Four California Airports Off-Limits To Some Homebuilts, Warbirds
EAA says it’s making progress in reversing or modifying restrictions on experimental aircraft imposed on four busy California airports by the Van Nuys Flight Standards District Office (FSDO). In April of 2004, then-FSDO Manager Robyn Miller issued a memo that effectively barred some experimental aircraft from regular operations at Van Nuys (yes, of One Six Right fame), Whiteman, Burbank and Santa Barbara airports. Most experimentals are homebuilts but many warbirds are operated in the experimental category, also. The memo says that “phase II and ‘normal’ operations [by experimentals] will not be allowed” at the four airports although “exceptions may be made based upon current office policy, certification category, aircraft type and operator experience.” The memo did contain a grandfather clause allowing existing experimentals to continue using the fields until they are moved, sold or the nature of their operation is changed. The memo also bans initial flight and phase I testing of experimentals at the airports.
