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Whiteman Airport (WHP)
Overview
Announcements / News
Media Inquiries
For any media inquiries, please contact pio@pw.lacounty.gov
Economic Impact and Land Use Study Currently Underway
On October 24, 2024, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors directed the Department of Economic Opportunity to conduct an Economic Impact Analysis and Land Use Study for the potential repurposing of Whiteman Airport. The study is currently underway and expected to be completed by summer 2026. More information is available at www.whplandusestudy.com.
2026 Whiteman Community Aviation Family Festival, June 27, 2026
The local Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), Chapter 40 along with other partner organizations, is planning to host a Community Aviation Family Festival at the airport on Saturday, June 27, 2026. The free event will feature various local non-profit aviation organizations and their youth opportunities, airport and local businesses, aircraft static displays, food, beverages, entertainment, and free flights for kids! See the Event Flyer for more information.
Introduction
Located in the heart of the San Fernando Valley with convenient access to the I-5, 210, and 118 Freeways, Whiteman Airport facilitates more than 98,000 general aviation takeoffs and landings each year on its 4,120-foot asphalt runway. It primarily serves the constituents of Pacoima, the San Fernando Valley, and the greater Los Angeles area, and is the busiest of the County’s five GA airports. Originally constructed in 1946 and owned and operated by the County of Los Angeles since 1970, the airport is now publicly available to general aviation (GA) aircraft 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and is home to more than 600 based aircraft, a modern terminal building housing a flight school and pilot supply shop, and numerous aviation-related businesses. Additionally, the airport serves as a base for media helicopters and several non-profit associations. Meanwhile, the LA County Fire Department bases its aircraft fleet at adjacent Barton Heliport and utilizes Whiteman Airport’s air traffic control services for departures and arrivals.
Current Airport Events / Activities / Opportunities
LA County airports host and support—along with aviation, non-profit, and community partners—various events that are open to the general public. These include static aircraft displays, fly-ins, air races, air shows, and open houses. Opportunities for youth to explore aviation careers are also available.
Visit our Events and Activities Calendar to learn about upcoming public events, activities, and opportunities at our airports.
Additionally, airport tours and off-airport visits are provided to local schools, youth organizations—such as the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, and civic groups that want to learn more about our airports specifically, and aviation in general.
Contact the airport manager at one of our five airports to schedule an on- or off-airport visit for your group.
Community Information
Whiteman Airport offers various facilities, services, opportunities, events, and activities available to local communities and their residents.
Airport Facilities
- Aircraft viewing area
- Conference and meeting space
- Pilot supply shop
- Event spaces
Airport Services
- Flight training
- Aircraft charter
- Aircraft storage
- Airport tours
- Hangar leasing
- Aerial sightseeing tours
- Presentations for local school career days
- Partnerships with local organizations to facilitate community programs (recycling, hazardous waste collection, food and clothing drives, vaccination sites, cooling centers, etc.)
Non-Profit and Other Aviation Organizations
Other Information
Airport Events and Activities
Visit the Events and Activities webpage to learn more about upcoming public events at the airports and how to request a tour of the airports.
Pilot Resources
Airport Overview
Whiteman Airport features a contract air traffic control tower, a 4,120-foot by 75-foot asphalt runway (12/30) and has ample capacity to safely and efficiently accommodate a wide range of fixed-wing and rotor-wing aircraft.
The airport also offers nearby access to various destinations, including:
- BMO Stadium (24 miles)
- Crypto.com Arena (21 miles)
- Dodger Stadium (19 miles)
- Hollywood Bowl (13 miles)
- Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) (7 miles)
- Hollywood Sign/Griffith Observatory (17 miles)
- Los Angeles Convention Center (24 miles)
- Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (24 miles)
- Los Angeles Zoo (12 miles)
- Six Flags Magic Mountain theme park (18 miles)
- SoFi Stadium (31 miles)
- Studio City (10 miles)
- Universal Studios Hollywood (11 miles)
- Van Nuys Airport (VNY) (7 miles)
Products and Services
- Aviation fuel
- Aircraft maintenance
- Aircraft flight training
- Aircraft rental
- Pilot lounge and flight planning facilities
- Transient (visitor) aircraft parking
Noise Abatement Program
LA County airports are surrounded by noise-sensitive residential and commercial areas. As such, each airport endeavors to be an asset, not a nuisance, to their respective local communities. In order to help mitigate potential negative impacts from aircraft operations and enhance compatibility with the surrounding communities, the Department of Public Works maintains a proactive noise-mitigation program with requested visual flight rules (VFR) flight paths, operational restrictions, and limited activities during certain hours of the day.
Pilots should be aware that LA County airports‘ neighbors—residents, business owners, visitors, and wildlife—are sensitive to aircraft noise. Airports’ staff ask that pilots follow these noise abatement procedures—only when practical and consistent with the safe operation of aircraft—to protect the quality of life for LA County community members:
- Runway 12 arrivals: Crosswind entry to standard left-hand pattern
- Runway 30 arrivals: Crosswind entry to non-standard right-hand pattern
- No touch-and-go landings or pattern practice between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.
- Helicopters shall not air-taxi, or hover-taxi, over ramp areas or taxilanes.
- Watch for arriving and departing helicopter traffic mid-field.
- Runway 12 VFR departures: Left downwind departures
- Runway 30 VFR departures: Straight-out departure
Disclaimer: The above noise abatement procedures should only be used for flight planning. Pilots should read back and follow all Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic control instructions.
Useful Links
The following resources provide general information pertaining to airport operations:
- Airport Facility Directory (AFD)
- AirNav Website
- Notices to Air Missions (NOTAMs) and Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs)
Fuel Availability and Pricing
The following aviation fuel services are available. Please contact the fuel providers for current prices.
Billion Air Aviation
- Full- and self-service Avgas (100LL)
- Full-service Jet A
- Contact: (888) 818-8177 or (818) 454-0985
Los Angeles County
- Full-service UL94 Unleaded Avgas (for aircraft with proper supplemental type certificate (STC) only)
- Contact: (818) 312-2911
Hangar and Tie-Down Rental Information
Please contact the Whiteman Airport – Airport Manager’s Office at (818) 896-5271 for more information on available tie-downs, hangar space and end-room storage.
Tenant Resources
Commercial Café
Tenants have access to Commercial Café, an online portal through which they can submit lease/license payments, read announcements, and place requests for maintenance. All online payment transactions are secure and meet the Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliance standards. Click the button below to access the Airport Tenant Portal.
Airport Administration Contacts
10000 Airpark Way
Pacoima, CA 91331
Alvaro Escobedo, Airport Manager
aescobedo@dpw.lacounty.gov
Airport Office (818) 896-5271
Other Useful Links
Airport Businesses
Airport Businesses and Service Providers
| Business | Description | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Able Air Corporation | Aircraft Maintenance | (818) 899-7468 |
| Angel City Air | Aerial Media | (818) 896-9900 |
| Argubright Construction | Hangar / Office Rental | (818) 360-6029 |
| Aerotique LLC | Hangar / Office Rental | (818) 620-4768 |
| Black Ops Aviation | Aerial Filming | blackopsaviation.com |
| California Hangars | Hangar / Office Rental | (888) 617-0300 |
| City Limits, Inc. | Architect Services | (818) 897-0596 |
| Glendale Community College | Flight Training | (818) 240-1000 |
| Keystone Aerial Survey | Aerial Survey/Photography | (818) 842-5127 |
| M&D Aircraft Storage | Hangar / Office Rental | (818) 620-4768 |
| RF Film, Inc. | Aerial Camera Systems | (818) 406-7102 |
| Rick Coulter | Hangar / Office Rental | (818) 890-7662 |
| Santa Clarita Studios | Production Studio | (661) 294-2000 |
| Schiff Aviation | Aircraft Maintenance | (818) 834-3818 |
| Sierra Pacific Aviation | Hangar / Office Rental | (310) 721-9091 |
| Specialty Aero Leasing | Hangar / Office Rental | (818) 896-6442 |
| Summit Helicopter | Aerial Crane Services | (818) 890-0903 |
| Vista Air | Flight Training / Aircraft Rental | (818) 896-5224 |
| Vista Aviation | Avionics / Aircraft Maintenance / Aircraft Sales | (818) 896-6442 |
| Wallasch Aviation, Inc. | Hangar / Office Rental | (661) 268-8853 |
| Western Hangars | Hangar / Office Rental | (202) 421-6741 |
| Sod and Soil Depot | Natural Landscape Material Supplier | (818) 686-6445 |
| Heliosphere | Transportation/Vehicle Parking | (702) 290-0363 |
General Business Information
For additional information about the airport’s business rules and regulations, please visit the LA County Airports Business Resources page.
Minimum Standards and Permits
View Whiteman Airport’s minimum standards and permits document.
Brief History
In 1949, pilot Marvin E. Whiteman Sr. opened Whiteman Airpark on his own farmland in Pacoima which was initially a small, private airfield without a control tower. In addition to serving the flying public, Mr. Whiteman offered riding horses and a big outdoor hillside swimming pool, which became the unofficial headquarters of the Motion Pictures Pilots Association. In the 1960s, adjacent to the airport’s northern boundary, a ¼ mile paved oval raceway called Whiteman Stadium was constructed within the airpark grounds. This venue became a hot spot for open wheel racing from 1966 through 1969, hosting numerous California Racing Association (CRA) sprint‑car events, as well as USAC Midget competitions.
In 1970, Los Angeles County purchased the property, marking the start of major expansions and modernization efforts. Over subsequent decades, the airfield transitioned from supporting private flyers, Hollywood aerial filming, and charter operations to becoming a central general aviation hub. Major FAA Airport Improvement Program (AIP) investments funded runway realignment, taxiway enhancements, expanded aircraft parking, utility upgrades, and fuel support systems. The installation of an Airport Traffic Control Tower in 1988 dramatically improved safety and operational efficiency, while facility expansions increased the site from 32 to approximately 184 acres, facilitating new hangars and services.
Today, Whiteman Airport serves as a vital general aviation facility, supporting over 126,000 annual operations in 2025 and housing nearly 500 based aircraft. It hosts flight training programs, aviation businesses, the Civil Air Patrol, Glendale Community College’s aviation courses, and various non‑profits such as the EAA young eagles program. With a fully staffed ATCT, certified navigational aids, and an AWOS, the airport facilitates everything from small piston trainers to turboprop and business jet aircraft.
Overall, the airport plays a vital role in the nation’s integrated system of airports and is an asset to the local communities, serving the diverse constituents of Pacoima, the San Fernando Valley, and the broader County of Los Angeles.
LA County Airports
