Local airport managers will ask federal aviation officials for more money to buy additional radar equipment and hire more workers for next year's Masters Tournament.

Augusta Aviation officials anticipate setting a record this year in the amount of air traffic into and out of the city's airspace, officials said Tuesday.

There was a combined 60 percent increase in the amount of air traffic in 1996 and 1997 over the previous eight years, aviation officials said.

Before 1996, air traffic during Masters Week was at a constant level but shot up tremendously after 1996. A record 4,000 landings and takeoffs are expected in Augusta this week, officials said.

Carolyn Blum, the FAA's southern region chief, and Barbara Smith, the agency's assistant air traffic division manager, will tour both Bush Field and Daniel Field as well as the Masters Tournament on Thursday, Gunn said.

He and Bush Field Manager Al McDill will give the two officials the red-carpet treatment in hopes of convincing them to add an undetermined amount of money to Augusta aviation's budget, Gunn said.

``We're taking steps to increase the awareness of the tremendous growth of this sport,'' he said. Airport officials turned away planes in 1996 and 1997 during the Masters.

By recommending all planes weighing under 12,500 pounds park at Daniel Field and those over that weight go to Bush Field, aviation officials hope to control air traffic better than in previous years, said Marci Wilhelmi, chairwoman of the General Aviation Authority that oversees Daniel Field.

As both Augusta airports near capacity, planes will then be fielded to other nearby airports.