Airport Director Calls Air Shows 'A Dying Business'

From its early days in the 1980s to 2000, an air show held at Wilkes-Barre/Scrantion International Airport (KAVP) in Pennsylvania drew large crowds. But interest waned, and in the last year of its existence, the show lost $23,000. It was cancelled in 2003 when the airport began construction of a new terminal building, and has not returned.

Now, 10 years later, Lackawanna County Commissioner Corey O'Brien says the air show should return to the airport, but his efforts face a long, uphill battle against multiple opponents, with airport director Barry Centini saying the air show industry "is a dying business."

At a meeting of the Bi-County Airport Board Thursday, Centini said many logistical issues stand in the way of bringing back the air show. He said that changes in the facility, including parking, would require "a lot of busing" to get spectators to the flight line. But he said that a larger problem is the air show industry itself. The online site The Citizens Voice reports that Centini said his air show business contractors are hurting because "there's no shows."

He cited the cancellation of performances by the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds along with other military demonstrations as further evidence of a struggling industry.

Assistant Airport Director Michael Conner added that the FAA has started asking for substantial payments for running air shows (re: EAA and Oshkosh, ed.) in an effort to generate revenue in the face of sequestration.

O'Brien said that the air show adds to the quality of life in the area, and attracts business to the region.

FMI: www.flyavp.com/airportboard.html