Airport department reluctant to resolve air show concerns

Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford said a letter he sent Friday to Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan should help smooth turbulence created by the department of airports and give organizers a shot at making the show fly.

John Driscoll, the department's executive director, said at a meeting in Palmdale two weeks ago he would meet and work with the non-profit group putting on the air show. That hasn't happened, Ledford said.

Gary Reynolds, chairman of the non-profit group organizing the show, said he also sent a 52-page fax to Riordan explaining what the air show is. In the letter, he asked for Riordan's help in gaining the department's cooperation.

The group, Airplanes in Recreation Shows Committee of Management Marketing and Never-ending Demonstrations (AIRS COMMAND), is working to make the Palmdale Regional Airport Air Show, set for Father's Day, the region's largest.

Reynolds was scheduled to be in Las Vegas today for the International Congress for Air Shows. Despite the problems, Reynolds said he tentatively is signing 15 performers for the show. He said he will offer to return deposits or release performers from their commitments at the end of the month.

It's been an uphill battle because Driscoll hasn't been working with Antelope Valley officials and often doesn't return phone calls, Reynolds said.

"He told me not to bother coming to the Dec. 5 Department of Airports board meeting because we aren't on the agenda. I explained to him the time constraints we have to prepare for the show.

"He said it would be next year before it would be discussed. Driscoll said the attorneys are working on it, but not to call them, they will call me," Reynolds said.

Admission to the show will be free, eliminating a need for the department to call for bids for running the show, Reynolds said.

Los Angeles city attorneys are determining if that approach negates the need to see if others would want to put on the show, he said.

Reynolds said he doubts other corporations would be interested.

The department of airports also is concerned about liability, and Reynolds said he could guarantee $10 million in insurance for the Department of Defense and $10 million for the Departments of Airports to guard against accidents.

Another concern is who will pay the bills. Reynolds told the department of airports everything will be paid for before the show goes on and the accounting will be done through the group's accounting department.

The books can be reviewed by the department of airports, he said.

Nine calls from the Valley Press to Driscoll's office Thursday and Friday were not returned.

Four times, Driscoll's secretary said he was on the phone, but would return the call. Three times the secretary said he was in meetings, but he had previous messages from the Valley Press and would return the calls. He didn't.

Once on Thursday she said Driscoll was out for the afternoon after previously telling a Valley Press reporter he was in meetings and on the phone. The secretary twice tried to refer queries to another office.

Reynolds said he called Driscoll, but the airport official said he couldn't hear Reynolds and would call him back. This came after public relations officials gave Reynolds the number of Driscoll's direct line after numerous inquiries, Reynolds said.

Driscoll did return the call two hours later, but only after receiving numerous calls from Palmdale City Manager Bob Toone.

"The purpose of my call was to encourage (Driscoll) to work with the (air show) committee," Toone said.

If the show comes together, the Thunderbirds or Blue Angels will perform, Reynolds said.

It's also possible space shuttle Discovery will be through its ninemonth stay at the Rockwell Aerospace Orbiter Maintenance and Manufacturing Facility at Plant 42 and will be in the show, he said.

Team America, the civilian answer to the Blue Angels, is scheduled to be at the event to bring in three of the fastest people on the planet: Assemblyman William J."Pete" Knight, who flew the North American X-15; Marta Bohn-Meyer, who flew in the triple-supersonic SR-71, and Katrina Mumaw, who broke the sound barrier in a Russian MiG 29 when she was 12 years old.

Other big draws are expected to include a day and night pyrotechnic demonstration by MiG Magic, jet car demonstrations and threetime world champion Patty Wagstaff.

The show also will feature an assault helicopter landing, a forestry service demonstration on aerial fire-fighting techniques, gliders, hot-air balloons, ultralight aircraft, sky diving and the remote-controlled five-time helicopter champion, Reynolds said.