Pilots arriving at Los Angeles-area airports from outside the U.S. will breathe a sigh of relief beginning May 21 because they will be able to clear customs at a dedicated clearance facility at the Signature Flight Support FBO at Van Nuys Airport instead of having to land at Los Angeles International Airport first. Since 2007, when customs support for general aviation airports in the Los Angeles area was withdrawn, pilots have had to land first at LAX then make short hops to their final destinations. Signature built the dedicated clearance facility at Van Nuys according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) guidelines.
According to Los Angeles World Airports, which operates Van Nuys, customs clearances “will be available this year by advance reservation under the federal User Fee Facility Program.” Maria Sastre, president and COO of Signature Flight Support, said, “We are so pleased with the private/public cooperation with Van Nuys Airport, LAWA and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection service to be able to bring CBP services to Van Nuys. We are especially proud to host these services in our facility. Van Nuys provides an excellent choice for business and general aviation customers to arrive in the U.S.”