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Whiteman Airport (previously known as Whiteman Air Park) (IATA: WHP, ICAO: KWHP) is a general aviation airport in the northeastern San Fernando Valley community of Pacoima, in the city of Los Angeles, California, United States.

Whiteman Airport
IATA: WHP ICAO: KWHP
Summary
Airport type	Public
Operator	Los Angeles County
Serves	Los Angeles
Location	Pacoima
Elevation AMSL	1,003 ft / 305.7 m
Coordinates	34°15′33.57″N 118°24′48.35″W
Map
WHP Location within Los Angeles/San Fernando Valley Show map of San Fernando Valley WHP WHP (the Los Angeles metropolitan area) Show map of the Los Angeles metropolitan area WHP WHP (California) Show map of California
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 12/30 4,120 1,256 Asphalt

The airport was founded as Whiteman Air Park in 1946 on a farm by pilot Marvin Whiteman Sr. as a non-tower controlled, private airport. Later, Whiteman Manufacturing Co. was built on the airport's west side. In 1970 the airport was purchased by the County of Los Angeles. During the 1980s the name was changed to "Whiteman Airport", but it is still commonly referred to as "Whiteman Airpark" by old-time local pilots to this day.[1]

The airport is open to general aviation aircraft 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is home to over 600 aircraft, and numerous aviation-related businesses.[2][3] The airport can handle small aircraft as well as medium turboprops and jets, although little jet traffic is seen on its rather narrow runway. The control tower is in operation daily. The single runway has runway end identifier lights (REILs), pilot controlled medium-intensity runway lighting (MIRLs) and a precision approach path indicator (PAPI). Full and self-service fuel is available around the clock. The airport has an automated weather observing system (AWOS) with data available continuously by radio and telephone.[3]

Runway

• Runway 12/30: 4,120 x 75 ft (1,256 x 23 m), surface: asphalt

Barton Heliport of the LACoFD

The Los Angeles County Fire Department Air Operations unit is based at Barton Heliport (KPAI),[4] adjacent to the southeast of this airport.[5]

Flying clubs and groups

Whiteman Airport is home to Senior Squadron 35, Cadet Squadron 137, and Los Angeles County Group 1[6] of the Civil Air Patrol, as well as EAA Chapter 40 and a branch of the Young Eagles. The mission of the EAA Young Eagles Program is to provide a meaningful flight experience – free of charge – in a general aviation aircraft for young people (primarily between the ages of 8 and 17). Flights are provided by EAA members at Whiteman Airport and worldwide.

Criticism and Possible Closure

Safety concerns due to airplane crashes, along with air pollution concerns due to the widespread use of lead in avgas have led some nearby residents and local politicians to make repeated calls for the facility's closure.[7] As a result, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a plan to look at what would be necessary to close the airport, and Representative Tony Cárdenas requested a comprehensive safety review.[8]

Other groups, such the Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council, are opposed to closing the airport, citing the many benefits it provides to the community including jobs, youth and outreach programs, and multiple public safety and emergency services based at the airport.[9]

Accidents & Incidents

Although there have never been any injuries to people on the ground, there have been multiple incidents involving aircraft based at Whiteman Airport.[10][11]

• On November 12, 2020, a Cessna plane coming in for a landing at Whiteman Airport crashed into a residential neighborhood in Pacoima after experiencing engine failure. The pilot was killed, and the crash damaged electrical wires, cars, and at least one home.[10][11]

• On January 9, 2022, a Cessna 172 taking off from Whiteman Airport crashed onto nearby train tracks. Los Angeles Police Department officers were able to extract the pilot from the plane seconds before it was struck by an incoming Metrolink train.[12]
• On April 20, 2022, a pilot was killed when his Cessna Skymaster crashed into Interstate 210 several minutes after departing from Whiteman Airport.[13]

See also

• List of airports in the Los Angeles area

References

External links

• Whiteman Airport Association
• FAA Airport Diagram (PDF), effective November 3, 2022
• Squadron 35 of the Civil Air Patrol
• Los Angeles County Group 1 of the Civil Air Patrol
• Resources for this airport:
  • FAA airport information for WHP
  • AirNav airport information for KWHP
  • ASN accident history for WHP
  • FlightAware airport information and live flight tracker
  • NOAA/NWS weather observations: current, past three days
  • SkyVector aeronautical chart, Terminal Procedures

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