VICA Hears Update on Hangar Events at Van Nuys Airport

The Aviation Committee of the Valley Industry & Commerce Association received an update Wednesday on efforts to allow public events in aircraft hangars at Van Nuys Airport. Max Reyes, an economic policy manager in L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti’s office, told the committee that the mayor’s office has been working with the Building and Safety Department, Los Angeles World Airports, representatives from Councilwoman Nury Martinez’s office and the Van Nuys Airport Association on the issue. “We feel there has been progress,” said Flora Margheritis, general manager of Van Nuys Airport. Right now, a point of contention is about whether the large hangar doors will be considered emergency exits, Reyes said. The issue of public events at the San Fernando Valley airfield came to the attention of airport tenants and VICA in December at a meeting of the airport association. Tenants were told of a city of Los Angeles administrative ruling that prohibits public events in hangars at Van Nuys Airport and warehouses across the city and that the Building and Safety Department would begin to enforce it. A report is expected in the next week or two from the department and a proposed ordinance sponsored by Martinez is scheduled to be heard by the City Council’s Planning and Land Use Management Committee on March 19, Reyes said. The proposed ordinance, introduced in December, instructs the L.A. Fire Department and Building and Safety Department to recommend a system to permit events at hangars. “There is a pathway there and we are working on that,” said Curt Castagna, who serves as president of the Van Nuys Airport Association VICA has become involved with the issue as its executive committee in December passed a resolution in opposition to the event ban and calling for deferring implementation of the ban at Van Nuys and Los Angeles International airports for 180 days; creating standards for review and a permitting process; and making a clear distinction between hangars and warehouses.