Festival of Flight unsung heroes praised
The unsung heroes who plan, organise and oversee the annual B/E Aerospace Festival of Flight have been singled out for praise this week by Councillor Gillian Fitzpatrick, Chairperson of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.
On Saturday 6th August more than 100,000 people will flock to Newcastle and the surrounding area to enjoy the thrilling sights and sounds of the region’s annual aviation extravaganza, but few amongst that admiring audience will pause to consider just how much work lies behind such a complex large scale event.
In fact, the continuing success of the air show lies in the hands of a quietly professional and highly committed ‘Honorary Ground Crew’ who bring a vast range of talents, skills and disciplines to the project.
“Our thanks and admiration must go to the dozens of organisations and many individuals who work all year-round to deliver this fabulous event,” said Councillor Fitzpatrick.
“Staging an air show of this international calibre is a major exercise in logistics and it simply would not be possible to undertake the venture without the incredible skills and team spirit shown by our dedicated event organisers.
“The Council’s own in-house team benefits from the support of a diverse multi-agency team. Together, they plan every aspect of the show in meticulous detail, from selecting and securing the presence of high profile aircraft and arranging an ambitious programme of ground level entertainment, to safeguarding the safety and wellbeing of tens of thousands of visitors.
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“The challenges of co-ordinating the afternoon air display must be clear to everyone, but every element of the event has to be ‘choreographed’ and fully integrated to ensure that everything runs seamlessly on the big day, while the sheer scale of the venture means that planning and preparation work actually extends right across the year.
“When we all gasp in admiration at the magnificent men and women in their flying machines, I hope we will also spare a thought and offer a vote of thanks to the equally magnificent men and women who also work at ground level to make the annual B/E Aerospace Festival of Flight such a soaraway success.”
Councillor Fitzpatrick also paid tribute to the sponsors and funders whose support enhances the considerable financial commitment made by the Council. “We are delighted once again to receive significant support from Kilkeel-based aircraft seating manufacturer, B/E Aerospace while backing from Tourism NI has encouraged us to extend our culinary content this year, celebrating NI Year of Food & Drink 2016 with extended opportunities to enjoy great local produce as part of the festival experience.”
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