As part of the federal response to Hurricane Katrina, the DoT tells ANN that it has organized a massive airlift operation and has arranged for hundreds of buses and thousands of trucks to support evacuation and relief efforts.

Through the around-the-clock work of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), a massive airlift operation was launched, Friday, at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport to provide supplies and evacuate people from the hurricane stricken region. The airport’s two open runways and air traffic control facilities will sustain four flights per hour, operating each hour through dusk this evening. Flights will continue through the near future and will increase as continuing infrastructure repairs are made.

“We’ve cleared the runways and are watching the skies to make sure these humanitarian flights get in and out safely,” said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta. “The airlines’ resounding offer of support will help us move more people to safety and more supplies to relieve suffering.”

The flights are using commercial aircraft supplied by the nation’s airlines under the Secretary of Transportation’s emergency authority granted during times of a natural disaster. The number and type of commercial aircraft are being coordinated among the airlines through the Air Transport Association.

In addition to Louis Armstrong airport, the DOT is also concentrating on restoring Gulfport-Biloxi, Mississippi, airport to full operational status and repairing navigational aids throughout the Gulf region to minimize the Hurricane’s impact on our nation’s aviation system.

Over 60 federal transportation experts are supporting state and local officials in assessing the damage to highways, railroads, airports, transit systems, ports and pipelines and to support planning for detours and repairs to these critical transportation systems. DOT also has temporarily waived federal rules limiting the hours that repair crews and truck drivers hauling gasoline, diesel and jet fuel can work in response to the hurricane emergency.

FMI: www.dot.gov