Los Angeles Area FBOs

[Max Clark]

I'm planning a trip out to Los Angeles this summer. I'm trying to get ahead of where to park and base the plane for ~6ish weeks.

I've heard first hand horror stories about FBOs towing Mooney's on tugs and bending the nose gear. That has me a little freaked out.

I'm also trying to figure out a place that isn't going to charge me a fortune (in landing or ramp fees) while I'm visiting.

If you have any recommendations between KVNY, KWHP, and KSMO please let me know!

Inspired by this thread:

[ZuluZulu]

KSMO is Atlantic and that’s it. Or parking in transient. There’s a landing fee.

KVNY has more options. I’m partial to Signature East. You can also park at, well, The Park, which doesn’t offer many services but does have cheaper self serve. 

KWHP, I’ve never flown into, so I’ll have to leave that to others. 

KSMO is the best experience and the one I would recommend: best views, oceanside, less turbulence than the valley usually, an iconic airport that’s closing this decade so you don’t have many more chances to visit. It will probably cost more but in my opinion it’s worth it, at least once. There’s good restaurants in walking distance and the flying museum is pretty good so there’s a lot to do without even leaving the airport, which might make for a nice day spent around aviation before venturing out into LA. 

It’s also easier to operate at SMO: one runway, simple taxiways, simple layout, no large jets. At VNY, you will need to be on your toes. Don’t know your experience level but if you are a newer pilot and/or don’t have much experience operating at a large airport with heavy jet traffic and heavy training traffic, it can be intimidating. Van Nuys has two runways where you can be side by side on final with big jets, taxiways are a little more complicated than you might think in places for an airport with no crosswind runway, and especially if you’re parking at The Park where there’s one way in and one way out, and ATC works quickly there and talks fast.  I’ve had the most “expedite,” “without delay,” and “can you accept a short approach” instructions at VNY than any other airport in Southern California. 

One VNY advantage is weather. It is more likely to be VFR there when SMO is MVFR or IFR.  When the marine layer comes in, it tends to hit SMO first. If you’re coming in June (during June gloom) this might be a bigger consideration, but most summer months it’s not as big of an issue. 

Consider visiting Catalina and Camarillo while you’re there, if you’re not doing so already. San Diego is also worth a good day trip. 

[cliffy]

Where do you want to visit in Los Angeles? What venues? BECAUSE no matter where you want to drive in LA you will spend hours 

on the roads and freeways. You need to plan accordingly.  

Are you planning on staying in one hotel and venturing out from there for the entire trip?  Same as above.

What is your flying experience level? Newly minted PP or are you IFR capable?  As mentioned the marine layer weather on the south

side of the Hollywood Hills can keep you on the ground if you are not IFR rated. I was based at KSMO for years.

Give us more information on what your trip will be so we can advise better.

It can take literally an hour and  a half to drive from KVNY to KSMO at times during the day. 

[Max Clark]

LA native

Staying with family off Mullholland - pretty much straddling between the three fields based on time in car.

Earned my private flying out of SMO before the runway was shortened - used to live by SMC. Right turn at the shoreline plenty of times.

Ended up avoiding VNY most of the time due to traffic. First flight over there with my CFI was the closest to a mid air I ever want to experience. 

Rented out of WHP last summer. Quiet field boxed in by VNY and BUR airspace. North/West departures basically fly through VNY approach GS.

SMO MVFR/IFR is a consideration. Cautiously optimistic I’ll be a newly minted IFR before the trip which would take the marine layer out of the equation.

If this all comes together ~6 weeks is a long time. Trying not to get fee’d to death for the privilege. 

[MB65E]

I work out of VNY and SMO. SMO City tie downs might work for you. Atlantic SMO has a small community hanger that can accommodate. Just call ahead and ask. Landing fee isn’t bad. $10.96. Or 5.48/1000 lbs GW. If you go into SMO I’ll buy ya a coffee and keep an eye on it for you. Wish we had extra hangar space. 
-Matt

Edited May 29, 2024 by MB65E

[KLRDMD]

I've been to each many times. By far KWHP is the least stressful. That's where I would go.

[Tommooney]

OXR is a little farther but practically empty towered field. There is almost never a wait to depart unlike many SoCal fields where there may be several planes in line and on approach on a hot summer day. It does get morning fog but has ILS and GPS precision approaches. I'm out there at least three times a week in my hanger. Plenty of free advice from my hanger neighbors and I if your walking around the field. Fuel is less $ than SMO or VNY. 

Good luck

Tom

[MooneyMitch]

17 minutes ago, Tommooney said:

OXR is a little farther but practically empty towered field. There is almost never a wait to depart unlike many SoCal fields where there may be several planes in line and on approach on a hot summer day. It does get morning fog but has ILS and GPS precision approaches. I'm out there at least three times a week in my hanger. Plenty of free advice from my hanger neighbors and I if your walking around the field. Fuel is less $ than SMO or VNY. 

Good luck

Tom

Yep!  

[IvanP]

KWHP is probably the cheapest (fuel and parking) and least demanding when VFR of all three. Coming in IFR to KWHP with low ceiling can be a bit of a challenge as the field is in populated area and it may be difficult to recognize - the approach in not straight it. Flew it once with ceiling close to minimums and it was an interesting approach. I have used KVNY few times for short business trips. Airtel Plaza Hotel at the south end of 16L had a nice parking option - essentially parking the plane at the hotel. 

[KLRDMD]

2 hours ago, IvanP said:

KWHP is probably the cheapest (fuel and parking) and least demanding when VFR of all three. Coming in IFR to KWHP with low ceiling can be a bit of a challenge as the field is in populated area and it may be difficult to recognize - the approach in not straight it. Flew it once with ceiling close to minimums and it was an interesting approach. I have used KVNY few times for short business trips. Airtel Plaza Hotel at the south end of 16L had a nice parking option - essentially parking the plane at the hotel. 

Airtel Plaza used to be a decent hotel but I was told that they were putting the homeless there during COVID and the place is trashed now. I stayed there a number of times over the years.

[N201MKTurbo]

I went to LA a few weeks ago and parked at El Monte. Cheap gas and no fees at all. The only down side is no rent a cars on the field. There is Hertz near by and an Enterprise. A 5 min Uber away. Hertz will let you drop the cars at the airport.

[IvanP]

11 minutes ago, KLRDMD said:

Airtel Plaza used to be a decent hotel but I was told that they were putting the homeless there during COVID and the place is trashed now. I stayed there a number of times over the years.

Bummer, but not surprising given the current LA area situation. 

[MB65E]

VNY- The green fencing around airtel has been removed. They cleaned up the hotel a bit. I think they are taking reservations again. Bad part is they gave up the ramp space to Aero. They operate a fleet of embraer legacy’s. There are about three of them parked on the ramp daily. They run it like a little airline. 
-Matt

[Max Clark]

Thanks everyone