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Hurricane Isaac Cripples GA Around New Orleans

Hurricane Isaac
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • New Orleans-area airports were significantly impacted by Hurricane Isaac (downgraded to a tropical storm), causing Lakefront Airport (NEW) to remain closed and pilots to divert, though Louis Armstrong International (MSY) is expected to reopen soon.
  • Businesses at Lakefront Airport (NEW) made extensive preparations, including moving fuel trucks, while noting this was the first test of redesigned levees and expressing general "skittishness" despite Isaac being a smaller storm than Katrina.
  • Aircraft were moved to safety where possible, and positive signs like a nearby grocery store having power gave local aviation professionals optimism for the airport's reopening.
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Pilots flying into or out of the New Orleans area this week likely diverted elsewhere to avoid Hurricane Isaac, which by this morning had been downgraded to a tropical storm. As of this morning, Lakefront Airport (NEW) remained closed, while Louis Armstrong International Airport (MSY) is expected to reopen tomorrow, according to a notam. The National Hurricane Center in Miami reports that the storm is expected to continue to weaken as it moves inland over the next 24 hours.

Addie Fanguy, general manager of the Landmark FBO at NEW, told Flying on Wednesday that his operation began preparing for the storm earlier this week. “This is the first time that we’re experiencing a hurricane after they’ve redesigned the levees,” he said, noting that Lakefront is bordered on three sides by water.

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