Cárdenas Calls on LA County to Temporarily Shut Down Whiteman Airport, FAA to Investigate Airport Safety
SAN FERNANDO VALLEY — Congressman Tony Cárdenas (CA-29) sent a letter to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors urging them to issue a 30-day moratorium on all flights from Whiteman Airport, with the exception of emergency services. The request comes after several plane crashes have impacted the Northeast San Fernando Valley community, including the most recent fatal incident.
“Los Angeles County, the owner and operator of Whiteman Airport, has a responsibility to ensure that the airport meets the necessary airport safety and standards and that all safety practices are followed as required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA),” wrote Congressman Cárdenas. “These incidents have demonstrated that Los Angeles County is failing to achieve the required safety standards and, as a result, trust with the community has been broken. The lack of urgency and attention to ensuring that this airport is running safely is unacceptable. I am requesting a 30-day moratorium on all flights originating from Whiteman Airport, except public safety or medical emergency flights."
The Congressman also sent a letter to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) urging them to visit the airport and conduct a thorough investigation of the safety and operation standards.
“During the flight moratorium, a full investigation and audit of Los Angeles County’s safety operations at Whiteman Airport needs to be conducted,” wrote Congressman Cárdenas.
The Congressman asked the FAA to investigate the following:
1) All aircraft incidents or citations levied by the FAA or any other agency.
2) All documentation related to maintenance of the planes.
3) All documentation related to safety training of all pilots at Whiteman Airport
The request comes after Congressman Cárdenas asked the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to create a report examining the safety of Whiteman Airport in Pacoima.
To view the letters, see below and click here and here.
Dear Honorable Holly J. Mitchell:
Please see the enclosed letter addressed to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regarding my profound concern and frustration with the numerous plane crashes occurring from planes that are taking off or landing from Whiteman Airport located in Pacoima, California, including the most recent incident on April 20, 2022. However, I encourage you to consider voluntarily shutting down Whiteman Airport for 30 days and to participate with the full investigation and audit that I have requested to be conducted by the FAA. This is for there to be a thorough and transparent investigation where its findings can be presented to my office, the county, and the people of the Northeast San Fernando Valley.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. Los Angeles County, the owner and operator of Whiteman Airport, has a responsibility to ensure that the airport meets the necessary airport safety and standards and that all safety practices are followed as required by the FAA. If you have any questions or wish to discuss the attached letter further, please call my office at (202) 225-6131.
Sincerely,
TONY CÁRDENAS
Member of Congress
Dear Acting Administrator Dickson and Director Dermody:
I write to express my profound concern and frustration with the numerous plane crashes that have involved planes taking off or landing at Whiteman Airport located in Pacoima, California, including the most recent incident on April 20, 2022. This most recent plane crash involved a small engine plane from Whiteman Airport, which crashed into the embankment of the Westbound Interstate 210 Freeway in Sylmar, California. The crash was within feet of a high-volume freeway, high-capacity power lines, commercial center and residential homes. Unfortunately, it led to the pilot’s death, a fuel spill and the shutdown of Interstate 210.
As you are aware, incidents at this airport have become a regularity. This most recent plane crash from Whiteman Airport – in addition to the previous crashes in January 2022, November 2020 and September 2018 – have raised serious concerns for the safety of the communities and families surrounding Whiteman Airport as well as the pilots, personnel and staff that have access to or are located at the airport. Los Angeles County, the owner and operator of Whiteman Airport, has a responsibility to ensure that the airport meets the necessary airport safety and standards and that all safety practices are followed as required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). These incidents have demonstrated that Los Angeles County is failing to achieve the required safety standards and, as a result, trust with the community has been broken.
The lack of urgency and attention to ensuring that this airport is running safely is unacceptable. I am requesting that a 30-day moratorium on all flights originating from Whiteman Airport, except public safety or medical emergency flights. During the flight moratorium, a full investigation and audit of Los Angeles County’s safety operations at Whiteman Airport needs to be conducted. This investigation should include:
1) All aircraft incidents or citations levied by the FAA or any other agency.
2) All documentation related to maintenance of the planes.
3) All documentation related to safety training of all pilots at Whiteman Airport.
Finally, I expect your office to share your findings expeditiously and with full transparency. It is paramount that the FAA and Los Angeles County ensure the safety of all parties and steps must be taken immediately at Whiteman Airport to ensure our families and community are safe.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. I respectfully request a prompt response to the above concerns and the request for a full investigation and audit of LA County safety operations of Whiteman Airport by June 3, 2022. If you have any questions or wish to discuss this letter further, please call my office at (202) 225-6131.
Sincerely,
TONY CÁRDENAS
Member of Congress
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