CAPE AIR SHOW GETS NATIONAL MENTION

The Cape Girardeau Airport gained national exposure Tuesday when it was mentioned in a story published in the USA Today newspaper.

A reporter for the national newspaper visited the airport's annual air show last month while researching a story on pilots and safety. Pilots performing in the Cape Girardeau air show were featured in the story, which detailed the risks pilots take while performing aerobatics.

Airport manager Bruce Loy said despite the sensitive subject matter, the article was good exposure for the local air show, which has had average attendances of over 8,000 over the past three years.

"We really didn't know what he was going to come up with, but I thought it was a pretty positive article," Loy said. "They do take risks in order to put on their shows, but I think it was positive and encouraging in the sense of the courage they have to do these things."

According to the article, accident rates and air shows have decreased tremendously since the Federal Aviation Administration and International Council of Air Shows began monitoring the events more closely some 10 years ago.

Loy said safety is a priority that is instilled from the ground up some five months before the local air show takes place. Volunteers are required to complete a safety meeting during preparation period, and regular meetings are held continuously to ensure every safety precaution is considered, he said.

"It starts on the ground with the volunteers and spreads to performers and the FAA," said Loy.

A motto at the Cape Girardeau air show is "if you haven't done it before, don't do it first at Cape Girardeau." Rather than discouraging inventiveness and the risk-taking nature of air shows, Loy said the motto demonstrates the need for pilots to practice their maneuvers and stick to the routine they are most comfortable with.

"They understand it totally," he said. "It doesn't mean we don't do any creating in our shows. What we mean is for those that have a normal set routine like the Air Force, Navy and even civilians, it's typically best they don't stray from that. If they haven't got a chance to practice something different, it's typically best not to perform it.".