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STUDENT VOICE - As a young student growing up in the Northeast San Fernando Valley, I should be thinking about school, friends, college, and my future. But instead, I spend far too much time worrying about something most kids never have to think about: the noise of low-flying planes, the pollution drifting over our neighborhoods, and whether adults in power actually care about the health and safety of the students who live here. That’s what it feels like growing up in a community overshadowed by Whiteman Airport — a place that has become a symbol of frustration, risk, and neglect for many families like mine.
When I was little, airports meant adventure and excitement. But Whiteman doesn’t feel like that. Instead of inspiring curiosity, it creates stress. The noise is nonstop. The planes fly low enough to shake windows and interrupt classes. And every few months, we hear about another emergency landing, another mechanical failure, or another small aircraft crashing near homes or businesses. These incidents leave a lasting impact on kids who see them happen in their own community.
Adults might think students don’t notice, but we do. We hear the engines roaring during school hours. We watch our teachers pause lessons because the noise is too loud. We see our parents look uneasy when a plane dips too low. And we wonder: Why is this still happening? Why hasn’t anything truly changed?
The Problems Whiteman Airport Faces — Through a Student’s Eyes
Whiteman Airport has become the center of many serious issues, and even young people like me can see why the debate around its future is growing louder:
1. Safety Concerns
Whiteman has experienced multiple crashes and emergency incidents over the years. Even if officials call them “rare,” they don’t feel rare when they happen so close to schools, parks, and neighborhoods. For students, it creates constant anxiety — a fear that something might go wrong at any moment.
2. Pollution and Health Risks
The airport still uses leaded aviation fuel, something banned in cars decades ago. Yet kids are walking to school breathing in emissions from small aircraft overhead. Asthma rates in the surrounding neighborhoods are higher than average — and that’s not a coincidence.
3. Noise Impact on Education
Classes stop mid-lesson because of the noise. Students lose concentration. Outdoor activities are constantly interrupted. This is not a learning environment anyone would choose.
4. Environmental Injustice
If this airport were in a more affluent area, these conditions would not be ignored. Here in the Valley — a majority working-class, Latino community — we’re expected to simply tolerate the risks.
5. Community Distrust and Broken Promises
For years, residents have been promised safety reviews, advisory committees, new equipment, noise studies, and environmental updates. Yet the problems remain, and the community’s trust keeps eroding.
Even as a student, I can clearly see: Whiteman Airport is struggling to justify its presence in a densely populated, residential neighborhood.
Can We — Or Should We — Keep It Open?
This is the question everyone is asking. And from a young person’s point of view, it’s complicated.
If Whiteman Airport stays open, then it must change in ways that protect us — the students and families who live, learn, and grow in its shadow. That means:
• Phasing out leaded fuel
• Reducing flight hours during school times
• Enforcing strict safety regulations
• Increasing transparency with residents
• Installing better noise and air monitoring systems
• Creating real emergency plans with schools and youth centers
But if Whiteman Airport closes, it could become something better — something that actually serves young people and families. Other cities have transformed old airports into parks, green spaces, sports complexes, innovation hubs, workforce centers, and community recreation areas.
Imagine if, instead of worrying about crashes, students could enjoy a park, a STEM center, or sports fields on that land. Imagine if the area became a symbol of opportunity instead of fear.
For many young people like me, it’s hard not to ask: Why should we protect an airport that doesn’t protect us?
Whiteman Airport is at a crossroads. And so is my generation.
We’re not against aviation. We’re against feeling unsafe. We’re against breathing polluted air. We’re against having our community treated differently than wealthier ZIP codes. And we’re against being excluded from decisions that will shape the place where we grow up.
I’m just one student — but I speak for many. We’re ready for a future where our community is valued, protected, and heard.
The question is: Are the adults ready to create that future with us?
(Shoshannah Kalaydjian is a Jewish student who writes about education, identity, and the challenges facing the next generation. Growing up in today’s climate, she has witnessed firsthand how rising antisemitism affects young people in classrooms and on campuses. Shoshannah is committed to sharing the perspective of Jewish youth, amplifying student voices, and encouraging leaders to create safer, more inclusive environments for all students.)
