Page 5 - Aerotech News and Review, February 4, 2022

Big changes in the wind for county-run airports

by Larry Grooms airports. Addressing the atmosphere of Assistant Manager Salvador Euljoqui.
special to Aerotech News panic evoked by reports of airplane Whiteman: Manager Alvaro Esc-
crashes, Miller said, “every aircraft obedo; Assistant Manager Ernesto
A reorganized commission ap- crash in the U.S. gets big coverage, (Ernie) Umana.
pointed to advise County Supervisors because they are so rare.” Compton: Airport Project Manager
on operations of the county’s five Tanyq Collier; Manager Liton Lin.
general aviation airports, kicked off Looking back and future vision Brackett Field: Manager Jessee Ma-
its first meeting of the year with news News of changes in county airports loney; Assistant Manager Carlos Dios
of impending plans and changes, and system came rapidly, beginning with
also criticism over supervisors taking introduction of new Advisory Com- On the agenda
controversial action without first con- mission Chair Curt Costagna, who Responding to a question from
sulting their advisory panel. thanked his two-term predecessor, Commissioner Christina Passucci,
In the wake of a much publicized Harvey Holloway, whose new respon- Morgan clarified that the U.S. Air
single-engine aircraft crash onto rail- sibilities for oversight rest entirely at Force Thunderbirds are officially on
road tracks on Jan. 9, County Supervi- Fox Field. the scheduled to perform at Fox Field
sors meeting on Jan. 25 unanimously Courtesy photograph Then new faces and familiar faces in 2023.
and without comment directed the Whiteman Airport in Pacoima, Calif. in new roles showed up from the De- Asked by commissioners about the
Department of Public Works, which it more prudent to just get the infor- ton/Woodley Airport, asserted that on- partment of Public Works and its Avi- status of the systemwide airports mar-
manages county airfields, to prepare mation to expedite the process. The going efforts to shut down Whiteman ation Division. Jason Morgan of DPW ket study plan held over from 2021,
documents needed to ask the Federal motion instructed the DPW to report is driven by developers and politi- introduced Paul Maselbas, taking over Morgan said the group meetings ex-
Aviation Administration to close Pa- back in 60 days on the information to cians. He said car and truck crashes Art Vander Vis in Public Affairs. pected to commence in January have
coima’s Whiteman Airport, where the commence a shutdown. vastly outnumber aircraft accidents, Declaring last year’s organizational been pushed back to February. He said
flight originated. Fifth District Supervisor Kathryn “but nobody talks about closing the transition from contracted to in-house the plan calls for survey information
The motion by Supervisor Sheila management, Morgan reported 2021 for two distinct stakeholder groups,
Kuehl, whose 3rd District encompass- Barger is opposed to the closure. freeways. There have been airplane closed substantially across the board those with direct interests inside the
es the busy airport, lays the ground- “I do not support the closure of crashes at Los Angeles International and all major construction work was airport fence line, and groups outside.
work for action to force closure. Kuehl Whiteman Airport,” Barger said. Airport, but nobody talks about shut- completed at the five airports, includ- The outreach is intended to include,
has previously taken action to close “The closure of any airport requires ting down LAX.” ing administration offices. among others, EAA, AOPA, CAP and
the field. In 2020 the board passed thoughtful analysis and investigation Calling into the virtual commission And for the first time, all of the names youth organizations.
Kuehl’s motion to create a controver- by various parties. There has not been meeting’s public comment segment, and most of the faces assigned as airport In other business, commissioners
sial Community Advisory Committee any direction by the Board of Supervi- James Miller called attention to the managers and assistants were introduced learned that studies into creating new
that opposes airport operations. sors to do so.” lapse in communication between su- to the public. They are: hangar agreements, including aviation
According to a report in the San Barger’s advisers Harvey Holloway pervisors and their advisers. He also and non-aviation hangar space and tie-
Gabriel Valley Tribune, Kuehl’s mo- and Peter Amundson represent inter- criticized media outlets for ignoring Fox Field: Manager Samuel (Sam) down fees will be carried out this year.
tion on Jan. 25 included the comment ests of Fox Field in Lancaster. the economic, educational, recreation- Maghekian; Assistant Manager Mat- Agreements for FBOs, which typically
that FAA process of closing an airport Advisory Commission member al, public and emergency service and thew Halls. are for long-term leases, will follow
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could take a decade or more, making Clinton Simmons, representing Comp- transportation values from community San Gabriel: Manager David Price; later.

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February 4, 2022 Aerotech News and Review 5
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