Airport Overview
Whiteman Airport (KWHP) is a Los Angeles County public-use general aviation airport in Pacoima, in the northeast San Fernando Valley. It is the busiest of the County's five GA airports, with roughly 80,000-plus annual operations and over 600 based aircraft, heavily weighted toward training aircraft, light pistons and helicopters. It sits at 1,003 ft MSL about 20 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles.
Runway Capability and Jet Limits
Whiteman has one runway, 12/30, at 4,120 by 75 feet of asphalt with displaced thresholds on both ends. While that length might suggest light-jet capability, the runway is rated to just 12,500 lb single-wheel pavement strength, which precludes business jets. Whiteman is a light-GA and rotorcraft field; turbine charter does not operate here.
Charter Considerations
Because Whiteman cannot accommodate business jets, charter clients in the northeast Valley are served from Van Nuys (KVNY), the world's busiest dedicated GA airport, or Hollywood Burbank (KBUR), each about five nautical miles away with full jet FBO infrastructure. The Jet Finder positions aircraft at those fields and arranges ground transport to Pacoima.
Tower, Approaches and Curfew
Whiteman is a towered field with a contract (non-FAA) control tower active roughly 0800-2000 daily on 135.0; outside those hours, pilots self-announce on CTAF/UNICOM 122.95. There is no ILS or published instrument approach, so operations are visual. A voluntary noise curfew discourages arrivals and departures between 2200 and 0600, and helicopter training and pattern work are prohibited 2000-0800.
Safety and Planning
The displaced thresholds on both runway ends reduce landing distance available, and the surrounding densely developed Valley terrain leaves little margin for performance-limited aircraft. Pilots should run weight-and-balance and density-altitude calculations carefully on warm afternoons, when the 1,003 ft elevation pushes effective altitude higher. Whiteman has no customs; international trips clear elsewhere.
Regional Context
Whiteman sits within one of the densest concentrations of general aviation airports in the country. Within roughly 15 nautical miles are Van Nuys (KVNY), Hollywood Burbank (KBUR), Santa Monica (KSMO) and Agua Dulce (KL70). For jet travelers, Van Nuys and Burbank are the practical gateways; Whiteman's role is local piston, training and helicopter activity for the San Fernando Valley.