The Big Easy

I write this from the National Airports Conference in New Orleans. I have learned more today than I can digest, so will not be imparting any great words of wisdom this week. This week, I will just impart a few observations… First, this was my first trip to The Big Easy since Katrina changed the whole world down here. Everything I’d heard about the devastation is true. As I drove into the city from Slidell, LA, it seemed at first that it wasn’t all that bad. They must, I decided, have rebuilt the city already—or maybe it never was as bad as I heard. Then several facts hit all at once. In the first place, the blocks of apartment buildings, offices, homes, and the neighborhoods were devoid of people. Then I noticed the blown-out windows, the lack of any cars (moving or parked). Next came a sight I had never seen before—a large, closed shopping center. The stores were still there, but no people and, again, no cars. All told, the entire area was eerie and spooky. Ah, but the French Quarter was much as it always had been—good food, loud people wandering around, and some of the best people watching in the country. Better yet, one of my favorite restaurants, Mother’s, was still open. The ferryboat still runs across the Mississippi to Algiers. Jambalaya and red beans on rice are still available on every corner, and it is still one of our country’s more interesting places. As for the convention itself, to paraphrase Winston Churchill, never have so many provided so much information in such a short time. Some really heavy hitters were on the program on opening day. The opening session alone included a panel of high up officials from AAAE, AOPA, ATA, and airports from California to D.C. The president of American Eagle Airlines spoke at lunch, then we moved into afternoon sessions with more impressive folks enlightening us on environmental issues, ground handling, and attracting new air service. The day ended with a night at the House of Blues. Quite a day. I learned a lot and will try to relate a more organized view of the conference next week. We'd love to post your comments. Please click on the comment box at the top.