Whiteman Airport Safety to Be Discussed
The Los Angeles County Aviation Commission, City Councilman Richard Alarcon and county Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky will hold a public meeting tonight at David Gonzales Park to discuss safety issues associated with Whiteman Airport.
Alarcon and residents living in Whiteman’s flight path have criticized safety measures at the airport after a recent rash of accidents, including one in September in which two passengers were killed and the pilot was critically injured when a single-engine plane that had just taken off from Whiteman crashed into two nearby homes.
It was the latest of at least six crashes near the airport in the past two years, including another double fatality in March.
In an October letter to Yaroslavsky, Alarcon called for a moratorium on training flights at Whiteman.
A moratorium, however, would be difficult to impose. Although the facility is administered by the county, the Federal Aviation Administration has ultimate authority over most aviation matters and would probably be required to sign off on the moratorium.
Members of the aviation commission will discuss safety issues and respond to questions from community members at tonight’s 7 o’clock meeting; the park is at 10943 Herrick St.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
