Propeller Planes At Van Nuys Airport Getting Long-Awaited Park
June 12--VAN NUYS -- The downward spiral for propeller-driven aircraft may soon level off at Van Nuys Airport.
The long-awaited $26.5-million VNY Propeller Park is scheduled to break ground in August, with its developer now clearing the site.
Pilots will gather Wednesday to celebrate the pending consolidation of piston-driven planes and businesses into a full-service aviation community.
"It's the beginning of a location to foster the community we lost at Van Nuys Airport -- the community of aviators that created aviation over the last 100 years," said Elliot L. Sanders, president of the Van Nuys Propeller Association.
Located on the old Air National Guard site, the new prop park will act like an airport within an airport -- with its own terminal, maintenance services, flight schools, restaurant, fuel station and wash rack.
It will be home to 80 pilot-owned hangers moved from across the fabled One-Six-Right runway, plus 115 new hangers, some with attached businesses.
It will also include a communal hanger for military warbirds built before 1950, plus nearly two acres for outdoor piston-driven planes.
The 32-acre prop park, approved by Los Angeles World Airports six years ago near Balboa and Roscoe boulevards, will serve the dwindling number of small planes been displaced by more lucrative charter jets.
Van Nuys Airport, once the nation's busiest general aviation airport, in its heyday housed as many as 1,400 piston-driven aircraft.
It now has fewer than 400 of the droning prop planes that once taught generations of pilots how to fly.
"It's certainly going to help," said Chris Rushing, president of the Condor Squadron, working on one of 11 World War Two flight trainers. "These Gulfstream guys are buying up everything they can.
"Young pilots have to start somewhere. You don't just start them in a 747."
After years of delays, Pacific Aircraft Development has signed a contract to build the propeller park within three years. The Pacoima-based company has developed and managed aircraft facilities at Whiteman Airport as well as a dozen others across Southern California and Arizona.
Steve Argubright, a managing partner for Pacific Aircraft Development, said the company will break ground this August on two buildings housing 31 hangars.
The terminal, plus a Hole-in-the-Wall Burger Joint within the 350,000-square-foot prop park complex, is expected in 2014, he said. The total cost: $26.5 million.
"It's been a long journey," Argubright said. "I'm excited. It should be real good. To be fully funded, we've got to demonstrate there's a market there.
The key to success, he said, was "the personality of the airport" -- whether VNY is friendly and accommodating to its piston pilots.
He said he hopes to foster a "live and let live" environment to encourage a new community of pilots.
On Wednesday, members of the airport's propeller association will hold a "Party in the Park" for their annual meeting.
"The propeller park is finally going to have some sticks in the ground, some shovels turning over, it's been a long time -- 12 years," said Sanders, who plans to move his aircraft insurance business to the park. "This will kickstart a new flying community."
On Monday, Sanders led an airport tour for Faisal Gill, a new member of the Van Nuys Citizens Advisory Commission.
Past rows of Cessnas ready for their next flight. Past vintage Condors, ready for their next formation. And past flat-tired birds of a bygone era.
"I think this is fantastic, a great gem," said Gill, a local attorney, looking at the future park site. "As we're seeing more corporate aviation coming in, there'll be a great place for propeller pilots."
"It's a fantastic idea, a great place for the community."
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Copyright 2012 - Daily News, Los Angeles
