MEDIA ADVISORY
Current and Former Members of the Los Angeles County Aviation Commission Speak Out Publicly After Years of Escalating Concern Over the County’s Handling of Whiteman Airport
Whiteman Airport is a safe, federally regulated facility and a critical fire and emergency response airport for the region, supporting firefighting, medical, and disaster operations. It operates under strict federal standards and long standing FAA obligations that require it to remain open, be properly maintained, and not be repurposed without federal approval.
The airport also has strong and growing support across the community, including broad backing from local neighborhood councils and stakeholders who rely on it.
Our concern is not with the airport itself, but with current policies being pursued by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.’
Despite repeated warnings from federal officials, national aviation leaders, and even the County’s own analysis, the Board of Supervisors has pushed forward a $1.9 Million taxpayer funded study on closing the airport, while at the same time freezing federal funding that would go toward safety and modernization.
That combination doesn’t make sense. It raises serious questions about public safety, governance, and how taxpayer dollars are being used.
We’re asking for something straightforward from Supervisor Horvath, who represents the Third District where Whiteman is located: unfreeze federal funding, invest in safety, and follow federal obligations.
And to the full Board of Supervisors: why is closure being studied at all? What would replace this critical emergency infrastructure? And why has available federal safety funding been left on the table for years?
The public deserves direct answers to these questions.
SPEAKERS
Curt Castagna is Chief Executive Officer and Managing Partner of Ascension Group Partners, which oversees development, project and property management of business aviation centers nationwide, including those at Long Beach, Dallas Love Field, Van Nuys, and Santa Monica airports. As well consulting for a number of airports nationally to advocate for healthy airport ecosystems. He currently serves as President of the National Air Transportation Association (NATA), is President of the Van Nuys Airport Association, and is a certified member of the American Association of Airport Executives. Castagna also served on the Los Angeles County Aviation Commission from April 2017 to November 2024.
Dennis Lord served as a public and governmental affairs manager for 27 of his near 50 year career with a major Los Angeles utility handling 24 cities and communities. As a 50 year pilot, he brings decades of public service to the aviation community and teaches pilots and airport staff the tenets of community engagement. He currently serves on the Los Angeles County Aviation Commission, helping oversee the County’s airport system. His career includes extensive work in emergency response coordination and community engagement, and he is widely recognized for his steady leadership during major incidents and his contributions to aviation and public service. In retirement, he has an aerial services company providing airshow services and flyovers for community events and memorials and works with the FAA on a regular basis to safely provide these services. Among his clients is Fleet Week Los Angeles.
Christina Pascucci is the Chief Executive Officer of Atlas, a consultancy working with the Whiteman Airport Coalition. A certified pilot and an Emmy Award winning, investigative journalist, she previously served as a Los Angeles County Aviation Commissioner and Chair of the Commission. She has been a strong advocate for local airports, recognizing their critical role as public infrastructure, emergency management, and firefighting.
Tara Finestone is the Chief Operating Officer of Atlas, a consultancy working with the Whiteman Airport Coalition.
