Public Ceremonies Planned For Sunday

The City of Reno says it plans to hold a memorial service Sunday to remember those fatally injured in Friday's accident at the National Air Races. The ceremony, which will be open to the public, is planned for 1800 local time.

Media sources including television station KTVN reports that the number of those fatally injured last Friday has been revised to 11, including pilot Jimmy Leeward.

Local clergy will conduct the service, which will include the dedication of a tree in the Idlewild Park arboretum in Reno.

NTSB investigators continue to collect what they describe as "tremendous amounts of material," which includes photos and videos captured by spectators at the event.

Meanwhile, some are already raising questions about the long-term viability of the Reno event, and perhaps air shows in general. A report on the Reno Journal-Gazette raises the issue of insurance, and how Friday's accident might change that equation. The Airport Authority told the paper that it required $100 million in liability insurance "per occurrence," without specifying what "per occurrence" means.

But the paper also point out that race fatalities are rare, and that more accidents involving spectators happen at air shows rather than air races. Friday's accident was the first in which a spectator was killed at Reno, though several pilots have been lost at the event. ICAS President John Cudahy told the paper that air shows are constantly looking for ways to "mitigate risk." But, he, and others such as EAA officials, say it's too soon to say what the ultimate effect of Friday's accident will be.

FMI: http://reno.gov, www.airshows.aero