12,000 lbs. takeoff weight and non-propeller.) Hidden within this designation is an attempt to convert the Southwest Aviation leasehold for jet aviation uses as LAWA receives a significantly higher land rental rate for jet operations.
If a Jet FBO is successful in obtaining the new lease, they will use the land for jet aviation to make the economics work and displace you and your plane. It is likely that you will need to find an alternative airport to fly out of as there is the lack of alternative sites for propeller aircraft and T hangars at Van Nuys.
Of addition concern is that current Southwest Aviation business tenants: the flight schools; insurance providers; tour operators and repair facilities, would be dislocated and the services currently serving the propeller aircraft community at Van Nuys would be lost.
This is major wakeup call, and we have a very short time fuse to organize and voice opposition to LAWA’s plan to reduce propeller access at Van Nuys. Southwest Aviation has set up a petition initiative at Change.org with the following link:
We strongly encourage you to make your voice heard by signing this petition to retain propeller aircraft on Southwest’s lease and to eliminate the Hayvenhurst lot from this RFP.
When responding to this petition, here are suggested talking points for your post:
- Your history of tenancy at Southwest Aviation Complex.
- Keeping the current leasehold dedicated for propeller use, not jet use.
- Affordability.
- Need for a new lease term long enough to enable necessary improvements to the tarmac, buildings, parking lot and pilot facilities at Southwest Aviation. We are suggesting a minimum of ten years.
- The importance of the current business operations at SWA to maintaining, operating, training and enabling private aviation at Van Nuys.
- How your current operations benefit the local community such as number of students attending flight schools, number of employees, economic impact, mercy flights etc.
I thank you in advance for your concern and action in retaining private propeller aviation at Van Nuys airport
Warmly, Nick Mosich - Southwest Aviation Complex, lp"
01/07/2026 Whiteman Airport Display Day -Sunday January 11, 2026 from 10:00am to 2:00pm - Signings of Display Paperwork from 10:00am to 1:00pm at Hangar HH09. Please bring your new blank form with you. Make sure your N number is in the upper right corner on both sides of the form.
01/07/2026 Whiteman Airport Association Meeting - Tuesday February 3, 2026 at Civil Air Patrol Classroom 1, 12653 Osborne Street, pacoima, CA 91331 - The WAA will meet to discuss upcoming events that are being planned for the airport throughout 2026 and how you can help. We will also discuss the current status of the report concerning closure of the airport.
12/20/2025 4 STACK DESTRUCTION Pictured from the air. - Removal of the Stacks may help cancel any resident pollution, but it creates some real airspace challenges. The Stacks are part of several "procedures," not to forget to mention, the structure is an easily identifiable VFR landmark.
"I am not sure if the obstacle lights on the intact funnels are operational, but the top of the eastern most funnel.
It is certainly gone. It appears to be the beginning of the very end for the Four Stacks is upon them." Photo Credit & Comment: Matthew Stone