Why air show was moved to St Paul's Bay

I refer to Franco Scicluna's letter regarding the air show (September 4). I feel compelled to put matters right and, perhaps share a few thoughts.

The move of the aerial display from the airport to St Paul's Bay has absolutely nothing to do with safety, as Mr Scicluna made readers believe. Calling the safety motive "a lame excuse" is neither correct nor fair. The change of venue came about due to the construction of Lufthansa Technik's hanger on the same spot where air show patrons parked their vehicles. That vast empty space is no more and until an appropriate alternative is found, the Malta International Airshow as we know it cannot be repeated. The impeccable safety record of the event in Malta attests to the fact that the move could not have been necessitated due to safety.

I fully agree that air shows really should belong to airports and the Malta Aviation Society (MAS) could have easily abandoned this international event once and for all if it wasn't for MP Michael Gonzi's strenuous efforts to change the venue to St Paul's Bay, rather than cancelling the event.

The change of venue brought the air show closer to people and generated huge, much-needed business in the area, especially during what is considered as the very tail end of the tourist season. The move proved highly popular as evidenced by the huge crowds that dotted the miles-long shores around the new venue, much larger crowds than could have ever been imagined at Luqa.

The main reason was that people, Maltese and tourists alike, could watch the spectacle for free as against having to pay to watch the display at the airport, where a fee was charged to watch both the static and the aerial display.

Additionally, St Paul's Bay and its islands provide a magnificent backdrop to the event. All this, however, has put MAS in a real financial difficulty because with the absence of the normal gate-money, the society had to ask for financial assistance from the authorities to continue organising the event. It must be stated that the Malta International Airshow is organised by MAS members on a purely voluntary basis and any assistance received is just to cover the expenses of the event itself.

Much as MAS would like to continue organising the Malta International Airshow is at the feet of the ball now the authorities. This year it is proving extremely difficult to secure the funds to financially cover the costs of the event and this could well mean the end of the Malta International Airshow. So I kindly invite Mr Scicluna to still come and visit the static display at Luqa where he will continue to be able to talk to the pilots on Park 4 (kindly provided to us by Malta International Airport plc) in the morning before slowly making his way to St Paul's Bay and see one of the most formidable national display teams in the world, namely the Red Arrows, perform along with the other participants at this 16th edition of the Malta International Airshow.

Every European country holds at least one air show and MAS will continue to strive not to allow Malta to be the odd one out. But money talks and if there's no money we sadly will have no option but to say farewell to the Malta International Airshow, whether it is held at the airport or St Paul's Bay.

Suffice to state that this year the Malta Aviation Society has had to refuse a number of participants to keep the costs down.

In the meantime I hope we get the necessary help to at least cover the costs for this year's event while wishing Mr Scicluna another weekend of fun and entertainment at the Malta International Airshow 2008.