Fishy Problems Don’t Deter

Flights at Melbourne International Airport

 

Runways cleared of walking catfish, tortoises,

an alligator and a snake

  

           

 

MELBOURNE, Fla. August 20, 2008 — As if drenching rains, flooding and unrelenting wind weren’t enough, Tropical Storm Fay threw a different challenge at Melbourne International Airport staff early Wednesday.

 

A routine check turned up some unexpected visitors that had washed onto the active runway — two gopher tortoises, four walking catfish, an alligator and a blue indigo snake.

 

“We thought one of the tortoises was the top of one of the taxiway lights — then it started to move,” said Cliff Graham, the airport’s operations manager.

 

The unexpected wildlife encounter provided much-needed comic relief for the airport staff, air-traffic controllers and pilots on an approaching Delta Air Lines jet, even if Graham and his crew got drenched in the process of moving the animals to safety.

 

“We had to get the four walking catfish off the runway before Delta could land,” he said.

 

Even the airport executive director, Richard Ennis, got in on the act.

 

“We all got soaked, but it was important to clear the runway to ensure passenger safety and to get the animals out of harm’s way,” Ennis said.

 

Walking catfish use their pectoral fins to get around on land and can breathe out of water as long as they stay moist, which wasn’t a problem Wednesday morning.

 

The tortoises were moved to the airport’s designated gopher tortoise relocation area, the walking catfish and snake were tossed back into a nearby pond. The gator wanted no part of the action and scampered back into a drainage ditch, Ennis said.

 

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Board Meeting Update

 

The Melbourne Airport Authority Board meeting for Wednesday, August 20, 2008 is rescheduled for Wednesday, August 27, 2008 at 7:30 a.m.

 

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Important Message Regarding

Vintage Props and Jets

 

Vintage Props and Jets has ceased operating which

includes flights to the Bahamas from Melbourne International Airport.

 

In order to offer passengers service to the Abacos, Baer Air announced it will offer nonstop air service between Melbourne and Treasure Cay on Mondays, Fridays, and Sundays, departing at 9:00am and arriving at 10:20am.  The return flight will depart Treasure Cay at 12:00pm and arrive in Melbourne at 1:25pm. The flights will begin operating immediately and are available for booking on Baer Air’s website at www.flybaerair.com.

 

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Melbourne International Airport Finalizes

30-Year Lease with Embraer

 

$10 Million annual payroll to start Jan. 2010.

 

Melbourne Florida, June 18, 2008 - In a unanimous 6-0 vote today, the Melbourne Airport Authority (MAA) approved a land lease with one of the largest aircraft manufacturers, Embraer.  Read more