The board of the Yarmouth International Airport Corporation gave the go-ahead for a committee to organize an international airshow at the Yarmouth airport in 2013, when it met Thursday, Jan. 10, at Yarmouth town hall.
The airshow will take place on Sept. 14-15 and organizers expect the show highlight will be performances by the Snowbirds Demonstration Team (431 Squadron). Airport manager David Hill told the board at its regular monthly meeting that, should an agreement be reached with the Snowbirds, this would be their only stop in Nova Scotia this year.
The airport manager told the board that preliminary sponsorship interest has been strong and, with the board's approval, the committee expects to move forward to secure those sponsorships. The committee is made up of local aviation enthusiasts who have prior experience in organizing an airshow, said Hill.
The budget is expected to be in the neighborhood of $150,000. Hill told the board the corporation should not expect to make much money on the event, but was confident, barring a complete weather washout, it could pay for itself and that the show would be an economic boost for the community.
"This is a good way to let people know that the Yarmouth airport is up and running," he said.
This was the first official board meeting since last fall's election. The board appointed Yarmouth municipal councillor Leland Anthony as chair and Argyle deputy warden Calvin d'Entremont as vice-chair.
The airport commission has authorized management to organize an air show.