Fri, Apr 05, 2013
Industry Stung By Military Cancellations Due To Sequestration
It's no secret that several major air shows around the country have severely scaled back their plans or cancelled their shows entirely after sequestration forced the U.S. military to place a freeze on aircraft demonstration teams like the Navy's Blue Angels, the Air Force Thunderbirds, and others.
According to a report published by the Center for Public Integrity and relayed by the Huffington Post, the air show industry is fighting back with a lobbying effort on Capitol Hill. ICAS has retained the services of the lobbying firm Van Scoyoc Associates, the first time the organization has ever hired a lobbyist.
ICAS president John Cudahy told the Center For Public Integrity that the freeze "represents a threat to our existence as an industry." He said that there could be hundreds of air shows around the country that might just go out of business without the ability to promote military jet demonstrations to draw audiences. He said while some areas of the government have taken a 15-20 percent cut, "we've seen a 100 percent cut in the support the U.S. military can provide air shows."
The firm has been retained on a month-to-month basis. ICAS is encouraging air show operators and promoters to advocate for their events as strongly as possible. A message on the ICAS website urges event organizers and anyone who enjoys air shows to be a part of the effort. "Tell the public about all of the aerial entertainment that will be available at your event. Emphasize your dates, location and website URL," the message states, adding that media attention to the situation gives air show promoters an opportunity to raise awareness about the issue.
Cudahy said this is the first time the organization has ever had to hire a lobbyist. "It's a pretty mom-and-apple-pie industry," he said.
More News
Mid-Continent Instruments and Avionics and True Blue Power Have 50 Amps For You At NBAA 2024 Booth #2331 True Blue Power Unveils 50 Amp-hour Lithium-ion, Main Ship Battery New Gen5>[...]
Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN) An ultra-high frequency electronic rho-theta air navigation aid which provides suitably equipped aircraft a continuous indication of bearing and dis>[...]
"In August we wrote a bipartisan letter supporting more @SpaceX launches at Vandenberg, citing benefits to national security, broadband connectivity, and wildfire response. Yet the>[...]
“A core principle of Inversion is maintaining an open, transparent relationship with regulators. From day one, Ray was designed to meet or exceed all regulatory requirements,>[...]
Also: More Supply Chain Scrutiny, 3rd Annual DPE Symposium, Microsoft Flight Sim, Air Canada Pilots Ratify It was one of the most stunning sites in all of aerospace... the capture >[...]