Castle & Cooke Aviation Becomes Full Service FBO at Van Nuys Airport

Castle & Cooke Aviation Services, Inc. announced the approval of a 30-year lease at its Fixed-Base Operation (FBO) at Van Nuys Airport (VNY). The Los Angeles City Council and the Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) Board of Airport Commissioners have unanimously approved a new Master Lease for Castle while also confirming Castle’s status as a full service FBO at VNY, the busiest general aviation airport in the United States.

David H. Murdock, Castle’s Chief Executive Officer and owner, has been operating at VNY since 1975. Murdock’s Lear 25 was the seventh jet to be based at VNY in 1977. Today his aircraft shares hangar and offices with dozens of aircraft owned by the region’s top corporations and business leaders. Castle has operated a corporate hangar and fuel farm at VNY since 1980, serving primarily Fortune 500 flight departments based in Southern California.

Over the years, Castle has grown its presence at VNY by expanding into more than 120,000 square feet of spacious hangars and Class A offices. Castle will now leverage 30 years of experience at VNY to provide the highest level of service to passengers and crews visiting Southern California.

In connection with its new lease, Castle will redevelop existing facilities on two lease sites by constructing a new 50,000-square-foot hangar and office building and a customer service lobby as well as pour concrete for a 75,000-square-foot aircraft apron.

“We believe this is a good deal for the City of Los Angeles and it’s the right thing to focus on for the future of this airport," said Gina Marie Lindsey, LAWA Executive Director. "I would like to thank Mr. Murdock and his staff for the perseverance required to reach this milestone and your commitment to both VNY and the City of Los Angeles.”

“Castle’s project is consistent with our long‑term goals for Van Nuys Airport," said LAWA Chief Operating Officer, Steve Martin. "We are committed to having competitive and contemporary facilities at Van Nuys Airport." 

“I have wanted a first‑class FBO at Van Nuys for over 30 years, so I finally decided to build one myself," Murdock said. "At last we will have a truly World Class operation at Van Nuys. Now crew and aircraft passengers can enjoy the comforts of home as well as the business resources they need while at our FBO at Van Nuys."

The FBO will also serve as a virtual gateway for the aviation customers, allowing them to utilize some of Murdock’s other endeavors, such as his Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village, The Regency Club atop Murdock Plaza in Westwood, the California Health & Longevity Institute (a premiere clinic and diagnostic center), the Dole Nutrition Institute (providing health and nutrition information) as well as his luxurious Four Seasons resort properties on the island of Lana’i, Hawaii.

About Castle & Cooke, Inc.

Castle & Cooke, Inc. and its affiliated companies are owned by David H. Murdock. The company’s diversified businesses have operations in more than 24 states and include the development and ownership of real estate. The company’s developments include master planned communities such as Lake Sherwood in Thousand Oaks, Calif., Mililani Town on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, Seven Oaks in Bakersfield, Calif., and Keene’s Pointe in Orlando, Fla. In Hawaii, the company also owns 98% of the island of Lana’i and two award-winning Four Seasons Hotels. Castle also operates FBO’s in Everett, Washington at Paine Field (PAE) and in Honolulu, Hawaii, at Honolulu International Airport (HNL).

Contact:
Castle & Cooke Aviation Services, Inc.
Steven C. Friedmann
Executive Vice President
(818) 742-3401