Service Limited To Capabilities Of Cell Phones, Radio To Start

The New Orleans Lakefront Airport (NEW) has lacked tower operations since August 2005... when Hurricane Katrina knocked the service out. Still, the little general aviation airport, long preferred by executives, politicians and even celebrities because of its lack of commercial crowds and easy access to downtown, saw the highest number of flights since the hurricane in April -- 4,000, according to the Associated Press.

That's on par with its fellow New Orleans airport, Louis Armstrong International Airport (MSY) -- which took over air control duties for the area after the 2005 storm.

Responding to pressure from unions and members of the state's congressional delegation, the Federal Aviation Administration is set to reopen air traffic control next week.

"Hopefully, everything's on track and it will open up Monday," airport aviation director Randy Taylor said Wednesday.

Three controllers and one supervisor will initially have only radios and cell phones to work with and operational hours will be reduced, said C.W. Baker, president of the local National Air Traffic Controllers Association.

Staffing levels will be determined by the level of improvements and progress made, Baker said. The four employees will be coming from the MSY tower and Baker said the move will bring that number of controllers to 28, about seven positions lower than its pre-Katrina staffing, according to the AP.

"It's a good thing, when you balance the equation," Baker said. "However, the staffing situation is critical."

Although the service will be limited for now, FAA spokesperson Roland Herwig said the plan is to have tower operations with radar and landlines up to pre-Katrina levels by early 2008.

FMI: www.lakefrontairport.com, www.flymsy.com, www.faa.gov