Excellent ICAS Convention this Year!

ICAS is the International Council of Air Shows, and their convention is held every year at the beginning of December in Las Vegas, Nevada.  I've just returned from this year's convention with a renewed sense of excitement and optimism for the 2016 air show season!

The American military is back in a big way, flying at shows on both sides of the border!  They were back in a limited capacity in 2015 but they are planning to go all out in 2016.    Canada's magnificent Snowbirds have a full 2016 schedule planned. 

One of the most exciting bits of news comes from right here in Alberta!  Team Rocket, a two plane aerobatic team from Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, announced that they are planning a most ambitious air show tour in 2017!

As you all know, Canada is celebrating its 150th Birthday in 2017.  Air shows are huge spectator draws.  They rate right up there with auto racing, soccer, football, and baseball in the numbers of fans attracted to air shows each year.  But the folks in Canada's far north rarely, if ever, see an air show!  Team Rocket is planning to remedy that in 2017!   They're planning an air show blitz across Canada's North to celebrate Canada's 150th Birthday!  They want to organize full air shows in the bigger centres and almost 40 fly-pasts over the smaller communities!

What a fantastic plan!  I volunteered to help out wherever I can. Stay tuned for more details coming up.

Overall I found this year's convention full of optimism and excitement.  Now we need to get ready for the spring!  Clear skies!

Springbank and Rocky Mountain House Airshows!

Airports cost money.  The larger the airport; the more money it costs.  But airports also provide services not otherwise available in the area, and they attract businesses with money!  In fact it has been shown in studies that airports, overall, are a huge economic boost for the city or town operating them.

Unfortunately airports must remain aloof to the community they serve.  Security measures have been getting ever tighter since September 11, 2001, and keep onlookers away - so the goings on at an airport remains a mystery to most.

In comes the air show!  Airshows provide a perfect venue for folks to visit an airport and get "up close and personal" with planes, pilots, aero mechanics, airport operators and security people.  It's a friendly, exciting, but safe chance to see things not usually visible to most visitors at an airport.

This week I had the privilege of attending air shows at two airports which have realized the importance of an air show to their very existence!  Springbank's show, called Wings Over Springbank, went ahead last weekend.  It was originally the Airdrie Air Show, but relocated back in March to the Springbank Airport west of Calgary.

The second show was the Rocky Mountain House Air Show, at the Rocky Mountain House Airport, on Wednesday evening.

I enjoyed both shows immensely!  Thousands of visitors came it to marvel at the amazing flying performances of both Canadian and American aerobats.

photo courtesy
Amanda Courtman

Canada's magnificent Snowbirds flew for everyone at Springbank, but hail damaged some of their planes so their Rocky Mountain performance was cancelled.  These young pilots are significantly younger than their Canadian built planes!  They fly the nine training jets with precision, professionalism, and dedication, characteristics of RCAF pilots. 

Next time you have the opportunity to visit an air show, take it.  You won't be disappointed.

Here's a shout out to all those dedicated volunteers at both of this week's shows.  They did an awesome job!