Los Angeles, US πΊπΈ Closed Airport
US-10322
-
126 ft
US-CA
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Loading...GPS Code: Not available
Local Code: Not available
Location: 33.9533Β° N, -118.380997Β° E
Continent: NA
Type: Closed Airport
Keywords: 57CA
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Designation | Length | Width | Surface | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|
H1/ |
100 ft | 100 ft | ASPH | Active |
The heliport was closed sometime in the mid-2000s. While an exact public record is unavailable, aviation directories show it as active in 2002 but permanently closed by 2010, suggesting a closure date between approximately 2005 and 2009.
The specific reason was not publicly announced, which is common for private facilities. However, the closure is consistent with the general trend of corporations decommissioning private heliports due to a combination of factors: high operational, maintenance, and insurance costs; evolving corporate transportation strategies that no longer required a private helicopter; and increasing regulatory complexities and liability concerns associated with operating aircraft in a dense urban environment.
The heliport is permanently closed and has been fully decommissioned. The location is the rooftop of the Merle Norman Cosmetics headquarters building at 9130 Bellanca Avenue in Los Angeles. Current satellite imagery confirms that all aviation markings and equipment have been removed, and the area is now a standard building roof, housing equipment such as HVAC units. The building itself remains the active, operational headquarters for Merle Norman Cosmetics.
The Merle Norman Cosmetics Bldg 3 Heliport, which also used the FAA identifier CL97, was a private rooftop heliport located at the company's world headquarters. Its primary purpose was to facilitate rapid executive transport. In a city known for its traffic congestion, the heliport allowed company executives to travel quickly to and from nearby airports, such as the very close Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), or to other business meetings and corporate sites across Southern California. It represents an era of corporate aviation, from the 1960s through the 1990s, when such facilities were a symbol of prestige and a practical tool for maximizing executive efficiency.
There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the heliport. Given the significant costs, regulatory hurdles, and liability involved in re-establishing an aviation facility in this location, a reopening is considered extremely unlikely. The company has operated successfully for many years without it, indicating it is no longer a business requirement.
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