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Things are taking off at the South Lafourche Leonard Miller Jr. Airport, which recently received high marks for its operations. The establishment earned an excellent safety and compliance inspection report from Louisiana Department of Transportation’s Aviation Division, which conducts the report annually.
“They basically look and make sure you’re in compliance with all the various regulations, including the runways and taxiways, fueling systems, lighting systems and things like that,” explained the airport’s manager Jason Duet.
The Greater Lafourche Port Commission (GLPC) acquired the Galliano-based airport in 2001. Since then, the commission has made several improvements that have caused the airport to grow markedly over the past nine years.
More than $20 million in funding from GLPC, the Federal Aviation Administration and LADOTD have been used to install fuel tanks, pave airport roadways, construct a 10,000 square foot hanger and expand sections of the runway, according to Duet.
“Thanks to these improvements, the airport is now capable of handling 20 passenger jets, whereas its 2001 maximum capacity was 4 to 6 passenger piston-powered aircraft,” said a news release issued by GLPC.
Pumping that money into improvement projects could also help the airport obtain more funding from the FAA, touted Duet. “Depending on what marks the airport receives, [the FAA] likes to put their money into airports that are being kept up; a good return on their investment if you want to call it that.”
However, many of the dollars provided by the FAA are up for grabs by multiple airports across the nation. “They have a lot of things they look at,” said the manager. “It definitely scores points that we’ve put in a lot of our own money, owner investment. They [also] look at the safety factor.
“The larger or more aircrafts you have, that parallel taxiway becomes important because you want as little activity on the runway that doesn’t involve takeoffs and landings as possible,” continued Duet.
With limited taxiway room, aircrafts are forced to use the main runway in their preparation for departure, something that can cause major problems for incoming planes during inclement weather. “They may not see the plane sitting there until they’re really close by, then all the sudden there’s a plane sitting there when they’re trying to land,” he explained.
But the airport now hopes to harness some of the clients that routinely fly through Houma, especially those who conduct business in the area.
Before the improvements were made, the airport’s capacity was limited.
From 2008 to 2009, aircraft activity at the site has increased 19 percent, said the release.
Galliano’s close proximity to Port Fourchon has also been beneficial for the operation. Companies that operate out of the port – many of which are based in other states – often use the South Lafourche Airport to fly in employees, noted Duet.
“It’s just closer than the Houma Airport,” he said.
Also on the list of upgrades is the second phase of an Instrument Landing System – or navigational system – that will help guide pilots to the airport’s runway in low-visibility conditions.
The South Lafourche Airport is ramping up its operations thanks to multiple streams of funding. * Photo courtesy of GREATER LAFOURCHE PORT COMMISSION
