Business View Magazine | May 2021

121 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE MAY 2021 airport, as the VOR (very high frequency omni- directional range) on the airfield is going out of commission in 2023 and the area would be prime for development.” Other than the new terminal, another project the team is excited to have wrapped up is Taxiway Foxtrot South. With this project done, there promises to be better efficiencies on the airfield. And then it will be time to tackle Taxiway Foxtrot North. As with any industry, environmental programs have to be initiated. This means all of the lights in the new terminal will be LED. Future projects for consideration include replacing current runway edge lights with LED lights. Still, the management team strive to ensure that operations are as environmentally conscious as possible. Picou notes, “We have a robust recycling program. Our airport has many containers throughout the terminal building so individuals can recycle their items.” Investing in local youth is very important – as such, the Lafayette Regional Airport teams up with the South Louisiana Community College that has an aviation program with courses in aircraft power plants and airframes. The airport also hosts an Aviation Fun Day, which is aimed at the younger audience and families. In an average year, an estimated 450,000 passengers a year walk through the airport annually, making it a busy place. As expected, the pandemic has had a negative impact on the number of visitors to LFT, but that number is now steadily increasing. Picou admits, “We’re not up to the pre-COVID numbers yet but recently we’ve had some good numbers, which is good news for us.” Located in an area prone to hurricanes, the buildings on the airfield are designed to take the brunt of a storm. While the airport has been blessed to be unaffected by bad weather, other airports in the area have not been that fortunate. “Lafayette becomes a launching point for recovery for other airports, areas, and towns,” says Picou. “When Katrina hit New Orleans, our airport LAFAYETTE REGIONAL A I RPORT