The Whiteman Airport Coalition has formally endorsed Scenario 1, a plan to preserve and modernize Whiteman Airport in Pacoima, while urging Los Angeles County to invest in the airport’s future rather than pursue closure and redevelopment.
The endorsement follows the release of the executive summary of Los Angeles County’s $2.1 million Whiteman Airport Land Use Study and a survey of the coalition’s core members that found overwhelming support for keeping the airport open.
Not a single survey respondent supported closing Whiteman Airport.
Scenario 1, known as Preserve and Improve, received the most support, with 54.5% selecting it as their preferred option. Another 36.4% favored keeping the airport open while pursuing a more ambitious modernization plan. Just 9.1% selected Scenario 2, Transform and Optimize, which also maintains airport operations.
Coalition Members Prioritize Modernization and Economic Growth
When asked what Los Angeles County should prioritize, coalition members identified:
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81.8% prioritize modernizing airport infrastructure.
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59.1% want new aviation and aerospace businesses.
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50% prioritize jobs and economic opportunities.
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31.8% want emerging aviation technologies explored.
Did the Study Go Far Enough?
Nearly two-thirds of respondents (63.7%) believe the study only partially explored or failed to fully explore Whiteman Airport’s economic potential.
County’s Financial Projections Leave Questions About Future Growth
According to the County’s financial analysis, Scenario 1 projects a positive net present value of $14.3 million through 2050, compared with $24.3 million under Scenario 2. Closing and redeveloping the airport would result in a projected $16.2 million loss over the same period.
But what’s missing from those projections?
The potential economic impact of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft and Urban Air Mobility (UAM), two emerging aviation opportunities that could bring new businesses, private investment and jobs to the San Fernando Valley.
The coalition has already sent a formal letter to the County and its consultants, Trifiletti Consulting, requesting further analysis of these technologies.
What’s Next?
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The full Land Use Study is expected in mid-November and will be available on the study’s website.
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A 90-day public comment period will follow before the study goes to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.
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The coalition is urging the Board of Supervisors to adopt Scenario 1 and pursue greater investment in the airport’s future.
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The coalition encourages members and the surrounding community to review the report and make their voices heard.
