Eight councils protest against airshow

Eight local councils have taken a common stand against this weekend's Malta International Airshow, worried about a repeat of the collision between two stunt planes that occurred during last week's Aero GP, killing one pilot.

The councils say another plane crash could lead to an even worse tragedy because this time the aerobatic manoeuvres will be performed over residents' buildings and not over the sea.

However, Malta Aviation Society president Joseph Ciliberti yesterday reassured residents that the manoeuvres will be carried out over the airfield, not houses.

"The only time the planes fly over buildings is to reposition before the next manoeuvre, a move that is called straight and level. These planes will not be racing," he said.

"People have a right to protest. All I can say is that we have all the permits in hand and we are taking all the precautions."

Mr Ciliberti was contacted yesterday after a joint press conference was held by the councils of Mqabba, Siggiewi, Gudja, Zurrieq, Qrendi, Kirkop, Luqa and Safi in front of the Civil Aviation Department in Luqa.

A small number of residents and councillors showed up to support the mayors, holding placards with slogans such as "Better Safe Than Sorry", "Off Our Villages", and "A Drop in our Sea is Tragic, but a Drop on Our Villages is Disastrous".

It seems that circumstances are conspiring against this year's airshow. First it risked being cancelled because the organisers and Malta International Airport failed to see eye to eye on the insurance policy, a situation which has been resolved. Now, the councils in the airport's vicinity are protesting against it.

Mqabba mayor Nicholas Briffa, speaking in the name of all eight councils, said the Aero GP tragedy was still fresh in everyone's minds.

He said the consequences of such an accident taking place over a residential area were inconceivable, let alone if it involved military aircraft like those used each year during the airshow.

To strengthen their argument they recalled the 1975 incident when an RAF Vulcan bomber had crashed over Zabbar killing five aircrew and a Maltese on the ground.

The councils described the airshow as an "unnecessary danger". They accused the organisers of only being concerned about the buffer zone between the aircraft and paying spectators that made the show financially sustainable, while disregarding residential areas.

The councils were holding the authorities, which had issued the permits for this year's show, responsible.

"While the organisers assured us that all the security precautions have been taken, they could not guarantee that no accident will take place," Mr Briffa said.

The councils also complained about other inconveniences created by the airshow such as the "terrible noise" emitting from military planes, which disturbed the elderly and stirred memories of World War II. The noise also caused farmers to complain about the "extraordinary agitation" among their farm animals.

The councils also took the opportunity to broach the subject of traffic management along is-Sejba and Hal Farrug streets, which were congested with hundreds of cars each year. They questioned if any contingency plans had been put in place in case of an emergency.