"Hurricane repairs may take year or so at OIA"

Wednesday, August 18, 2004

Repairs may take year or so at OIA
Charley damaged roofs at the 4 airsides, causing leaks.
By Jack Snyder 
The Orlando (FL) Sentinel


It could take more than a year to repair extensive roof damage at
Orlando International Airport caused by Hurricane Charley, the airport's
executive director said Tuesday.

Even so, the airport is operating at pre-hurricane levels despite damage
to all four airside terminals.

"Every carrier is flying at 100 percent of their pre-Charley schedules,"
said Bill Jennings, the airport's chief.

Key to the area's economy, the airport handles about 900 flights daily.

The main terminal was damaged by high winds, while the four airsides had
extensive water intrusion from damaged roofs. Temporary roof coverings
are in place, but afternoon storms are hampering repair efforts,
Jennings said.

"We have to get the roofers down when the lightning comes," he said.
"We're getting more water inside with the rains."

Passengers are being directed around areas where water has collected.

Jennings said all gates are open, though about 15 jetways are not
operational. Stairs are being used to load and off-load planes where
jetways aren't available.

The airport is implementing a plan to remain operational throughout the
repairs. OIA handled 27.3 million passengers last year. The record year
for traffic was 2000 when 31 million passengers passed through the
airport.

Jennings could provide no damage estimate Tuesday. He said there are
three sources of money to help pay for the damage: The airport's
insurance, grants from the Federal Aviation Administration and grants
from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The last flight out of the airport Friday prior to the hurricane's
arrival was about 5 p.m., the executive director said. At 9:30 p.m., the
airport experienced winds in excess of 100 mph, he said.

Workers were at the field by 6 a.m. Saturday, inspecting damage and
starting temporary repairs.

"By 3 p.m. we were operational," Jennings said. "Not 100 percent, but we
had restarted."

Orlando Sanford International Airport is in operation, but it will be
months before all the damage caused by the hurricane is repaired,
airport President Larry Dale said.

Airport officials were still assessing the damage, but Dale said it
could easily total $4 million to $5 million. Damage to the terminals is
about $200,00 to $300,000, he said.

As many as 20 small planes were severely damaged.

The most severe structural damage was to hangars and buildings that date
back to the days when the facility was a Naval Air Station. Newer
buildings, constructed under more stringent building codes, fared
better, he said.

About two-thirds of the airport's T-hangars were damaged. Doors were
blown off many of them. Many planes in the hangars had minor damage.

Dale said the airport will apply to the FAA, FEMA and the state for
grants to cover some of the losses.


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