London air show grounded this year


JOE BELANGER AND PAT MALONEY, Free Press Reporters 2005-05-17 01:54:17





The London International Air Fest won't take off this summer, sources confirmed last night.

Though people connected to the annual event deferred official comment to lead organizer Barry McGonigle -- who could not be reached -- they did say the show won't go on next month.

And city politicians say there's not much they can do.

"I was aware they'd lost some sponsors and it's certainly disappointing," said Mayor Anne Marie DeCicco, when told the news.

"But it's certainly beyond the municipality to help them unless we're going to contribute a lot of money and that's not something we do."

Controller Bud Polhill, who sits on the board of Tourism London, also was aware the show is cancelled.

The show, which last year drew 100,000 fans and more than 75 aircraft, was slated this year for the weekend of June 24-26 at London International Airport.

The show has run virtually every year since 1930.

"There's no question it's a big loss," Polhill said.

"A huge number of people come here from all over for the show, especially the static displays.

"I don't know a lot of details, but I would hope they can resolve the issues, but I don't know," he added.

"This isn't the first time this has happened and people are starting to wonder if it's just going to keep happening."

Polhill was referring to 2002, when post-9/11 insurance premiums nearly quadrupled and forced the show's cancellation. That announcement sparked some jabs between municipal and federal politicians and upset much of Ontario's air show community.

"We've just lost one of the best shows in the country," John Issenman, of the Ottawa air show, said in 2002.

"I think it's a wake-up call to the military, to the politicians, to everyone in the country," he said.

"If the government doesn't step in immediately, then Canada can expect that a number of its showcase air shows, like London's, will fall by the wayside."

The show has also been a tourist magnet for the Forest City. Just last year, the American Bus Association named the air show among the top events in North America -- an honour that was expected to draw an additional 5,000 spectators this summer.

In 2002, Tourism London estimated the show pumped about $2.5 million into the city's economy.

If the event's website is any indication, the cancellation may have come as a surprise. Londonairshow.com listed several performers lined up for this summer's show, including Canada's famous Snowbirds and a U.S. Air Force heritage flight.

DeCicco said she's hopeful the show will be revived.

"Hopefully, in future years they'll be able to secure enough sponsors," DeCicco said.

"And we'll certainly work with them in the future. But it's too much money to raise in a short period of time."