Mon, Jan 30, 2006
KHSA Recognized For Hurricane Relief Efforts
Last week, the Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) Southern Region Airports Division
announced the agency has selected Stennis International Airport
(HSA) in Bay St. Louis, MS, to receive the 2005 General Aviation
Airport Safety Award. The award is presented to a general aviation
airport in the Southeast that makes outstanding efforts to increase
safety.
The daunting task faced by Airport Manager Bill Cotter and his
son in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, and the way they stepped up
to meet the challenge, is an admirable tale. After the devastating
storm swept through Bay St. Louis -- leaving much of the area in
ruin -- the two men cleared debris from operational and safety
areas and repaired runway edge lights to allow resumption of night
operations.
The airport also borrowed airport rescue and fire fighting
vehicles... and two days after the hurricane, relief flights
began.
The airport provided bivouac areas for the majority of soldiers
and airmen providing security and relief services. This enabled
military and civilian aircraft operating out of Stennis to support
massive relief efforts in southwest Mississippi and New
Orleans.
The airport staff
coordinated space for parking and unloading the tremendous number
of military and civilian cargo aircraft delivering relief supplies.
At the height of post-Katrina operations, 1,500 tons of supplies
were delivered daily to the airport.
"The staff of Stennis International Airport did a tremendous job
in responding to Hurricane Katrina," said Rusty Chapman, Manager,
Airports Division, FAA Southern Region.
"Stennis Airport acted quickly to restore service so critical
relief flights could operate quickly and safely out of the
airport," Chapman added. "The airport staff’s actions are a
testament to their dedication and professionalism."
FAA presented the award at the FAA’s annual Southern
Region Communications Conference in Atlanta on January 23.
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