A Times Editorial

AirFest would pose challenge

Clearwater officials are being cautious about the idea of moving AirFest 2002 from MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa to Clearwater Beach, and no wonder. The vision of half a million people converging on Clearwater on a sunny Saturday or Sunday for the air show is enough to keep one awake at night.

AirFest is one of the most popular events in the bay area each year. Traditionally held in mid April, the free show attracts from 700,000 to close to 1-million people over two days.

MacDill not only hosts the event, but treats it as an open house, throwing open the sprawling base, hangars and other facilities to the public. And that, in fact, is the problem in the new world we all inhabit since Sept. 11.

The war in Afghanistan is being run from MacDill, which houses U.S. Central Command. It also is home to the newly formed Coalition Coordination Center, in which personnel from other nations allied with the United States in the war on terrorism are coordinating the coalition's efforts. The base has implemented even tighter security than normal since the terrorist attacks.

Because of that, MacDill officials are concerned that they may not be able to host the air show next year and have begun casting about for alternative locations. They called the Clearwater Beach Chamber of Commerce, and the call led to a meeting this week between AirFest organizers and city officials.

If the air show were moved to Clearwater, it would be held on Clearwater Beach under the scenario on the table. Because the show occupies 4 miles of air space, spectators could see the show not only on the beach but along much of the waterfront in Clearwater and perhaps even Dunedin.

Because the show attracts such huge crowds, people in the Clearwater area who benefit from tourism are excited about the idea. Clearwater's No. 1 business is tourism, and lately, tourism has been suffering. What a boon the AirFest could be. But city officials are concerned.

MacDill's location at the tip of the Interbay Peninsula and the base's flat, open character position it well to handle an event like AirFest. The road network in that part of Tampa makes it relatively easy to funnel traffic toward the base's gates, and once inside, there is plenty of paved area to provide free parking for tens of thousands of cars. There are few tall structures and virtually no trees to block the views of spectators. And there is ample space near the airfield for the many food tents, portable toilets and vendor booths, not to mention room to park the aircraft that are on display on the ground.

Clearwater Beach has no place for the aircraft displays, which would probably have to be held at an airport if at all. It's even debatable whether the barrier island could accommodate all of the food, vendor, first aid, restroom and emergency facilities necessary to serve such crowds. And everyone knows that there is no room on the beach for the cars that would come, especially in April when the beach already is crowded with vacationers and spring-breakers. Virtually all of the parking would have to be at remote -- perhaps really remote -- lots, with shuttles provided to the beach or other viewing areas.

The talks about moving AirFest away from MacDill are preliminary -- the decision will not be made until January. And other locations besides Clearwater are under consideration.

Fortunately, Clearwater has at City Hall a city manager uniquely qualified to understand the challenges that would confront the city as host of the event. Bill Horne is a retired Air Force colonel who worked at MacDill until he went into the city management business in Clearwater a couple of years ago.

Horne acknowledged this week that the AirFest would be great for Clearwater tourism, but he wants to hear what residents think of the idea. They are the ones who will have to navigate roads jammed with heavy traffic, will experience extreme challenges getting on and off the beach if they live there, and will have to listen to the noise of all kinds of aircraft flying overhead. Residents should let him know how they feel about making those sacrifices for a weekend.

It would not be impossible for Clearwater to host the AirFest, but doing so successfully would be a logistical challenge and would require loads of work by hordes of organizers. Clearwater officials are right to pause and consider the consequences.

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