Plans to create an area especially for light general aviation aircraft at California’s Van Nuys Airport are moving closer to fruition. The so-called propeller park will include a new general aviation terminal plus hangars for 335 piston aircraft and tiedowns for another 100.
AOPA Vice President of Local Airport Advocacy Bill Dunn and AOPA Airport Support Network volunteer Elliott Sanders recently met with the park’s developers to check on progress.
“This has been in the works for many years, and we are excited to see it moving forward,” said Dunn. “Even so, we are in the early stages of development and a great deal of work remains if we are to ensure the future of light GA aircraft at Van Nuys.” Dunn stressed the importance of this project to the developer and offered AOPA’s assistance to make sure the project is completed as planned.
The propeller park will occupy land previously used by the Air National Guard, and demolition of those facilities as well as hazardous materials cleanup must be completed before new construction can begin, likely in 2009. Developers plan to invest about $20 million in the 48-acre propeller park, which they hope will serve as a model for similar projects at airports elsewhere in California, Arizona, and Nevada.
