St Landry Parish Airport Authority President Makes Courageous Stand

Who said common sense and responsibility are dead? Certainly not the hangar tenants at the St Landry Parish-Ahart Field Airport near Opelousas (LA).

The Airport Authority Board's President had a meeting with pilots and actually listened -- and he's committed to recommending a change in the rules.

Insurance -- specifically the airport-mandated liability insurance -- has become too expensive for area pilots, some of whom have seen an 700% increase in their liability insurance since 9-11. If the airport continues to insist they carry that insurance, they're leaving -- and it's not likely anyone else will want the hangar space so badly that they'll pay hangar rent, and an insurance premium that's even bigger.

Non-resident aircraft don't have any such insurance requirement, Dale Vidrine noted; although the bylaws, written in 1973, require that liability insurance, he's going to recommend the requirement be dropped.

"I did not want to make a decision about this until I talked with the people who were affected by the insurance," Vidrine said. He listened, and he understood. Three cheers!

FMI: www.ohwy.com/la/o/opl.htm