WHP Newsletters

AAC would like to introduce Dennis C. Lord, the newest Los Angeles County Aviation Commissioner, to all of our tenants and airport users. His term extends through November 6, 2007.

Currently, Mr. Lord is the public affairs manager for The Southern California Gas Company. He has been with The Gas Company for 38 years, and serves as the public and governmental liaison to 19 cities and communities in south L.A. County. Mr. Lord has also been a general aviation pilot for over 29 years. Welcome, Dennis!!

This month’s Los Angeles County Aviation Commission Meeting will be held at Brackett Field Airport on Wednesday, June 23. The meeting begins at 7:00 p.m.

What was once a bumpy, dusty airstrip – hacked out of a wheat field in the early 1900s – has become the busiest airport in the Los Angeles County Airport System. In fact, Brackett Field Airport has been used as a landing strip almost continuously since 1911, when C. P. Rogers landed his Wright biplane very near the present runway just before completing the first transcontinental flight. The history of powered aircraft was only eight years old at the time!

An actual “airport” was first constructed in 1940 after James N. Long and Kenneth Brooks, operators of the former Pomona Airport, leased ~50 acres of land from the Base Line Water Co. in La Verne. They gouged a 2,600-ft runway out of the wheat fields and constructed a hangar with adjoining offices to serve as a training ground for student pilots from the nearby Pomona College. Brackett Airport was actually named after Dr. Frank Parkhurst Brackett, an original Pomona College faculty member and flying enthusiast.

During the war years, Brackett Field was the only airport in the County allowed to remain open, largely because it served as the base of operations for the Civil Air Patrol. Interestingly, as a security measure, the Department of Defense, who had authority over the airport during the war, mandated that all private planes be dismantled and the parts stored at least seven miles apart from each other.

In September 1947, the County’s Regional Planning Commission recommended that the Board of Supervisors take the necessary steps to acquire land in the eastern part of the County to develop a major County-owned airport for that growing location. Brackett Field became the logical acquisition choice. However, due to opposition from various entities, Brackett Airport was not officially dedicated as a County airport until August 8, 1959.

Since then, numerous improvement projects have transformed Brackett Field into the airport that it is today. The airport has expanded to 276 acres, the main runway has been extended to 4,839 feet, and many County-owned and private hangar and facility developments have been completed. Due to its strategic location and runway length, Brackett Field Airport has become, and will most likely remain, a vital piece of the County’s airport system.

Brackett Airport: (909-593-1395)
Tie Downs - $52 / month
L Row Hangars - $238.16 / month
S Row Hangar - $286 / month
F Row Hangar - $361.32 / month
Commercial Facilities
Land for Development

Compton Airport: (310-631-8140)
Tie Downs - $76 / month
S Row Hangars - $265.64 / month
T Row Hangars - $332.80 / month
End Rooms - $207.63 to $231.04 / month
Office Space

El Monte Airport: (626-448-6129)
Tie Downs - $60 / month
N & O Row Hangars - $344.05 / month
B & C Row Hangars - $366.39 / month
E & K Row Hangars - $570.96 / month
L Row Hangar - $653.41 / month
Office Space

Fox Field (661-940-1709)
Tie Downs - $54 / month
Land for Development

Calling for Fuel: When calling for fuel, please remember to use either the Unicom frequency (122.95) or the fuel phone number (818-312-2911).

Hangar Maintenance: If you are in Hangar Row H, please contact airport management about allowing the operations staff to check the springs and doors on your hangar. If your hangar is located on the even side (2, 4, 6, etc.), please be available on June 12, or leave us your key. If your hangar is located on the odd side (3, 5, 7, etc.), please be available on June 13, or leave us your key.

FAA Monthly Seminars: We will be holding an FAA Safety Meeting every month. The meetings are held in the CAP trailer. To find out the date and topic, please log on to http://faasafety.gov. You can also contact Ms. Karla Wattier at (818) 904-6291, ext. 246 if you have any questions about the seminars. Thanks again to the CAP for letting us use their facility!!!!!!!!

Fuel Prices: Avgas is $3.09 per gallon (full-service) and $2.99 per gallon (self-service). Jet A fuel is now $2.76 / gallon.

Whiteman Wind-Tee: Most of the parts needed to fix the wind-tee have come in. Work is currently underway to get the wind-tee refurbished and re-installed.

Vehicle Parking at WHP: Please remember that you are not allowed to permanently park vehicles at Whiteman Airport. You can park your vehicle in the footprint of your tie-down or within your hangar while you are flying. If you need to have your vehicle parked at Whiteman for a longer duration, you must get prior permission from the airport manager. Airport operations will begin tagging all cars that are parked on the field without prior permission from the airport manager with “Do Not Park” stickers. After five days, those vehicles will be towed at the owner’s expense.

Helicopter Parking: All helos parked in the helicopter-parking area must bring proof of insurance to the Administration Office. The fee for parking your helo in those spots is $89 per month.

Fire Extinguisher Servicing: L.A. County Hangar Tenants – please bring your fire extinguishers to the Administration Office before 7 a.m. on June 11 for servicing. The extinguishers will be serviced from June 14 – 17, and then will be ready for pick up. Please make sure that you get a receipt for your extinguisher when you drop it off, and remember to bring that receipt with you when you come to retrieve your extinguisher. Fire extinguisher servicing was originally scheduled for May, but we had almost no participation so we decided to reschedule. If you miss this servicing, you will be required to provide your own servicing, per the Hangar Lease Agreements.

Pilots’ Lounge Update: Please submit ideas for what we should name the new pilots’ lounge. The official opening ceremony is scheduled for May 26.

The Whiteman Airport Association: The Whiteman Airport Association meets every third Thursday of the month. Dues are $10 annually. These meetings are a great way to get your voice heard on issues relating to the airport.

Speeding on the Ramp/ Airport: I have heard rumors around the airport that people believe that the LACPD cannot give speeders tickets, and that offenders have had their tickets excused on these grounds. After speaking directly with the LACPD,
I can assure you that they have no record of anyone “beating” a ticket that they have issued at the airport.

T-Hangars for Rent: There are still two vacant T-hangars for rent. These hangars have no power, but they will protect your “baby” from the elements. If you are interested in one of these hangars, please stop by the office and see either me or Jaime.

Maintenance on your Aircraft: In accordance with L.A. County Code “Title 19”, Sections 19.04.440, 19.04.520, 19.04.580 and 19.04.610, (and other applicable city, county, state and Federal rules, regulations, ordinances, codes, and laws) all persons wishing to perform commercial operations (i.e. – aircraft maintenance, flight instruction, aircraft interiors, etc.) at Whiteman Airport are required to apply for a permit. Such operators must be able to show proof of certificates to provide such commercial services and proof of insurance for that operation.

Contact:
jfrymyer@americanairports.net
T: 818-896-5271 / F: 818-897-2654

June 1 – EAA Chapter 49 Meeting at Fox
(7:30 p.m. @ the Terminal Building)

June 3 – Brackett Pilots’ Association Meeting
(7 p.m. @ the Pilots’ Lounge)

June 3 – Civil Air Patrol at El Monte
(7 p.m. @ the Terminal Building / every Thursday)

June 9 – FAA Safety Seminar at El Monte
(7:00 p.m. @ the Terminal Building)

June 16 – FAA Safety Seminar at Brackett
(7:00 p.m. @ the Pilots’ Lounge)

June 20 – Antique Aircraft & Car Display at Brackett
(10 a.m. – 2 p.m. @ the Transient Parking Lot)

June 23 – LA County Aviation Commission Meeting
(7 p.m. @ Brackett Field Airport)

June 24 – Pomona Valley Pilots’ Association at Brackett
(7:30 p.m. @ the Pilots’ Lounge)

June 25 – Vintage Airplane & Car Display at El Monte
(9 a.m. – noon @ Center Field)

AAC has decided to revise its newsletter format in an effort to better serve our tenants and airport users. In
addition to the monthly manager’s letter, we have added a “For Sale or Lease” section to help make our
tenants more aware of vacant space and development opportunities at our other locations. Also, the monthly
calendar section will now include events from all five of the County airports. We hope that these changes are
received positively. AAC Website AAC’s website has been totally redeveloped and redesigned. Please check out the new and improved version by logging on to www.americanairports.net.

Airport Management: (818) 896-5271
AAC Customer Service: (310) 752-0578
Accounting Customer Service: (310) 752-0559

You may not be aware of this, but Los Angeles County’s involvement in airports actually began in the Antelope Valley. In
1947, the County acquired three war surplus airfields, all of which happened to be located in the Antelope Valley. The Department of Aviation was created by the Board of Supervisors the following year, and General William J. Fox was appointed its first Director of Aviation. After the sale of Palmdale Airport to the Air Force in 1953, the Civil Aeronautics Agency, now known as the FAA, notified the County of its obligation to provide and operate another general aviation facility in the Antelope Valley. The County was responsible for doing this in order to fulfill the terms of a grant agreement that it had signed when accepting federal funds for the improvements at Palmdale Airport. In 1954, the Board of Supervisors approved General Fox’s recommendation for the acquisition of an airport site in a western section of the Valley. During the next four years, land acquisition and construction of the airport progressed. Fox Field was dedicated on November 14, 1959. At the time of its dedication, the airport totaled 1,200 acres. The improvements consisted of a 5,000-ft runway and taxiway, an aircraft parking ramp, and several small buildings. An existing church facility served as the temporary administration building. The church is actually still in use today by another County department at the airport. In 1961, the existing administration building and fire station were constructed. In the summer of 1998, the largest improvement project since the airport was constructed began. Runway and taxiway extensions were added to both ends of the existing facilities, increasing the overall lengths from 5,000 to 7,000 ft. The project also included a high-speed turn off, an aircraft run-up area and a state-of-the-art airfield lighting system. Another major improvement project began in 2003, and is currently ongoing. It has taken over 50 years for Fox Airfield to reach its current development, and 500 acres of land are still available for even more improvements. As the pattern of growth in the region moves towards the airport, Fox Field’s position in the general aviation market looks stronger than ever.

If you have a hangar in row G, please contact airport management about allowing the operations staff to check the springs and doors on your hangar. If your hangar is located on the even side, please be available on May 15, or leave us your key. If your hangar is located on the odd side, please be available on May 16, or leave us your key.

Every month, there will be an FAA Safety Meeting held at the CAP trailer. Please go to http://faasafety.gov for more information or contact Ms. Karla Wattier at (818) 904-6291, ext. 246. CFIs and students should bring their POHs. Whiteman

Parts are currently on order to repair the wind tee. Aircraft Insurance: All aircraft based at Whiteman must
have a current insurance certificate on file in the airport office. If you do not have a current certificate on file, please get one
to the airport office ASAP.

All helicopters parked in the helicopter area must bring proof of insurance to the airport office. The fee for parking a helicopter in those spots is $89 / month.

Annual fire extinguisher servicing is being held at Whiteman from May 10th – 14th. All tenants in County-owned hangars should bring their fire extinguishers to the airport office before 7 a.m. on May 9th for servicing, and then pick them up after the 14th. Please make sure that you get a receipt for your extinguisher when you drop it off, and have the receipt with you when you come to pick it up.

The floor and walls are almost complete, and the computer will be functional by May 1. However, wireless access is currently available in and around the lounge. The addition of wireless capabilities to the lounge was a direct response to a suggestion made at last month’s Whiteman Airport Association meeting.

I hope that all airport users consider joining the Whiteman Airport Association. The dues are $10 annually, and the meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month.

Speeding on the airport has increased again in the last few months. We are going to start working even harder to try to prevent speeding, and may revoke airport driving privileges for 30 days if we find people repeatedly breaking the posted speed limit of 10 mph.

Currently, there are multiple T-hangars available for rent. These hangars have no power, but they do provide shelter for your “baby” from the sun and other elements. If you are interested in one of these hangars, please stop by and see either Jaime or myself.

Thanks!
John Frymyer, Airport Manager
T: 818-896-5271 / F: 818-897-2654
jfrymyer@americanairports.net

Tie Downs - $52 / month
L Row Hangars - $238.16 / month
A, B & D Row Hangars - $361.32 / month
Commercial Facilities
Land for Development

Tie Downs - $76 / month
S Row Hangars - $265.64 / month
T Row Hangars - $332.80 / month
L Row Hangar - $374.53/ month
End Rooms - $207.63 to $231.04 / month
Commercial Facility

Tie Downs - $60 / month
T Row Hangar - $277.84 / month
N & Q Row Hangars - $344.05 / month
C Row Hangar - $366.39 / month
E & K Row Hangars - $570.96 / month
L Row Hangar - $653.41 / month
Commercial Facility
F
ox Field (661-940-1709)
Tie Downs - $54 / month
Land for Development

Whiteman Airport (818-896-5271)
Tie Downs - $76 / month
B, G & H Row Hangars - $319.60 / month

May 4 – EAA Chapter 49 Meeting at Fox
(7:30 p.m. @ the Terminal Building)

May 5 – FAA Safety Seminar at El Monte
(7 p.m. @ the Terminal Building)

May 6 – Brackett Pilots’ Association Meeting
(7 p.m. @ the Pilots’ Lounge)

Civil Air Patrol at El Monte
(7 p.m. @ the Terminal Building / every Thursday)

May 11 – Radio Control League at El Monte
(7:30 p.m. @ the Terminal Building)

AAC has decided to revise its newsletter format in an effort to better serve our tenants and airport users. In addition to the monthly manager’s letter, we have added a “For Sale or Lease” section to help make our tenants aware of vacant space and development opportunities at our other locations. Also, the monthly calendar section will now include events from all five
of the LA County airports. We hope that these changes are received positively.

AAC’s website has been totally redeveloped and redesigned. Please check out the new and improved version by logging on to www.americanairports.net.

Airport Management: (818) 896-5271
AAC Customer Service: (310) 752-0578
Accounting Customer Service: (310) 752-0559

Our history series continues with…El Monte Airport: El Monte Airport was first constructed in 1936 on 35 acres of
land in the Rio Hondo riverbed by Nick Lentine. The area had been used as a local landing spot for a number of years
prior to its formal establishment. Mr. Lentine started an Army Air Corps Cadet Training School at the airport and continued
to operate the airport until World War II, when it was closed. After the war, the airport was purchased and reopened by a
Mr. Livermore, who operated it for several years before selling it to Robert Wanamaker. Mr. Wanamaker increased
the size of the airport to 70 acres by purchasing adjacent properties and operated the airport until 1965, when the County of Los Angeles entered into a lease with Mr. Wanamaker and took over the operations of the airport to prevent it from closing. The County purchased the airport outright in 1969 for ~$3 million. Because of the poor condition of many of the facilities at the airport, the County had the runway, taxiway and lighting system rebuilt and brought up to FAA standards in 1970. Other improvements over the years have included an FAA control tower, hangars for aircraft storage, large hangars for FBOs, new airplane tie down areas, increased auto parking, a new sewer system, water and fire hydrant lines, and a large airplane wash rack. In June 2001, a brand new $1.5-million terminal building opened to the public. The terminal is home to a pilots’ lounge, supply shop, flight planning station and a restaurant. A wide variety of tenants have called El Monte Airport home over the years. In the early 1970’s, the airport was serviced by Golden West and Cable Commuter Airlines. The invasion of the Mediterranean Fruit Fly in the 1980’s and early 1990’s brought most of the local aerial spraying operations to the airport. Today, El Monte Airport encompasses 103 acres and is home to over 375 aircraft. The airport serves the diverse needs of the City of Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley, and truly is an asset to the local community.

Calling for Fuel: When calling for fuel, please remember to use either the Unicom Frequency (122.95) or the new fuel phone number (818-312-2911).

Hangar Maintenance: If you are in Hangar Row F, please contact airport management about allowing the operations
staff to check the springs and doors on your hangar. If your hangar is located on the even side (2, 4, 6, etc.), please be
available on April 10, or leave us your key. If your hangar is located on the odd side (3, 5, 7, etc.), please be available
on April 11, or leave us your key.

Every month, WHP hosts a FAA Safety Meeting. To find out the date and topic for each month’s event, please go to www.awp.faa.gov/new/ flightstandards/. After you get to the website, you should go to the airport search section and enter WHP. The date, time and topic will be provided to you. You can also contact Ms. Karla Wattier at (818) 904-6291, ext. 246 if
you have any questions about the seminars. Thanks again to the CAP for letting us hold the seminars in their hangar
facility!

Please remember to use your Whiteman gate card to enter or exit the airport’s gates. Every day, the gate by Hangar 31 and D row will close at 9 p.m. and will not re-open until 5 a.m. If you forget your card or are just visiting the airport, you can dial “00” for assistance.

Website of the Month:
If you are trying to find a place to get fasteners, panels or other aircraft parts and equipment, you should try logging on to either www.partsbase.com or http://productsservices.partsbase.com/productsservices/SubCategoryView.asp?SubCategoryId=44&SubCategoryName=Fasteners&CategoryId=3&CategoryName=Airframe.

These sites are not necessarily the cheapest or best sites for aircraft parts, but I think that they are a good place to start.

Fire Extinguisher Inspection:
WHP will be having its annual fire extinguisher servicing and inspection on May 10th - 12th. Please turn in your fire extinguishers to the administration office by 5 p.m. on May 9th. Make sure that you get a receipt for your extinguisher to ensure that you get the right one back.

We will be getting two new hose reels at the fuel pits in April. The new reels should keep the hoses from getting stuck, and should make it much easier to avoid tangles.

We had a few setbacks and will not be able to open the pilots’ lounge as early as we had hoped. However, it should be completed by the end of the month.

Brackett Airport: (909-593-1395)
Tie Downs - $52 / month
L Row Hangars - $238.16 / month
B & D Row Hangars - $361.32 / month
C Row Hangar - $605.58 / month
Commercial Facilities
Land for Development

Compton Airport: (310-631-8140)
Tie Downs - $76 / month
S Row Hangars - $265.64 / month
T Row Hangars - $332.80 / month
L Row Hangar - $374.53/ month
Commercial Facility

El Monte Airport: (626-448-6129)
Tie Downs - $60 / month
T Row Hangar - $277.84 / month
B & C Row Hangars - $366.39 / month
K Row Hangar - $570.96 / month
L Row Hangar - $653.41 / month
Commercial Facility

Fox Field (661-940-1709)
Tie Downs - $54 / month
Land for Development
Whiteman Airport (818-896-5271)
Tie Downs - $76 / month
B, G & H Row Hangars - $319.60 / month
E Row Hangar - $399.99 / month

Calendar of Events
April 1 – Brackett Pilot Association Meeting
(7 p.m. @ the Pilots’ Lounge)

April 6 – EAA Chapter 49 Meeting at Fox
(7:30 p.m. @ the Terminal Building)

April 18 – Antique Aircraft & Car Display at Brackett
(10 a.m. – 2 p.m. @ the Transient Parking Lot)

April 21 – FAA Safety Seminar at Brackett
(7:00 p.m. @ the Pilots’ Lounge)

April 22 – Pomona Valley Pilot Association at Brackett
(7:30 p.m. @ the Pilots’ Lounge)

April 28 – LA County Aviation Commission Meeting
(10 a.m. @ El Monte Airport)

In the post-World War II years, the resurgence of civil aviation prompted a Los Anglees County businessman to establish a badly needed aviation facility in the northeast portion of the San Fernando Valley. That businessman, Marvin E. Whiteman, established Whiteman Airpark on his own land and later leased additional acreage from the County. The airpark provided a home for an ever increasing number of aircraft and pilots, who were only charged parking and fuel fees by Mr. Whiteman. The late 1960s saw a steady decrease in the number of airports in Los Angeles County, and the threat of Whiteman Airpark becoming an industrial park loomed large. So, in 1970, the Board of Supervisors decided to purchase Mr. Whiteman’s 32 acres of private land and mandated that the site be used for airport purposes only. The airpark’s name was changed to Whiteman Airport. A massive repair and renovation project has been underway ever since the County acquired the fee title ownership. The airport now encompasses 184 acres, and many improvements have been made to the existing hangars, tie downs, runway and taxiways. In 1988, a FAA-approved and funded control tower was installed. To observe the urbanization trend in Southern California, it is not hard to see that an airport like Whiteman, home to over 600 aircraft, is needed by the people of
Los Angles County for recreation, instruction and transportation purposes. Moreover, in 1998, the Airport Research and Development Foundation determined that the airport contributed more than $20 million annually to the economy of Pacoima and the surrounding communities. Though it continues to be shaped by the changing times, one of the original Whiteman Airpark hangars still remains at the Airport, reminding airport users of Whiteman’s history and importance in Southern California aviation.

AAC, without admitting any wrongdoing or liability, wishes to publicly apologize to Ms. Patricia Etherington with respect to her separation from AAC. We extend to her best wishes and support for her current and future endeavors, and we acknowledge her expertise in Airport Management.

Aviation Explorers Post 747 will be holding a fundraiser at Rocky’s on Saturday, March 20 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Please show this announcement to your server during the fundraiser, and 20 percent of your check will go to the Explorers. Also, if you donate $25 or more, you will receive a free ride in a Stearman. Please call Ruth Logan at (810) 257-3993 for more information.

Calling for Fuel: When calling for fuel, please remember to use either the Unicom Frequency (122.95) or the new fuel phone number (818-312-2911). You should only call the administration office if you don’t get a response from either the Unicom or the fuel line.

Hangar Maintenance: If you are in Hangar Row E, please contact airport management about allowing the operations staff to check the springs and doors on your hangar. If your hangar is located on the even side (2, 4, 6, etc.), please be available on March 13, or leave us your key. If your hangar is located on the odd side (3, 5, 7, etc.), please be available on March 14, or leave us your key.

FAA Monthly Seminars: We recently had our first FAA Seminar at WHP. The session went very well, and over 30 people attended the event. The topic of our next seminar on March 4 will be Land Without Getting On The News. Please contact K. Wattier at (818) 904-6291, ext. 246 if you have any questions about the seminars. Thank you CAP for the use of your hangar facility!!!!!!!!!

Gate Security @ WHP: Please remember to use your Whiteman gate card to enter or exit the airport’s gates. The gate by Hangar 31 and D-Row will close at 9 p.m. and will not re-open until 5 a.m., 7 days a week. We will install the final section of fencing around the main gate to completely enclose the airport and help with security. I am also hoping to fix some final security issues involving free entry to strangers around Rocky’s.

Securing WHP: While I know that securing the entrance gates 24 hours a day makes entrance to the airport less convenient, I would ask you to keep in mind that the major reason for locking the gates is security. Many people have been seen just letting people in so that they can get to their hangar or tie down spot faster. Please remember that we need to control who has access to our airport. If you come through the gate and allow someone else to follow you in, make sure that you know who the person is. If you don’t, do not let that person follow you in - stop at the other side of the gate and let it close. Anyone who does not have a key can use the call box to call someone to let them in. If that fails, they can dial “00” and access the fuel line,
which is always staffed. Importance of Security: If you go to 7online.com, you can read an article about the state of security at GA airports, entitled “Security Practically Non-Existent at Many Small Airports.” This article is sure to be the first of many that will bring a greater deal of scrutiny to general aviation. It is up to all of us to make sure that we do all that we can to help
prevent serious breaches in the nation’s air system. I would like to thank John Marshall for helping me stay up to date on information pertinent to GA users. I borrowed some good tips from the Virginia State Department of Aviation’s website. Please use the tips as a guide on what to look for:

o Aircraft with unusual or unauthorized modifications.
o Persons or vehicles loitering for extended periods in the vicinity of the airport, especially people in the airport operations area.
o Pilots who appear to be under the control of other persons.
o Persons with an above average interest in aircraft and their performance capabilities.
o Persons wishing to obtain aircraft without presenting proper credentials.
o Persons who present apparently valid credentials but do not have a corresponding level of aviation knowledge.
o Stolen or missing aircraft.
o Anything that doesn’t look right or does not fit the pattern of lawful, normal activity at your airport.
You should report any suspicious activity to the following authorities:
o Airport Management - (818) 312-2911
o Local Law Enforcement - (818) 756-8861

Pilots’ Lounge: The pilots’ lounge should be open around the beginning of March. We will have DSL, a PC, and office
furnishings. We are hoping to hang aircraft models and other aviation memorabilia in the lounge (if anyone cares to donate). I
am excited about getting the room ready for the airport users to enjoy. The pilots’ lounge will be located in the administration
building complex, adjacent to the Pilot Learning Center and Rocky’s, in the office that Sun Quest used to use.

Sincerely,
John Frymyer, Airport Manager
jfrymyer@americanairports.net
T: 818-896-5271 / F: 818-897-2654

FAA Safety Seminar
Thursday, March 4
7:00 p.m. @ the CAP Training Room

WHP Display Day
2nd Sunday of each month (March 14)
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Whiteman Airport Association Meeting
3rd Thursday of each month (March 18)
7:00 p.m. @ Rocky’s

Explorers’ Fundraiser
Saturday, March 20
9 a.m. to 6 p.m. @ Rocky’s

Our LA County Airport Community:

Over the next 5 months, AAC will be providing brief histories on all five of

the Los Angeles County airports. We hope that you will enoy learning

about the ourney that each airport has taken over the years. Our series

begins this month with ComptonWoodley Airport:

It was overcast in the Los Angeles basin on a June afternoon in 1924. Running short of fuel and daylight, Colonel C.S. Smith chose to attempt a landing on a large field in Compton, CA. The site proved to be perfect, and Col. Smith found himself wondering if it wasn’t possible to open an airport on the empty field. After doing some investigating, he discovered that the land was owned by the local school district. Col. Smith was able to negotiate with the school district, and, in 1924, Compton Airport was founded.

In 1936, Earl Woodley took over the lease and was successful in purchasing all of the area included in the facility and 30 more acres on the north side of the airport that allowed for the construction of a crosswind runway. During the war years of 1941

1946, private flying was restricted and the airport was used exclusively by the military as a truck depot. But after the hostilities ceased, private flying reemerged at Compton under Mr. Woodley. He hired instructors and bought airplanes, and, with the profits from his flying school enterprise, purchased the additional land parcels that make up the airport today.

Mr. Woodley died in 1962, and although his widow wished to have the property remain as an airport, this desire was threatened when the land was acquired by an investment company. Los Angeles County, upon the recommendation of the Aviation

Commission, proceeded to lease the airport from the investment company in 1963After much solicitation and support by pilot groups, the citizens of Los Angeles, the Mayor and the entire Compton City Council, the Board of Supervisors voted to

designate the facility as a regional airport. In June 1966, the County purchased the nearly 77acre site outright.

Over the next four decades, the County worked diligently to upgrade the existing facilities and infrastructure. With all of the new facilities completed in 1972, ComptonWoodley Airport is the County’s most completely developed general aviation

airport. It is also the oldest continuously operating airport in the Los Angeles basin. The City of Compton truly has an asset in this airport and its operations.

News / Announcements

Airport Security

The main entry gate (the south gate) will now be closed 24 hours per day. You must use a gate key or the call box to get in. To call someone using the call box, use the keypad provided on the box the two numbers assgned to the respectve business (the list of busnesses is on the keypad). If that busness is closed or if no one answers, dial “00” for the Airport Office, and someone will let you in.

Career Expo January 24 at CPM

The Career Expo at ComptonWoodey Airport, heald last year with tremendous success, will focus on opportunities in the Avaton Industry, and will be heald on Sat., 1/24.

Controllers’ Corner:

We hope everyone's Holiday season went well. Just a little helpful hint this month: We have noticed quite a few people have been taxiing to the runup without caling Ground. This is bad for two reasons: First, if you were to clip another aircraft, your insurance company would ask if you were in a movement area, and if you had clearance to be there. If the answer is “yes”, you were in a movement area, and “no”, you didn't have permsson, then you mght have some probems gettng the company to cover your claim. Second, you are setting up the controllers. We have certain requirements, and givng the pilots the numbers is one of them. So we encourage you to feel free to move about the nonmovement areas without caling, but if you are going to end up departing, please let Ground know.

Also, the Tower is open for visits in SECON (securty condition) Yellow. So if we do go to SECON Orange, as we did over the

Holiday season, the Tower will be cosed to visits. We are back in SECON Yellow for now, so come up and visit!

Letter from the Manager:

Calling for Fuel: When calling for fuel, please remember to use either the Unicom Frequency (122.95) or the new fuel phone number (818-312-2911). Please call the Administration Office if you don’t get a response from the Unicom or the fuel line.

WHP Security Passes: Please stop by the office any day between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. to get your WHP security pass. There is now no cost for the passes.Remember to bring your proof of insurance, license plate number and a valid driver’s license when you

come in. In the interest of security and safety, all vehicles without passes will be stopped. Please help us identify people who do not belong on our airport by displaying your pass when you are airside of the entry gate.

Hangar Maintenance: If you are in Hangar Row D, please contact Airport Management about allowing the operations staff to check out the springs and doors on your hangar. If your hangar is located on the odd side (3, 5, 7, etc.), please be available on January 15, or leave us your key. If your hangar is located on the even side (2, 4, 6, etc.), please be available on February 14, or leave us your key.

FAA Monthly Seminars: The CAP has volunteered its training room for our first FAA safety seminar, which will be held monthly. The topic of the first seminar will be: FAA Simplifies Airspace. The seminar will be held on Thursday, February 5 from 7–9 p.m. in the CAP training / meeting room. The speaker will be David Voelker, a VNY FAA Instructor. Please contact K. Wattier at (818) 904-6291, ext. 246 if you have any questions relating to the seminar. Thank you, CAP!!!

Operating Safely at WHP: Part II – The impact a simple mistake can have on our airport and our community. We have all heard about accidents we had on or AROUND Whiteman in October and November. The impact to our airport has arther-reaching effects than the loss of a few aircraft. After the third crash, we had TV news cameras all over the place. The questions asked were: “How are we ensuring all of the pilots are qualified to fly what they are flying?” “What do we do to ensure that the aircraft are up to standards?” “What is the legal age limit for pilots?” “All of the neighborhood is afraid an

airplane will fall on them, what are you doing to keep an aircraft from falling on your neighbors?” It only takes one reporter trying to make a name for him/herself to bring our airport into so much visibility, that it is easier for the politicians to close us down, than face angry mobs who are under the impression that we are not safe and are going to kill their children. Many of you will see what I mean by this. Many will ask, “What does this have to do with me, and what can I do about it, anyway?”

Here’s what you can do: Help us be that good neighbor to our local community. Stay in the pattern where you should

be. Don’t give neighbors a reason to call us and complain about noise or altitude violations. Know that when you are

in the air, a problem in your aircraft will affect you and anyone or thing under it. Make sure your aircraft are airworthy and that a reputable mechanic is doing your maintenance. Finally, REMEMBER: If a reporter with a camera is prodding you with questions you feel are inappropriate, it may be that you are being set up to help that person make a name for him/herself. People are normally afraid of things they do not understand. Help them understand that aviation is safe, that more people die from riding the local trains than from aviation, and that of the last 3 accidents, and 4 aircraft totaled here, every one of the pilots is up and walking around without one serious injury. Think about what you tell the reporter, or you may be the catalyst that helps someone’s agenda to close one of the best GA airports in So. Cal. It may not be the prettiest airport