85.7 F
San Fernando
Thursday, Mar 28, 2024

Van Nuys Control Tower to Reach New Heights

The Federal Aviation Administration has decided against building a new control tower at Van Nuys Airport. The FAA instead will modernize the tower with new equipment and perform deferred maintenance. A cost for the project has not yet been determined, according to Ian Gregor, an FAA spokesman in Los Angeles. A new tower was a project pushed by Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks) starting in early 2011 after controllers working in the tower contacted him to tell of the cramped conditions. Sherman’s office went to the FAA to see about getting a condition assessment on the tower. The current tower was built in 1968 and puts the controllers about six stories above the runway. The FAA has made improvements to the structure, particularly following the 1994 Northridge earthquake. In a Sept. 12 letter to Sherman, acting FAA Administrator Michael Huerta outlined the three options available to the FAA – do nothing, modernize or build a new tower – with the modernization plan being the most cost effective. “The overall maintenance cost of the facility would decrease due to upgrades to the facility infrastructure such as electrical and heating and cooling systems,” Huerta wrote in the letter. A temporary tower would be used by controllers to handle aircraft activity while the permanent one is built. A schedule of when the work would be done is still finalized, Gregor said. Jumpstart a Heart Corporate Air Parts Inc. has added Philips HeartStart defibrillators to its lineup of aircraft cabin safety equipment. The Van Nuys company will also provide training on using the defibrillators and supply spare parts for the machines. Distributing the Philips model can also bring non-aviation business to the company as private schools, government facilities and public sports arenas are equipping themselves with the machines, President Neil Looy said. “Time is of the essence,” Looy said of the circumstances when a defibrillator is needed. “After 10 minutes your chances are slim (of saving a person).” Corporate Air Parts also distributes defibrillators made by Cardiac Science. Looy publicized the distribution deal with Philips at the National Business Aviation Association national convention in Orlando, Fla. from Oct. 30 to Nov. 1. Corporate Air Parts was among the 30 aviation and aerospace companies from the greater San Fernando Valley attending the 65th annual show that draws exhibitors from across North America and Europe to display their products and services for the business aviation industry. “This group of people is, to me, valuable even as we scramble to make ends meet,” Looy said. Airport Advertising The Bob Hope Airport in Burbank will begin a six-month advertising and marketing campaign in November to increase awareness of the airport in the greater San Fernando Valley region. The ads will carry the slogan “Close. Convenient. Comfortable.” The campaign will include newspapers, online ads and billboards in Woodland Hills, Sherman Oaks and Santa Clarita. Spots will air on radio station KLST-FM (92.7) and Time Warner cable outlets. The campaign will cost about $150,000 and be managed by Cooper Communications Inc. in Encino. “This program is slated to remind San Fernando Valley and North County residents that the Burbank Bob Hope Airport is their local airport that they should use whenever they make travel plans,” Airport Executive Director Dan Feger said in a statement. Chinese Investment Jet Edge International has entered the lucrative Asian private aviation business through a joint venture with a Hong Kong aircraft charter and brokerage firm. The deal between the Van Nuys Airport-based company and Asia Jet gives the foreign firm a minority ownership stake in Jet Edge. Asia Jet Chief Executive Bill Walsh joins the Jet Edge board of directors. Jet Edge, in return, will get access to Asia Jet’s facilities, operational experience and ties to the Chinese government. The Hong Kong firm will use the Jet Edge fleet of 16 planes ranging from the mid-size Lear 45 to heavy Gulfstream jets. “They built a significant infrastructure we could piggy back on,” said Jet Edge President Bill Papariella. Jet Edge was started in 2011 by Papariella and four partners with financing from Bard Capital Group, a Denver private equity firm. It provides charter and management services primarily for large-cabin Gulfstream jets. By the end of the year, Jet Edge expects to have 19 aircraft under management. Staff reporter Mark R. Madler can be reached at (818) 316-3126 or by e-mail at [email protected].

Mark Madler
Mark Madler
Mark R. Madler covers aviation & aerospace, manufacturing, technology, automotive & transportation, media & entertainment and the Antelope Valley. He joined the company in February 2006. Madler previously worked as a reporter for the Burbank Leader. Before that, he was a reporter for the City News Bureau of Chicago and several daily newspapers in the suburban Chicago area. He has a bachelor’s of science degree in journalism from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Featured Articles

Related Articles