As discussions about the possible closure of Whiteman Airport continue, it is important to understand the public investments and federal commitments that already exist at the airport.

In 1998, Los Angeles County took a formal step to protect Whiteman Airport’s safety and continued operation. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved the acquisition of land adjacent to the airport specifically to create a safety buffer for the runway protection zone.

The purchase was funded primarily through a Federal Aviation Administration grant.

This action established a documented partnership between the County and the federal government to support safe airport operations. It also placed long term federal obligations on the airport that remain relevant to any discussion about its future.

On December 16, 1998, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved the acquisition of two parcels of land identified as Parcels P-1AV and P-2AV near Whiteman Airport.

County documents describe the purpose of the acquisition as creating an airport safety buffer zone in the vicinity of the airport. The acquisition was intended to:

• provide a safety buffer for airport operations
• protect airport users and surrounding residents
• secure land located within the runway protection zone

The County’s report to the Board noted that acquiring the property would help ensure safety for both aircraft operations and nearby communities by protecting land within the airport’s runway protection area.

Approximately 90 percent of the acquisition cost was funded through a Federal Aviation Administration Airport Improvement Program grant. The remaining funding came from the County’s Aviation Capital Project Fund.

FAA airport grants are not simple subsidies. They come with binding grant assurances that require the airport sponsor to maintain the airport for aeronautical use and to preserve runway safety protections.

When Los Angeles County accepted federal funding for this project, it accepted those obligations.

These commitments mean the airport cannot be treated as an ordinary piece of county property. Decisions affecting the airport must comply with federal aviation requirements designed to protect safety and maintain the national aviation system.

The land acquisition was formalized through a recorded Grant Deed transferring the parcels to the County of Los Angeles for Whiteman Airport purposes. The transaction established the parcels as part of the airport’s safety infrastructure and placed them under County ownership connected to airport operations.

The 1998 acquisition demonstrates that Los Angeles County made a deliberate investment in the safety and long term viability of Whiteman Airport.

The County identified the need to protect the runway safety area, acquired land specifically for that purpose, and used federal aviation funding to do so.

Those decisions created lasting obligations. Federal grant assurances require the airport sponsor to protect runway safety areas and maintain the airport for aviation use.

This history matters today because it shows that Whiteman Airport is not simply a local land use question. It is an airport that has received federal funding and is part of the national aviation system.

Any proposal to close or repurpose the airport must therefore be considered in light of:

• the County’s prior investment in airport safety infrastructure
• federal funding obligations and grant assurances
• runway protection zone requirements
• the airport’s role in regional aviation capacity

The public record makes clear that Los Angeles County invested in Whiteman Airport’s safety and accepted federal responsibilities tied to its operation. Those commitments remain a central part of the discussion about the airport’s future.