Events bring new focus to St. Landry airport

Events bring new focus to St. Landry airport Main Photo

1 Nov 2019


News, Events

St. Landry Parish has an airport that can handle just about any corporate or private airplane flying. But until recently it has been one of the parish’s better kept secrets.

            David Allen, who was appointed St. Landry Parish airport manager this spring, is working to do something about that. He has scheduled events in October and November to reintroduce the airport to local consumers and to aviators as a regional stopover for small planes.

            October 12 has been designated Young Eagles Day, and from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. youngsters can get free rides in small planes, some of which are housed at the airport, and some others that will be flown in for the occasion. The idea is to generate interest in flying for young people and to introduce their parents to what is available at the airport, Allen said.

            “We want to let people see what we have been doing over the last couple of months to get this operation working better than it has been,” he said.

            On November 9, the airport will host its second aircraft fly-in since Allen became the manager. The fly-ins bring aviators to the airport for a fun event, and also for an introduction to its facilities and services. On June 22, pilots visited Opelousas in private planes that ranged from modern turbo-props to a vintage World War II trainer.

            The airport can easily accommodate landings and takeoffs of single- and twin-engine aircraft and small and mid-sized private jets. “You can bring in the basic corporate jets here,” Allen said. “We have a lot of runway space for a regional airport.”

            The 537-acre airport, also known as Ahart Field, is just two miles from downtown Opelousas and is centrally located for travelers to other parish communities. It was opened as a public airport in October 1947. It has two concrete runways: Runway 18/36, which runs north-south, is 5,999 feet long, and runway 6/24, which runs roughly northeast-southwest, is 4,051 feet long.

            Regular and jet aviation fuel are both available and Allen hopes that increased use of the airport will also mean increased fuel sales, which represent a significant revenue stream and are key to the financial success of the airport.

            “Our airport is important because it provides easy access for business leaders, but it also can be extremely valuable to our growing tourism industry,” according to Bill Rodier, St. Landry economic development dir3ector.

            “We are fortunate to be located at the crossroads of two major highways and to have significant rail and water access,” he said, “An attractive airport will add immeasurably to our transportation mix,” he said. 

            St. Landry Parish Council Finance Chairman Wayne Ardoin said in a recent interview that he is encouraged by the direction the airport has taken since Allen became manager. “I’m optimistic about it,” he said.

 

Three things to know about this story:

 

  • Events in October and November will reintroduce the airport to local consumers and to aviators as a regional stopover for small planes.
  • The airport can easily accommodate landings and takeoffs of single- and twin-engine aircraft and small and mid-sized private jets.
  • Regular and jet aviation fuel are both available at the airport and represent a significant revenue stream for it.

 

             

 

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