Mike Edwards was always drawn to airplanes as a kid growing up on the Northshore. He began flying when he was 19, and earned his private pilot’s license when he was 20. Now 37, the somewhat-newly appointed director of aviation for the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport has learned no two days on his job are the same.
He has coordinated the landing of Air Force One, toured Air Force Two and shook hands with Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump, as well as vice presidents Joe Biden and Mike Pence. One of his favorite days of work involved welcoming the LSU football team back from Tuscaloosa after they defeated Alabama in 2019.
“Every little kid dreams of this much excitement,” Edwards says. “Being in this position has been a real honor.”
Edwards has more than 10 years of airport management experience, including working at the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport and serving as the operations manager for Baton Rouge before being promoted to director in 2018. His appointment came after a chaotic two-year process where the Metro Council interviewed multiple candidates who eventually dropped out over the sluggish pace and council infighting that ensued.
Despite the turbulence, Edwards seems focused on the future for BTR. 225 magazine recently sat down with him to discuss what’s next for Baton Rouge’s airport and why “it’s about time” to fly local. Check out the full Q&A with Edwards, here’s a sample of what you’ll find:
Why were you interested in leading the airport?
“For as long as I can remember, I have had a passion for aviation. Baton Rouge has many assets that provide the groundwork for continued growth both in and around the airport. The airport has a major economic impact on the region with an annual economic output of $1.1 billion and over 4,500 direct and indirect jobs. The airport operates as an enterprise fund, meaning that it does not receive any local taxes from the city-parish government. We generate our own revenue to fund operations and improvements.”
What are some improvements travelers might see over the next couple of years?
“I am looking forward to continued growth in multiple sectors, including air service, our Aviation Business Park and in general aviation. Airline seating capacity and passenger volume is up, we continue to secure new leases in the Aviation Business Park and two new fixed base operators [businesses allowed to operate at the airport and use its facilities] are under construction. We signed a lease agreement with Helix Academy to start a charter school on our property, focusing on aviation and math, and hopefully attract more young people to the industry, which is seeing a shortage in air traffic controllers, pilots, engineers and mechanics. In the terminal, we are planning [to add new] food and beverage providers.”
