Skip to content

Tarmac Contingency Plan

Lafayette Regional Airport (LFT) 2024 Emergency Contingency Plan for Excessive Tarmac Delays

 

Introduction

Lafayette Regional Airport has prepared this Emergency Contingency Plan pursuant to §42301 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012.  Questions regarding this plan can be directed to Giles Menard C.M., A.C.E., Operations Manager at GilesM@LFTairport.com.  Lafayette Regional Airport is filing this plan with the Department of Transportation because (1) it is a commercial airport or (2) this airport may be used by an air carrier described in USC 42301(a)(1) for diversions.

This plan describes how, following excessive tarmac delays and to the extent practicable, Lafayette Regional Airport will:

  • Provide for the deplanement of passengers;
  • Provide for the sharing of facilities and make gates available at the airport; and
  • Provide a sterile area following excessive tarmac delays for passengers who have not yet cleared United States Customs & Border Protection (CBP).

Lafayette Regional Airport has some facility constraints that limit our ability to accommodate large numbers of diverted flights and strongly encourage aircraft operators to contact the airport for prior coordination of diverted flights.

Part I: Airport Information

Name of Airport:  Lafayette Regional Airport

Name and title of person preparing the plan: Giles Menard C.M., A.C.E., Operations Manager

Preparer contact number:  337-703-4800

Preparer contact e-mail:  GilesM@LFTairport.com

Date of submission of plan: July 20, 2012, Amended December 11, 2024

Airport Category: Large Hub  🗆 Medium Hub  🗆     Small Hub  🗆   Non Hub  🗹

Part II: Contact Information

In the event of diversion or other irregular operations events, aircraft operators should contact the Operations Manager at 337-703-4800 for assistance.

After hours, please call 337-456-1606 (24-hour Emergency Contact Phone Number)

Or

Airport Operations 24-hour Contact: 337-456-1595

Part III: Plan to Provide for the Deplanement of Passengers Following Excessive Tarmac Delays – Ground Support Equipment (GSE)

Lafayette Regional Airport does not own or operate any GSE equipment that is used by the airlines to deplane passengers from air carrier aircraft and is, therefore, unable on its own to provide for the deplanement of passengers. Additionally, airport personnel are not trained to assist in the deplanement of passengers using equipment owned or operated by air carriers or contract service providers.  We will provide a list of airlines, ground handlers, fixed base operators and others who may have the necessary equipment and personnel to safely deplane passengers to airlines as soon as practicable after receiving requests from such airlines experiencing excessive tarmac delays at the contact number listed above.

Part IV: Plan to Provide for the Sharing of Facilities and Make Gates Available in an Emergency

The gates at Lafayette Regional Airport are preferred use per airport ordinance to air carriers and are controlled by the airport.  We direct our air carrier users to make gates and other facilities available to an air carrier seeking to deplane at a gate, to the maximum extent practicable

Part V: Plan to Provide a Sterile Area for Passengers Who Have Not Cleared United States Customs and Border Protection

Lafayette Regional Airport has defined a sterile area capable of accommodating limited numbers of international passengers.  We will coordinate with local CBP officials to develop procedures that will allow international passengers who have not yet cleared United States Customs and Border Protection to be deplaned into these sterile areas to the extent practicable.  Lafayette Regional Airport has an existing Contingency Plan for Diverted International / Pre-Cleared Flights with the CBP, and attached hereto.

Part VI: Public Access to the Emergency Contingency Plan

Lafayette Regional Airport will provide public access to its emergency contingency plan through one or more of the following means:

  • Posting in a conspicuous location on the airport website @ www.lftairport.com
  • Providing notice of the availability of the plan on the airport’s social media accounts.

Part VII: Contact Numbers of all Responsible Parties

Airport Operator
Name/Title Office 24 Hour Emergency

Steven L. Picou, A.A.E.
Executive Director 337-703-4800 337-456-1606

John Raedle, C.M.
Deputy Director 337-703-4800 337-456-1606

Giles Menard, C.M., A.C.E.
Operations Manager 337-703-4800 337-456-1606

Kasey Wyman-Young, A.C.E.
Airport Security Coordinator 337-703-4800 337-456-1606

Mark Thibodeaux
Maintenance Supervisor 337-703-4800 337-456-1606

Aviation Communications (AVCOM) 337-456-1606 (24 hour)

Airport Fire Department 337-233-1652 (24 hour)

Air Carriers
American Eagle 337-456-1982
Delta 337-456-1975
United 337-456-4025

Other Agencies
Signature Aviation (FBO) 337-234-3100
TSA 24 Hour Coordination Center Hotline 504-463-2246 504-463-2247

Appendix A

LFT Supplemental Information

Airport Operator Support

In support of Lafayette Regional Airport Aircraft Operators, and their mandatory compliance with US DOTD Three-Hour Tarmac Delay Rule legislation, the following information is provided:

  1. Deplaning of Passengers into Terminal:

Deplaning of passengers into the sterile area will be coordinated by the respective airlines. Entry into the sterile area from the tarmac is available through:

  • Jet bridge(s)
  • Airside doors into sterile area.
  1. Terminal Building Sterile Area:
  • Occupant Load Capacity is:  770 individuals
  • During hours when the TSA screening checkpoint is not operating, deplaned passenger movement will be limited to the Sterile Area.  

Note: Upon notification of possible multiple diversions, with the possibility of reaching the 3-hour tarmac delay rule, aircraft operator should coordinate with TSA to support re-opening the screening checkpoint.  This will provide an expanded area for passengers to maneuver, in the event the 770 sterile area occupant capacities are exceeded.  

  • Restroom facilities are available
  • Water fountains and bottle refill stations
  • Comfortable seating
  • Charging stations for electronics
  • Wireless Internet
  • 24-hour televisions 
  1. Terminal Building Common Area 

Occupant Load Capacity for 1st and 2nd floor common area:

  • Ground Floor:  1072 Individuals
  • 2nd Floor:  266 Individuals (does not include sterile area seating)

Appendix B

MORGAN CITY, LA.

CONTIGENCY PLAN FOR DIVERTED INTERNATIONAL / PRE-CLEARED FLIGHTS
(following document provided by U.S. Customs & Border Protection)

In the event of an international flight diversion to the Lafayette Regional Airport, the Port of Morgan City, LA., will coordinate with the diverted airline and airport partners to permit deplaning of passengers in the event of extended delays.  All such flight diversions will be conducted in accordance with the CBP memorandum “Technical Fuel Stops” dated August 10, 2007 and the procedures outlined herein.

Contacts
Aircraft Operator will provide initial notification of all international diverted and technical fuel stop flights to the Port Director / CBP Morgan City during regular port operating hours (0800 – 1600 hours. Monday – Friday, and 0800 – 1600 hrs. Saturday and Sunday) via telephone number: (504) 670-2405.

After hours, or in the event that CBP cannot be reached at the above telephone number, airlines are provided with the following phone tree with alternate points of contact in the order to be contacted.  Each of the individuals identified on the phone tree below can also be reached via CBP Sector Communications at 1-800-973-2867.   When calling, the airline representative should identify themselves to the Sector Communications Operator and request to be connected to the specific person identified in the list below.

  • Port Director: Kirby Andras: 504-670-2407
  • Asst. Port Director (pax): Troy Simon: 504-670-2214  
  • Watch Commander: Michael Carmouche: 504-670-2215 

*Port personnel will immediately notify the Port Director in all instances of diverted international aircraft.

Facilities
Deplaning of passengers will take place at a sterile area which will be identified and cordoned off by the aircraft operator personnel.  The airport has restrooms and vending machines available for use. The Lafayette Airport Commission will provide support to the aircraft operator upon notification, to include security, operations and logistics. 

Security CBP in coordination with airline personnel, and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will ensure that passengers remain secure in a sterile area preventing association with other passengers, domestic or foreign. Should need arise, Homeland Security Investigations will provide additional assistance.   Airport Security (Lafayette Parish Sheriff Office – Aviation Division), will support the aircraft operator.  The Lafayette Airport Commission will also provide support to the aircraft operator upon notification.

Skip to content