The "Halifax Air Show" is in fact the Nova Scotia International Air Show, but it should not be confused
with the long running, award winning and excellent "Shearwater International Air Show, (SIAS)".
The SIAS was created in Ottawa by CAS with full approval of the MND in 1977. It was created to
provide a high public profile for the then CFB Shearwater which Provincial politicians wanted to turn
into an industrial park, much resented by the AF and Navy. By 1979, an organization was in place
and the SIAS commenced operations. It was provided with "major event status" by CAS, which
meant that units like the then CFB Cold Lake were tasked to provide aircraft. The annual event became
one of the best air shows in North America, winning many awards, and regularly attracting in excess
of 100,000 visitors.
The success of the event was due almost entirely to the excellent leadership, planning, and participation
of the Canadian Forces, and some 1200 to 1500 volunteers. SIAS affilliated with the Canadian International Air Show Toronto, The Abbotsford, Hamiliton, and Moose Jaw events, and the famed
Royal International Air Tattoo, (RIAT) RAF Fairford UK. When funds allocated to upgrade the high
speed and heavy lift runway 12 Wing were diverted to another DND project in Montreal, the days
of a venue at 12 Wing were numbered. This was escalated by the events of 9/11 which caused the
annual insurance premium to rise to about $100,000. At this time, the NS Government stepped in
and provided administrative and financial support, and a change of venue. Moving the airshow to
the Halifax International Airport has generated a number of logistical and operational problems, but
the most important have not been thoroughly examined.
The airshow is a not-for-profit entity operating on a not-for-profit Category A National Capital Airport
in the National Airport System (NAS), which is responsible to a Local Airport Authority (LAA) - the LAA
is in fact responsible to no one, thus the question of liability must be considered. Is the event being
operated in compliance with TC Canadian Air Regulations (CARS)? one would think so. Meanwhile, the
Canadian air show world is changing: being constantly hit with ever increasing costs (fuel, insurance
fees, etc.) The organizers of the NSIAS deserve credit for what they are attempting to do, but any
attempt to emulate the SIAS is virtually impossible. The Trade Show at 12 Wing was designed to
bring aerospace industry and Canadian potential suppliers togather for three days - entry fee included
in a ticket to the event, ($12.00) - the Trade Show in the Halifax Metro Centre cost $200.00 per
day, (two days) and $150.00 for their "gala dinner" - needless to say most of the people who
attended were subsidized bureaucrats; this was not the long established original intention.Thus the
proposed annual air show needs to be examined, and certain issues like liability resolved. MacLeod
), mostly in Winnipeg, and I'd have to say that the only exciting show put on by the Canadian side of the house were from the CF 18's. I'd rather see the 15's,16's, A-10's ect..... Maybe I just haven't had the luck of seeing a good performance by the rest of the usual players from Canada....
