March
31
Louisiana’s Bayou Region (Houma, LA) – The State of Louisiana’s LIFTOff Louisiana program, which is centered at Houma-Terrebonne Airport, has been selected as one of eight programs nationwide to participate in the U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Advanced Air Mobility and Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) Integration Pilot Program (eIPP), a major federal initiative designed to advance next-generation aviation technologies across the United States.
The program will bring together government, industry, and regional partners to test new aviation capabilities, including advanced cargo aircraft and innovative transportation systems.
As part of the Louisiana project, operations will focus on testing cargo and personnel transportation capabilities that support energy industry operations across the Gulf region. The initiative will enable high-seas flights over the Gulf of America to energy industry locations in Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi.
Through numerous partnerships with helicopter operators, drone manufacturers, software providers, and educational institutions, the State of Louisiana and the Houma-Terrebonne Airport will deploy helicopter-sized drones to deliver supplies to locations throughout the Gulf Coast energy corridor.
Being selected as one of only eight projects nationwide highlights the Bayou Region’s growing role in the future of aviation innovation and reflects the strategic importance of the Houma-Terrebonne Airport as a hub for emerging transportation technologies.
“As the Executive Director, I’m proud of our team, and we look forward to helping our communities and getting our youth interested in aviation as another career path with higher pay potential and keeping them in Louisiana.” – Ed Jarvis, Executive Director, Houma Terrebonne Airport Commission.
“Every community is built on an economic foundation supported by a few key cornerstones,” said Cohen Guidry, Chief Executive Officer of Terrebonne Economic Development Authority (TEDA). “For years, those have mainly been oil and gas, healthcare, and retail in our region. With opportunities like the eIPP and other emerging projects, we are beginning to see technology become that fourth cornerstone that strengthens and diversifies our economy.”
“This is an exciting opportunity not just for Houma, but for the entire Bayou Region,” said Christy Zeringue, COLAB President & Chief Executive Officer. “Houma-Terrebonne Airport has long supported the industries that drive our economy, and being selected for this program opens the door for new technology and innovation to grow alongside them.”
About the Houma-Terrebonne Airport (HUM)
Houma-Terrebonne Airport (HUM) is a publicly owned general aviation airport located three miles southeast of Houma, Louisiana. Operated by the Houma-Terrebonne Airport Commission, the airport plays a critical role in supporting offshore energy, maritime, and logistics operations across the Gulf Coast. The airport spans approximately 1,850 acres and includes two concrete runways. The airport records more than 92,000 aircraft operations annually and is home to 214 based aircraft, including a significant number of helicopters supporting offshore transportation and industry operations. As a key aviation hub for South Louisiana, Houma-Terrebonne Airport supports regional connectivity, industry access, and economic activity across the Bayou Region. Learn more at houma-airport.com.
About COLAB
COLAB is the regional economic development organization serving the Bayou Region, working to strengthen the business climate and advance economic growth across Assumption, Lafourche, St. Mary, and Terrebonne Parishes. Through collaboration with business, government, and community partners, COLAB supports initiatives that attract investments, grow local industry, and build a strong future for the region. Learn more at bayouregion.com.
