Van Nuys : Scouts to Help Airport With Refurbishments

A group of Granada Hills Boy Scouts will spend this weekend sprucing up the observation area of Van Nuys Airport, a popular spot for aviation buffs to watch planes take off and land.

Mark Celaya, a 17-year-old member of Troop 415, developed the project and will supervise the work as part of an effort to achieve Eagle Scout status, said Scoutmaster John Kimball.

“Most people just sit in their cars,” Celaya said of the airport enthusiasts. “We want them to go to the benches and sit down.”

Ellen Celaya, Mark’s mother and a part-time airport guide, said that while the observation area remains popular, it was beginning to look “a little seedy.” Starting Saturday morning, the Scouts will work with members of the airport’s maintenance staff to “make everything look nice,” she said.

The plan includes repairing and painting existing benches and the installation of several new benches, including airplane-shaped seats for children. The Scouts will also install a speaker that will broadcast the control tower frequency, she said. All materials will be provided by the airport.

“We’re hoping to attract even more people,” she said.

According to Kimball, the repairs will continue through this weekend and end with a final bit of work on Oct. 14.

Located on Van Nuys Airport’s eastern edge at the end of Waterman Drive, the observation area “really gives people an opportunity to see things close up,” said airport spokeswoman Stacy Geere, noting that an average of 1,400 takeoffs and landings occur a day. She said this is the first time the site has been refurbished since it opened in 1987.

“We’re really grateful to the Boy Scouts for doing this,” she said.

For Celaya, a Scout since he was 8 years old, it’s a chance to give something back to the community.

“I like helping the community,” he said. “This is a lot better than just doing trail work.”