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PACOIMA, LOS ANGELES () — The debate over what to do with Whiteman Airport in Pacoima is again drawing attention after a small plane clipped power lines and crashed in a parking lot while approaching the airport last week.
Current and former Los Angeles County aviation commissioners and consultants talked about the future of the airport on Tuesday. The group emphasized the airport is safe.
L.A. County owns five airports, including Whiteman Airport. There’s a commission that advises the board on their operations.
The Board of Supervisors and L.A. City Council have talked about using the airport property to build low-income housing on it.
The group that supports the airport remaining open says only the federal government can close the airport – not county or city government.
The group says that for years, they’ve been advising the board to invest federal grant money to make upgrades at the airport.
“We have identified at the commission level $18 million of upgrades that are needed in the next six years, and those funds are not available due to this mandate,” L.A. County Aviation Commissioner Dennis Lord said.
Those upgrades include paving and signage.
A spokesperson for the county Department of Public Works explained that grant funds have no bearing on operating the county-owned airports, including Whiteman, safely.
The county is still reviewing ideas on what to do with the airport’s future.
Some residents who live near the airport said they favor low-income, affordable housing being built there. Others favor keeping the airport open because firefighting helicopters and planes are based there due to the high fire danger in nearby hills.
The Whiteman Airport Coalition indicates the future of the airport is still up in the air.
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