Whiteman Airport

Whiteman just gets worse and worse with time. Andrew the airport manager is rude and seems bothered by any request. They expanded transient parking for absolutely no reason and now a spot that was ours sits empty all the time. Security is now unnecessarily more right than Van Nuys which makes no sense, and at least one controller, whose name is Mike, is outrageously unprofessional. The airport «lounge» features furniture that is only 5 years old and is beat to all hell. They don’t even have an airport restaurant here anymore. Andrew has really run this place into the ground. Bad service and high fuel prices are a big reason why we moved our operations to Van Nuys airport.

With my FIL having a plane, we have now been to several small airports for one reason or the other. This time, it was to pick up and drop off the in-​laws while we were spending some time together to visit with some of Kevin’s other family.
We timed our departure via car from our house with their departure from the Aurora, Oregon airport and made it within 20 minutes of each other (they beat us). We ended up picking them up at the flight school instead of closer to the plane because unlike some other airports no one directed them where to go. The folks at the flight school were very nice and let them stay in the airconditioned waiting area until we got there and then we drove them around to the actual small airport check-​in area (which was closer to where the plane was parked and in the 100 degree heat would have been easier/​better for my MIL to walk and wait in). Being the protective person I am, this irritated me a bit, but they are used to the lack of communication at these little airports.
This airport is in a downtrodden area and is not as maintained as some of the municipal airports we have visited. Bathrooms are outside, but the plane was fine and the price of parking ($ 5 per day) for the plane couldn’t be beat.
Since I am no pilot, all I can go by is my FIL’s experience and he has had a lot worse. I was glad Kevin was there so he could help pull the plane over to the gas pump and look forward to visiting another small airport again sometime in the future.

This review is for 01/​28/​2012. I was invited by the United States Air Force Auxiliary Squadron 35 to see their orientation. I had contemplated joining the Civil Air Patrol for many years. With my current other commitments, I just wanted to taste a small sample of what the Civil Air Patrol does. Squadron 35 invited me to Whiteman Airport.
I keep referring Whiteman Airport as Whitmore without the «e». The entrance to Whiteman Airport is on Osborne near the railroad tracks. The LAPD Foothill Division is close by. The entrance leads to the Whiteman Airport Offices, the airplane hangers, and a small park to watch airplanes takeoff. I accidentally bumped into a meeting with a lot of Seniors about flying. Yes, I may act 40 years old, but doesn’t mean I want to join seniors. Not yet anyways.
If you plan to join the Civil Air Patrol, Squadron 35 has their own trailers/​bunkers. You’ll see their Squadron Insignia on their trailers. There is a gate that leads to their offices and meeting hall.
Overall, Whiteman Airport is still an airport, but as you know Pacoima, the areas has changed. Whiteman Airport mainly serves small airplanes, but also serves as USAF CAP in case of a National Emergency. You might want to check into it.
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This is a nice small airport that has a great viewing area to watch planes take off and land. Picnic benches, and trees for shade make this an ideal stop if you’re an aviation fan. They do have a small burger shack on the premises as well, but being a Pescatarian, I have not tried it. If you have kids, this is an awesome place to come and hang out for a fun and free activity on a Saturday afternoon.