Air Show Called Off

Fairhope, Alabama

AIRPORT AUTHORITY MEETS


Because the military will not be able to participate due to  federal spending cutbacks (Sequestration), the Festival of Flight air show tentatively scheduled for September has been canceled by the Airport Authority.

Festival of Flight committee Chairman Charlie Bassett worried proceeding with a smaller event based only upon general aviation may not meet the public's expectation -- and do damage to the event's reputation in the future.

Bassett: "I don't see overcoming the lack of military aircraft ... not having military aircraft might do damage the next time we want to hold this thing ... do more harm than good ... related to future shows ... ."

Another member cited the "expectation created by previous shows ...  if we fall short of that the disappointment may be hard to overcome in the future."

Sixty-two major air shows nationwide have already been canceled this year and another forty will have to be, according to the member.

FLIGHT ACADEMY GROUNDBREAKING

Preparations of the site for the new 15,000 sq ft aviation vocational school will begin shorty and construction on the building by July 1st -- with Nov. 15th the targeted completion date.

The Academy of Flight is a joint $2.5 million project with the City of Fairhope, Faulkner and Enterprise State Colleges and the Baldwin County Board of Education.

The school is expected to help train employees for the new Airbus plant coming to Mobile.


Comments

Anonymous said…
Cancelled because of the City Council President...what a shame..
Anonymous said…
Maybe we can have a hot air balloon contest. Kant vs Fidler....As a city employee I would love to see them do this instead of travel...