Summary

  • Private jet travelers have flexible takeoff and landing times.
  • Private airports are closer to city centers for easier access.
  • Van Nuys Airport is one of the busiest private aviation hubs in the US.

Travelers who have the option of flying in a private jet are granted the ultimate flexibility and luxury. The unique configuration of the business jets allows travelers to relax and unwind while providing complete privacy. However, one of the best benefits of flying privately is flexibility. Private jet operators and users can take off and land whenever they please. This allows them to fly to airports based on their preferred schedule, instead of waiting for commercial flights.

Along with flexibility of when to leave and begin traveling, private jet users have the option of where to leave and begin traveling. The majority of private jet users have the ability to fly out of private airports. These airports are much smaller than regular commercial airports. The smaller size and runways mean that not all jets can land on them, but most private jets have the ability to land on shorter runways. It also means that private jet users can fly into many different airports across the United States, instead of focusing on airports with larger runways.

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The smaller size of private airports also means that the airport can be placed in different locations. Typically, these locations are closer to the metro areas of larger cities. Therefore, travelers who are flying privately will have easier access to many private airports than commercial airports which may be located further from the city center. One of these smaller, private airports is Van Nuys Airport (VNY).

Van Nuys Airport is located near the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Because Los Angeles, California, is one of the biggest cities in the United States and in the world, Van Nuys Airport is one of the busiest airports for private aviation activity.

A Gulfstream 600 landing and clearing the a wet runway.

Photo: Ed Saldana | Shutterstock

Private Jet Card Comparisons sorted the busiest United States-based airports for private aviation in 2023. Van Nuys Airport was the fifth most active airport for private aviation, and one of two airports in the top five that only allow private aviation. It trailed the following airports:

Overall, per Private Jet Card Comparisons, Van Nuys recorded over 33,000 private jet departures in 2023. This was a slight decrease, about 6.5%, from the 35,568 departures it recorded in 2022, but it still held strong as the fifth most active airport for private aviation. Let’s take a closer look at Van Nuys Airport and how it came to be. Let’s also take a look at why this airport is so popular for private aviation.

Van Nuys, CA - March 13, 2024 - Dassault Falcon 50 taxing onto the runway for departure. Brief history

Van Nuys Airport was first opened in December 1928. A small group of residents in the area got together and formed a corporation to operate the airfield as Metropolitan Airport. The airport took up 80 total acres and was used by general aviation.

Beginning in 1942, the federal government purchased the airport and converted it to an army airfield. The United States Army also purchased more land to expand the airport’s operations and stationed several Air Force squadrons at the location.

After World War II ended, the city of Los Angeles purchased the airport back from the government. The total bill for the airport was just $1, and it came with an agreement that allowed the California Air National Guard to remain at the airport. The airport’s name was changed to Van Nuys Airport in 1957. The airport would become one of the top 25 busiest airports in the United States, yet it still had no commercial operations.

A Legacy 500 built by Embraer in Brazil is seen taxing down for departure.

Photo: Ed Saldana | Shutterstock

In the 1990s, the California Air National Guard moved its operations to Naval Base Venture County. Since then, Van Nuys Airport has focused only on improving its private aviation services and still does not have any commercial operations.

Statistics of the Los Angeles private airport

Van Nuys Airport began as a small airport that was just 80 acres in total. However, today, the airport covers 725 total acres. The airport sits at an elevation of 802 feet.

The airport operates with two major runways, both of which are asphalt. These runways have the following dimensions:

Runway name

Length

Width

16R/34L

8,001 feet

150 feet

16L/34R

4,013 feet

75 feet

Other than the two runways, Van Nuys operates with many different taxiways connecting to its various hangars and office locations. This includes several fixed base operators (FBO), such as Clay Lacy Aviation, Castle & Cooke Aviation, Signature Flight Support, and Jet Aviation. It is also a base for many air operation units of the Los Angeles City Fire Department, Los Angeles Police Department, and other medical transport helicopter operations.

Other features of Van Nuys

As previously mentioned, the airport itself is located within the Los Angeles metropolitan area. It is approximately 20 miles from downtown Los Angeles, but may be a more convenient option for traveling than the nearby Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

Gulfstream Business Jet Taxiing For Take Off In Van Nuys Airport, California

Photo: Lithium366 | Shutterstock

Beyond its dominance in the private aviation world, the airport was utilized as a filming location for several movies and television shows. In film, the airport can be seen in Casablanca, Executive Decision, and Silent Running. It can also be seen in television shows such as Airwolf, Entourage, and Alias, among others.

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