Jose Mier here, and if you have ever stood in a Sun Valley backyard and heard the hum of a small plane overhead, you have heard the sound of one of our neighborhood’s most interesting neighbors. Just up the road in Pacoima sits Whiteman Airport, a general aviation field that has been part of the northeast San Fernando Valley since 1946. As a Sun Valley native who loves celebrating everything our corner of Los Angeles has to offer, I wanted to take a closer look at this local landmark, the aviation niche it serves, and the lively conversation about its future.
A Little History: From Farm Field to County Airport
The story starts in 1946, when pilot Marvin Whiteman Sr. opened a private air park on farmland in the northeast San Fernando Valley. Civil aviation was booming after World War II, and local pilots needed a place to fly. Over the years the field grew, and a manufacturing company built a plant on its west side. By the late 1960s there were real worries that the property might be turned into an industrial park, so Los Angeles County stepped in. With help from state airport funds, the county completed the purchase of about 32 acres of Whiteman’s land in August 1970 and has owned and operated the airport ever since. The field was renamed Whiteman Airport in the 1980s, though plenty of old-timers still call it Whiteman Air Park. I love that kind of local nickname, because it tells you how long people have been flying from this spot.
What Exactly Is General Aviation?
When most of us think about flying, we picture the big jets at Burbank or LAX. General aviation is everything else: all civilian flying except scheduled airline service. That includes student pilots learning the basics, weekend flyers, aircraft owners, mechanics, avionics technicians, fuel providers, and the aviation-related businesses that keep small planes safe and airworthy. It is a quiet but very real part of our regional economy, and it is a niche that depends on skilled, hands-on work.
Whiteman is the busiest of Los Angeles County’s five general aviation airports. According to the county’s 2026 airport fact sheet, it handled just over 91,000 takeoffs and landings in 2024, is home to more than 400 based aircraft, and directly supports roughly 273 jobs, with an estimated $112.1 million in total airport-related economic benefit. The airport sits on 184 acres and has a control tower, a terminal building with a flight school and a pilot supply shop, and a range of businesses that handle fueling, maintenance, and repair.
Where Young People Earn Their Wings
What I love most is the way Whiteman introduces young people to aviation. The airport has hosted flight training programs, including Vista Air and a Glendale Community College flight program, and it is home to Civil Air Patrol squadrons. EAA Chapter 40 runs a Young Eagles program that gives kids ages 8 to 17 a free introductory flight, typically on the fourth Saturday of the month. The chapter has been doing this since the national program launched in 1992 and has flown more than 10,000 young people.
Imagine being a teenager from Sun Valley or Pacoima who goes up in a small plane for the first time and suddenly sees the whole San Fernando Valley laid out below. That kind of moment can change what a kid believes is possible, whether it leads to a pilot’s license, an engineering degree, or a career in the skilled trades. As someone who believes in investing in our young people, I find that inspiring.
Wings for Public Safety and a Little Hollywood Flair
Right next door at Barton Heliport, the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Air Operations unit is based. When wildfire season arrives, we all know how valuable it is to have aircraft ready close to the foothills that frame our part of the Valley. Whiteman also shows up on screen from time to time. The airport has appeared in productions such as Sharknado and Kill Speed, which gives our neighborhood a little Hollywood flair.
Take a Look Inside the Tower
If you want a feel for how the airport works, this video tour takes you inside the Whiteman control tower and shows a banner tow pickup in action. It is a neat look at how controllers manage traffic in busy airspace sandwiched between the Burbank and Van Nuys airports.
A Community Conversation About the Future
No honest look at Whiteman is complete without acknowledging that the airport is the subject of real debate. In October 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 the airport. Some neighbors and groups, including Pacoima Beautiful, have raised concerns about safety and air quality, and advocates for closure have pointed to past aircraft accidents. Supporters, including many pilots and local aviation organizations, point to jobs, youth programs, and the emergency and public safety services based there.
I am not here to tell anyone what to think. What I do believe is that the people who live closest to the airport, including those of us in Sun Valley, deserve accurate information and a seat at the table. Follow the county’s study, attend community meetings, and listen to both the families who live under the flight paths and the folks who work and train at the field.
How to Experience Whiteman for Yourself
If you are curious, there are easy ways to connect. The county has hosted a Community Aviation Family Festival at the airport, most recently in June 2026, and the Young Eagles days are open to families who sign up in advance. Aspiring pilots can reach out to the local flight schools to learn about lessons, and aviation fans can simply visit the terminal in Pacoima to see what the field is all about.
Whether you see Whiteman as a treasured neighborhood asset, a challenge to be managed, or a bit of both, it is part of the story of our corner of the Valley. As always, I will keep exploring the people, businesses, and places that make Sun Valley and its neighbors special, and I hope you will keep exploring right along with me.