Bertha Walker
January 14, 2008James Akins
January 16, 2008
Construction at the South Lafourche Leonard Miller Jr. Airport continues, but the payoff is already evident.
The facility’s strengthened runway and lighting system have made the airport more attractive to south Louisiana businesses. And traffic at the airport has increased dramatically since the work began last summer, according to airport Manager Jason Duet.
“The improvements allow us to be more competitive and to provide superior customer service, while we will ultimately attract more and more businesses to the area,” he said.
In addition to increasing the runway load from 12,500 pounds to 75,000 pounds, the strip has been outfitted with a new lighting system. Duet said the upgrades make it easier for larger aircraft to use the airport.
Workers continue to build a parallel taxiway, which should be complete by spring, he said.
Long-term plans call for an instrumental landing system to be added, a parallel taxiway running the full length of the runway to be built and a second runway overlay project that will strengthen the runway load to 138,000 pounds to better accommodate even larger planes, Duet said.
The Greater Lafourche Port Commission awarded GAO FBO Services the site’s fixed base operator designation last July.
Duet said since then, the company has hired and trained two employees, extended its operating hours from 5:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., renovated its office building, upgraded fueling and is striving to attract new business to the Lafourche airport.
In addition, ERA Helicopters is leasing ramp space and PHI uses the facility.
According to Duet, GAO FBO Services has also requested that the airport be listed as a Department of Defense preferred vendor, a move that would allow government aircraft to land and refuel at the Lafourche site.
Negotiations are also under way with BHP, a Houston-based oil company, to use the South Lafourche airport for its Gulf of Mexico operations.
“We are very excited about the potential these endeavors have and will add to the airport,” said Larry Lippert, general manager for GAO FBO Services. “I think the new runway has opened a huge door to the South Lafourche airport and the airport is expected to get bigger and better.”
Duet said feedback from airport tenants has been positive.
Peter Callais, president of Abdon Callais Offshore LLC said, “With the construction work complete on the new runway and the new FBO adding much-needed logistical support to the airport, I believe that there are big things in the future for our airport, and I am excited to be a part of it.”
Jerry Savoie, owner of Savoie Alligator Farm LLC, agrees. “The new FBO provides professional service to the companies that utilize the airport. The Port Commission needs to be commended for all of their hard work and money they put into developing the airport to what it is becoming,” he said.
The South Lafourche Leonard Miller Jr. Airport is reporting an increase in business since upgrades began last year. * FILE PHOTO
