The announcement by the Malta Aviation Society that no air show will be held this year is, unfortunately, no surprise.

This has been brewing for the past couple of years for reasons partly alien to the MAS, coupled with the rumours that most of the available space for aircraft parking, which is already a headache, will be built up.

The Malta air show has been professionally organised with success by volunteers, and not by some paid-up consultant or other, for the past 25 years.

The ‘knocking off’ of the flying display from the airfield to the southern foreshore did not help at all, whatever the real reason behind this change. The truth is that anything can happen and anywhere.

An ‘aerial display’ is held 24/7, 365 days a year, considering the number of aircraft overflying Malta continuously.

The air show was not just another event. It was neither merely held to quench the thirst of the many local enthusiasts. It was a crowd-puller, a family affair. It was an event that attracted  foreign aviation enthusiasts and media. It was good business for our hotels, restaurants, car hire and other businesses. Its ripple effect will now only be a thing of the past 25 years.

The excellent organisation was the result of the collective effort of aviation volunteers, young students and veterans, airport officials and army personnel who worked tirelessly year in year out, leaving no stone unturned.

The excellent foreign media reports, coverages and awards are a feather in the cap of all involved. Unfortunately, all this is now history unless the authorities realise this.