Land Use Study at California Airport Raises Alarm in GA Community

Purpose of the research, according to Los Angeles County, is to determine alternate uses for Whiteman Airport’s 184 acres.

Meg Godlewski

Monday, October 28, 2024 at 04:00 PM ET

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Edited By: tccjeremy

Whiteman Airport [Courtesy: Los Angeles County Public Works]

Key Takeaways:

Los Angeles County officials have approved a $1.9 million study to explore alternate uses for the 184-acre Whiteman Airport, a decision that has drawn strong objections from the Southern California aviation community.
Advocates for the airport's closure cite safety concerns due to two high-profile accidents in 2020 and 2022 and its location within a residential neighborhood.
Opponents of the closure, including aviation groups and business associations, argue the airport provides 412 direct jobs, sees 82,000 annual operations, and that the county has a federal obligation to keep it open for at least 20 years due to recent FAA Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grants, the latest being in 2021.

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The aviation community in Southern California is raising the alarm over a decision made by Los Angeles County officials to request an expanded land use study for the land that is currently Whiteman Airport (KWHP).

The economic impact and land use study was given the green light at the county’s board of supervisors meeting on October 22. The purpose of the research, according to the county, is to determine alternate uses for the airport’s 184 acres. The facility is located in the city of Pacoima, 19 miles north of Los Angeles International (KLAX). Whiteman Airport is one of five owned by Los Angeles County.