Dates Announced For 2012 Event
In a news conference to discuss the future of the National
Championship Air Races, the Reno Air Racing Association (RARA)
announced on Wednesday the formation of a Blue Ribbon Review Panel
to study the event. The panel will examine any possible changes or
modifications that could be made to enhance the already high level
of safety established by the FAA and existing RARA procedures.
RARA also announced that, despite many challenges in the near
and long-term future, they are planning to hold the 49th Annual
National Championship Air Races at the Reno-Stead Airfield, Sept.
12 – 16, 2012. “Buoyed by the overwhelming support of
the victims and families of last year’s terrible tragedy, our
sponsors, air race participants and fans and aviation enthusiasts
all over the world, we are absolutely committed to doing everything
we can to hold this historic event in 2012,” said Mike
Houghton, president and CEO of RARA. “The safety of our fans
and pilots has always been our foremost and primary concern, which
is why we feel so strongly about a blue ribbon review. This effort
is not designed to interfere or duplicate the efforts of the
National Transportation Safety Board and we will continue to
cooperate with them to the fullest extent.”
The panel conducted its first meeting shortly after the press
conference and will release its preliminary results and
recommendations to RARA within the next 90 days, allowing race
officials to study them before the event’s annual Pylon
Racing Seminar (PRS) in June. Headed by former Chairman of the
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Jim Hall, and former
Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety for the Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA), Nick Sabatini, the four members of
the panel bring a wide breadth and depth of experience. The panel
is rounded out with two aviation legends, Steve Hinton, a
highly-acclaimed movie stunt pilot, aviation choreographer,
two-time national Unlimited Air Race champion and current pace
plane pilot in the Unlimited Class, and John Sharp, an aeronautical
engineer and the winningest pilot in the history of air racing.
“In addition to the blue ribbon panel, as is an annual
matter of course, we will work with the race classes and emergency
responders to conduct an internal review, in the very near future,
of all of the event’s operations and procedures,” said
Houghton. “Until we get further down the road, we will not
speculate on possible changes to the event or the results of either
of these reviews or the NTSB investigation. As has been the case,
the NTSB has asked that they remain the point for all
communications related to the accident.”
The not-for-profit event is a year-round effort that regularly
attracts more than 200,000 spectators and generates an estimated
$85 million annually to northern Nevada’s economy. It was
also announced that, RARA had a loss of up to $1.5 million for
2011. Race officials wanted to make it very clear that, while this
financial loss presents a significant hurdle, thanks to the
continued generosity, sympathy and support of the event’s
fans and sponsors, the loss could be overcome. “We know there
are many people in our organization, our community and all over the
world who have been significantly impacted by last year’s
tragedy and our thoughts and prayers remain with them,” said
Houghton. “However, we have heard from a vast majority of
these people that this event must continue on and many of our fans
and sponsors have volunteered to do whatever they can in order to
help ensure the successful continuation of the National
Championship Air Races. It’s in this spirit that we’re
working towards holding a poignant and successful event in
2012.”
In order for the 2012 event to occur, RARA must receive permits
from the City of Reno, Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority and the FAA.
RARA has already begun to initiate conversations with each of these
entities regarding permitting for 2012 and these conversations are
ongoing. “For planning purposes, we have to receive our
waiver from the FAA for PRS by the end of February or March, at the
latest,” said Houghton. “This will provide a pretty
good indication of our ability to get permits and waivers for
September’s event. Regardless, many people, including victims
of the accident, have told us they are coming to Reno in September,
one way or another. We’ll do whatever we have to do in order
to memorialize and celebrate courage, passion and indomitable
spirit that is so often associated with aviation but, more
importantly, was so vividly exhibited during the accident and the
weeks and months since, even if that means just holding a memorial
air show.”