The local councils of Mqabba, Qrendi, Żurrieq, Safi, Kirkop, Luqa, Siġġiewi and Gudja are expected to protest against the International Airshow in front of the administrative building of the Civil Aviation Department on Sunday at 1130CEST.
The local councils said that they will be calling for more responsibility for the issuing of permits tied with such activities. The local councils of each village added that the Airshow is raising concern among residents of the villages and is proving to be inconvenient because of the loud noises generated by the aeroplanes.
However, the airshow could prove to be a breath of fresh air for the Maltese tourism sector. According to independent travel guide YourMalta hotels in Malta see the Airshow as a tourist attraction and organise transport to and from the event. With reasonably priced tickets, access is ensured for veterans who travel from around Europe for the weekend.
Dubbing airshows “a popular tourist attraction”, UKPRwire revealed that this year’s Airshow promises to be the best ever, with participants including the RAF and the USAF displaying F-16's and Tornados.
As the tourist season is beginning to slow down, many of the hotels in Malta see the air show as a tourist attraction and organise transport to and from the event. The airshow is seen by many in the Malta holidays industry as evidence that Malta can produce events that will not only prove an attraction to those tourists already on the island, but also as part of a package of other attractions to draw new tourists to the island. UKPRwire also claimed that the Airshow has boosted holiday bookings from the United Kingdom.
YourMalta said that “Malta needs good news and if potential tourists could see on a map of Malta of events quality displays such as the airshow it would be a good reason to visit the island”.
In turn, speaking to MaltaMedia.com on Wednesday, Mr. Joe Ciliberti stated that the dispute between the Malta Aviation Society (MAS) and the Malta International Airport (MIA) over an insurance premium has not affected the teams participation Malta International Airshow. Mr. Ciliberti confirmed that no teams had pulled out of the Airshow as of Wednesday.
The Malta International Airport will take place between Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th September. Earlier this month it was feared that the activity would be halted amid disagreements between the MAS and the MIA over an insurance premium. While the MAS was adamant that the premium was unaffordable, the MIA insisted that it could not compromise the safety and security of its premises. However, both parties reached an agreement over the premium in the recent days and the Airshow is expected to go ahead as planned.
A collision of two aircraft at the Aero GP in Marsamxett on Sunday, does not seem to have dampened the spirits of the Airshow participants either. The crash unfolded before the eyes of thousands of horrified spectators and left pilot 45-year-old Swedish pilot Gabor Varga dead after his Yak-55 aircraft collided with another plane.
Asked whether the accident is expected to affect the audience turnout, Mr. Ciliberti stated that it is hard to tell. Last Sunday events, which left a considerable number of onlookers rattled, could either put off the general public from attending or in turn actually draw more spectators to the show.
The Aero GP and the Malta International Airshow are two separate activities, which are not affiliated in anyway.
On the other hand, Jeff Zaltman, Managing Director of Flying Aces, which organizes the Aero GP, has expressed the company’s hope for the future of aircraft racing sport. Speaking to MaltaMedia.com on Thursday, Jeff Zaltman stated that “we do hope that there is a future for our sport”. However, Jeff Zaltman did not confirm whether the Aero GP activities held last weekend in Malta will resume in the near future.
See also:
AFM retrieves tail of aircraft involved in collision
By MaltaMedia News
Sep 14, 2006, 19:04 CET
Insurance dispute could halt International Airshow
By MaltaMedia News
Sep 5, 2006, 11:23 CET
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