Stephanie Tubbs Jones Introduces Bill To Allow Waivers

For backers of the embattled Cleveland Air Show, the cavalry has arrived in the form of a Democratic Congresswoman from Ohio.

Rushing to the defense of the Cleveland Air Show, Representative Stephanie Tubbs Jones introduced a measure on Capitol Hill Wednesday that would allow waivers for air shows operating in restricted airspace.

Last Friday, the air show's twilight event was almost canceled because the Cleveland Indians were playing a game at nearby Jacobs Field. The twilight event was modified and, in the end, a curtailed version was allowed. But the flap raised concerns that shook the foundations of ICAS, where executives worried that air shows around the country could be affected by the recent tightening of rules surrounding TFRs.

With the Friday night restrictions and the lack of a military demo team, air show officials in Cleveland reported attendance was way off previous figures. Only 40,000 people showed up for the four-day event, down from the 60-80,000 typically seen when the Friday night show was uninhibited and the Blue Angels or Thunderbirds came to town.

FMI: www.clevelandairshow.com