But Officials Are Concerned Liability Insurance May Be Much Higher Than In The Past

Officials for the Reno National Championship Air Races are making progress with plans for the 2012 event, thought permits for the races have not yet been issued.

In a meeting with the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority, Mike Houghton, president of the Reno Air Racing Association (RARA) told the airport officials that planning had to be done prior to the release of the NTSB probable cause report for the accident. He said he is "totally satisfied" with the direction the board is taking in considering the permits. The NTSB will not complete its probable cause report before the planned September 12th start of the 2012 event.

The Reno Gazette-Journal reports that, during public comment at the meeting, two people called the event "inherently unsafe." Reno resident Matt Mansur said RARA should "pack up their stuff, go away and be thankful that they are not being prosecuted."

But the airport authority's lawyer Ann Morgan said "as bad as the crash was, it could have been worse." She said one of her primary concerns is that the airport's normal $100 million liability policy might not be enough in light of the accident which killed pilot Jimmy Leeward and 10 people on the ground. There were also about 70 serious injuries as the result of the accident.

FMI: www.airrace.org, http://renoairport.com/airport-authority