Business View Magazine - Sept 2023

265 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 10, ISSUE 9 MONROE REGIONAL AI RPORT sailing, seasoned veterans do have a lot of it. “I think that we must try to get an extra couple of years out of our pilots,” he says, “and there are a lot of other countries that still do that: 67 or above. If you’re still capable of flying your aircraft, and you can pass your physical, I don’t see why you shouldn’t be able to, because you’ve got so much experience with those pilots! You’re way ahead of the game with someone more experienced than you are with someone just starting.” Another option Butcher cites is the potential use of qualified foreign pilots. “If we’ve got the spaces available, and we don’t have the people here to fill them,” he says, “I think we need to go elsewhere.” Butcher notes that the pilot shortage has nothing at all to do with affecting safety. It’s merely that there are fewer flights available. He stresses that these are simply his own opinions and not at all necessarily reflective of the City of Monroe or any other entities. Airport upgrades: gearing toward safety There are several expansion and infrastructural projects at Monroe Regional. Among them is a planned improvement for the airfield, which is where most of the entitlement money is going, Butcher informs. As for the terminal, he adds, it’s about 10 years old and has some years left before any major expansion is planned. Phase one of a major drainage project was recently completed. Louisiana is notoriously flat and marshy, of course, and Butcher mentions that being surrounded by creeks and canals makes for some significant drainage issues out on the airfield. The multi-year project will mean getting water off the airfield: truly a crucially important thing, as Butcher informs. Award-winning workforce training. Unrivaled global transport infrastructure. Explore the advantages at OpportunityLouisiana.gov.