This Is Where Aviation Makes A Great Impression On The
Public
ANN has just received a note from the International Council of
Airshows, confirming something that we had started to hear over the
past few weeks... that airshow attendance was not only holding
up... but trending dramatically and demonstrably upwards. ICAS's
Jim Cudahy noted that a few weeks ago, "...a handful of shows had
taken place and provided anecdotal evidence that a trend witnessed
in 2008 -- a 12-15 percent increase of air show attendance despite
a lagging economy -- was continuing. We've subsequently heard from
seven additional shows, from all across the country (Alabama,
Arizona, California, Mississippi), and all have reported RECORD
attendance."
The reports are impressive... "The numbers are still coming in,
but we think it was the largest attendance in our 29-year history,"
said Fred Buckingham, chairman of the Florida International Show,
held March 21-22 in Punta Gorda. Buckingham estimated 2009
attendance at 65,000, a substantial increase of more than 18
percent over the previous record of 55,000.
"Families are cutting costs, but they're still looking for
quality entertainment," said John Cudahy, president of the
International Council of Air Shows. "That's why air show attendance
spikes in a bad economy. Ticket prices are low, but the
entertainment value is high." Cudahy reported a 12 to 15 percent
increase in air show attendance during 2008, which followed
patterns witnessed during 1980-1982 and 1990-1991 recessions.
Fueling the attendance increase are ticket prices that are a
fraction of the cost of other entertainment venues, such as
amusement parks and professional sporting events. "An air show
ticket is closer in price to a movie ticket than to a theme park or
baseball game," said Cudahy. "Now, with gasoline prices down and
recessionary concerns putting other leisure options on hold, air
shows are an increasingly attractive option."
Once spectators arrive at air shows, they find a level of
entertainment that exceeds what they can get anywhere else, at any
price: military demonstration teams such as the U.S. Navy Blue
Angels and the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, aerobatic performances
by the world's most talented pilots, and a collection of
museum-quality, vintage aircraft that can only be seen flying at
air shows.
"What's great about air shows is they showcase all that is good
about our country," said Bill Roach, who runs the Wings over
Houston Airshow. "They're exciting, patriotic, and educational. The
variety of jets, vintage airplanes, parachute acts, sailplanes, and
ground acts ensures that there's something of interest for
everyone."
The Houston show was held in late October. Organizers expected
an attendance drop based both on the economy and the effects of
Hurricane Ike, which had decimated Texas weeks earlier. Instead,
the show saw attendance climb to record levels, a phenomenon
reported across the nation, most noticeably in the fall, after news
of the economic downturn became particularly grim.
Between early April and mid-November, more than 10 million
spectators will attend more than 400 air shows from San Diego to
New York City to British Columbia to Miami.
The International Council of Air Shows is a 501 (c)(6)
not-for-profit trade association composed of professionals working
in the air show community. Approximately 40 percent of the
organization's members are air show event organizers from the
United States, Canada, and the rest of the world. Another 40
percent of the organization's members are individuals or
organizations that perform at air shows. And the remaining 20
percent are support service providers who offer ancillary services
(concessions, insurance, photography, etc.) to the air show
community.