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Independence Airport runway flagged by state inspector; county missed a prior FAA grant window amid lease lapse
Summary
Airport manager warned a state inspector may recommend closing the Independence Airport runway due to runway condition; the county missed earlier FAA grant programming (about $1.5M set aside) because an expired LADWP land lease prevented accepting the award, though staff said a new lease is expected soon.
Ashley Helms, Inyo County's airport manager, told the Board of Supervisors on June 9 that a state inspector raised significant concerns about the condition of the runway at Independence Airport and may recommend the runway be closed until rehabilitation can be completed. Helms said the runway is used mainly for helicopter operations during the summer (Forest Service and BLM) and that a temporary runway restriction could be possible while helicopter and other essential operations continue.
Helms said the county had sought FAA funding for runway rehabilitation but was unable to accept an FAA grant in time this year because the airport's land lease with the City of Los Angeles (LADWP) had expired. The FAA had roughly $1,500,000 set aside for the project in fiscal year 2025, and project costs were expected to be closer to $2,000,000. Helms said she informed the FAA the new LADWP lease is likely imminent and has told state and federal partners that the county is pursuing a full lease execution.
On the runway condition, the state inspector reportedly suggested options including closing the runway to certain aircraft types or restricting operations; Helms said one possible operational mitigation could be to limit use to aircraft types that more closely resemble "bush planes" and taildraggers, while working with Caltrans and the FAA on longer‑term rehabilitation planning. She said the county will continue discussions with LADWP, Caltrans and the FAA and would keep the board informed if a temporary runway restriction is recommended.
The report came amid airport updates showing elevated enplanements for the winter season (Helms said the county was already above 11,500 enplanements through May and is projecting roughly 16,500 for the year), and a seasonal route schedule that will move toward daily service in late June.
Board members asked how much activity would be diverted and whether a temporary runway closure would affect grant eligibility; Helms said the FAA representative suggested a temporary closure might not preclude funding and could strengthen the case for rehabilitation.
The county will monitor FAA and state guidance and continue to seek lease execution with LADWP to allow programming of the rehabilitation project in future FAA capital cycles.
