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Board trying to get Airport Day of the ground
The Fort Scott Airport Advisory Board remains at a loss as to what to do about the annual Airport Day event, but it plans to continue researching ways to conduct an air show in 2014.
Three members of the board met Thursday afternoon to continue discussions on the future of Airport Day. Since there were not enough board members present for a quorum -- four members of the six-member board are needed -- no action could be taken during the meeting.
Board members present were Greg Post, Ken Lyon and Jim Gladbach. Members Dallas Smith, Shawn Goans and Tim Emerson were not present for the meeting.
Topics of discussion at recent board meetings have included possible ways to get sponsors and donations, the amount of work and money that goes into the show, and getting someone to be involved with the event to the extent that former event chairman Bob Marshall did.
Airport Manager Kenny Howard said he has been in contact with John Bartholomew, with Mid Continent Technology Group, LLC, of Wichita, about Bartholomew's possible interest in helping with the air show.
Bartholomew, the wing leader of the Jayhawk Wing of the Commemorative Air Force, has said he is trying to organize several air shows across Kansas and get cities working together on events, thus reducing costs for cities involved.
Bartholomew has expressed interest in being involved with Airport Day in Fort Scott, and his company would organize all aspects of the event, however, he has requested $10,000 up front for his involvement -- expenses that would be set aside from costs of fuel and insurance for the show.
Howard said Bartholomew is also interested in creating a two-day event and charging a $5 admission fee to offset expenses of the show, but board members have expressed concern about reaction from the community to this idea, as past events have been free to the public.
Howard said Bartholomew has said he would be willing to come and speak to the board at some point.
Howard said he has several other duties he has to deal with leading up to and the day of the air show. He also said he is now involved with many airport projects and is unable to participate in coordination of the event as he once did.
Lyon said he has recently been in contact with Marshall, former chairman of the advisory board and Airport Day, to gauge his interest in being involved with the show next year in some capacity.
However, Lyon said Marshall "wishes to have no direct involvement with Airport Day."
Marshall still has a file from his years of involvement with the event and would be willing to share that and his experiences with someone willing to take over the post of chairman of Airport Day, Lyon said.
Lyon said he has also spoken with retired local businessman Dean Mann about his possible involvement with Airport Day or the board but Mann has declined. The board talked about the possibility of downsizing the event in the future.
"I hate to not see an Airport Day," Lyon said.
The issue is how to proceed with organization of an Airport Day next year, Lyon said. He suggested a possible scaled-down event with fewer planes involved.
Post said he recently flew to Fairview, Okla., a town of about 2,500 people that hosts an air show each year. Post said to draw participation and support, organizers of that show obtain a mailing list from the FAA and send flyers to people with airplanes.
Post said with that event, which is free to the public, the city funds a portion of the show and organizers conduct fundraisers and also sell advertising slots in a flyer that helps with promotion of the event. He also said their performers come in at a reduced rate since it is late in the season.
Board members got a glimpse of the flyer during the meeting.
Post said that event also draws about 125 planes but has attracted as many as 300. He said the airport also has several hangars to house the planes.
Board members also discussed ways to draw people to the event, such as having plane rides for children.
"We just have to have the revenue to make it work," Post said.
Gladbach said organizers would be able to draw more money for the event if fundraising efforts started earlier in the year. He said he was also concerned about getting an event put together without someone to put as much effort into the event as Marshall, who coordinated fundraising, performers and the FAA's involvement.
"It takes someone to take it on," Lyon said.
Gladbach said he is also concerned about the issue of not getting all board members to attend meetings on the subject and to join discussions on Airport Day.
Lyon shared the same concern, but said he felt their meetings up to this point have been beneficial.
"These discussions are worthwhile because we can share ideas and information," he said.
Board members present Thursday agreed to continue researching the issue and to communicate a tentative date to the public for a possible event such as a fly-in next year with possible aerobatic acts. Post said he plans to talk to organizers of the event in Fairview to get more details on that show.
Airport Day normally takes place on the second Saturday in September. Board members said they would like to have another meeting on the topic in mid-December.
This year's event was grounded, as last year's air show lost money. The city made up for the loss by paying expenses from the city budget, even though the advisory board has been responsible for organizing the event.
Airport Day started in 1998, and in past years has featured aerobatic acts, military flybys, aviation exhibits, music and other activities.