By Xerxes Wilson
Published: Sunday, June 23, 2013 at 6:01 a.m.
Last Modified: Friday, June 21, 2013 at 11:38 a.m.
Like many ventures in Terrebonne Parish, as the oilfield goes, so goes business.
With a busy Gulf of Mexico, the Houma-Terrebonne Airport continues to grow and is taking steps to improve its facilities.
The airport sees more than 88,000 annual operations, which is airport parlance for take-offs and landings.
This puts it in the top four busiest airports in the state, according to David Slayter, director of the airport and adjoining industrial park.
Slayter said the airport is down in total operations since its busiest days midway through the last decade. He attributed this decrease to fewer flight training companies operating out of the airport.
“The commerce and business has not declined — it has increased,” Slayter said.
The airport is expected to increase activity in the coming years due partially to ongoing investments from oilfield service companies.
Following the floods brought by Hurricane Katrina, many oilfield transport companies began relocating their aircraft to areas less prone to flooding. The airport has benefitted from that, Slayter said.
Today, the airport hosts 155 aircraft including helicopters and traditional airplanes, Slayter said. That's a 35 percent increase from 2005 figures.
One of the companies that has increased its footprint in Houma is PHI Inc. The Lafayette-based oilfield transport company has more helicopters based in Houma than anywhere else and not coincidentally had Terrebonne's second-highest property tax bill last year.
Slayter said PHI and ERA Helicopters, which has a similar footprint at the airport, are set to increase the number of their locally based aircraft. Bristow Group has fewer helicopters than ERA and PHI in Houma but is also increasing the space it has there.
Slayter said it's unclear now how much property PHI will need for its planned expansion or how many aircraft will be added.
“I would expect it to be a significant expansion,” Slayter said.
ERA has leased an additional 20 acres. Though it's unclear how many aircraft will be added, Slayter said the expansion is expected to bring in new jobs.
The three helicopter companies couldn't be reached for comment.
Slayter said hosting more aircraft is not only a benchmark of the airport's health but also brings jobs and money into the parish.
“Bigger helicopters require more crew, mechanics on the ground, and that is just more people that eat and spend money here,” Slayter said.
Along with helicopters, the number of airplanes based at the airport has also increased. The airport now has 83 fixed-wing aircraft. That's up from 64 in 2005, Slayter said.
About 40 of those are single engine, 30 have multiple engines and 10 are classified as jets, Slayter.
“In the years past, folks thought the airport was just a place for people with money to play, but it's important for economic development,” Slayter said. “Even the jets are economic development. ... It is a strategic business tool, and we want businesses to have them based here because it means business is here.”
The airport is undergoing federally financed drainage projects and is mapping out other expansions and maintenance to one of its runways.
The South Lafourche Leonard Miller, Jr. Airport has also benefitted from activity in the Gulf.
Last year, the airport saw 20,000 operations. That is up from 12,500 in 2011, airport Manager Joe Wheeler said earlier this year.
Source: http://www.dailycomet.com
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