Getting Ireland’s biggest and best-loved Air Show off the ground is a complicated annual exercise and this week Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Naomi Bailie, has paid tribute to all those involved in staging the 2015 B/E Aerospace Festival of Flight.
Dozens of organisations and agencies put their weight behind the ambitious event, with planning spanning almost a full year. Cllr Bailie said: “When it comes to staging an air spectacular of this international scale and calibre, there is no such thing as ‘winging it’! Plans are laid down well in advance and in incredible detail, necessitating not only much high level work from the Council’s own in-house team, but also professional support from a diverse range of individuals and agencies.
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Support on the Ground for Stars in the Skies: Saying thank you to some of the extensive team who will be looking after public health, safety and welfare over the weekend of the B/E Festival of Flight is Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Cllr Naomi Bailie. Also pictured, from left, are Joe Lenaghan of RNLI; William Bradley of St John Ambulance; PSNI Constable Stacey Arnott; Gary Young of HM Coastguard; PSNI Constable Karen Thomas; PSNI Sergeant Paddy McGarry; Geordie Canavan, Community Rescue Service and Mark Guinness, Chris McLaughlin and Paddy NcGarry from the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service.[/caption]“Together, they work quietly and effectively behind the scenes, seeking no public recognition for their vital contributions; they are very much our ‘unsung heroes’. On behalf of the entire region, I would like to thank them for everything they do to make our air show such a soaraway success.”
A multi-agency team works closely with Newry, Mourne and Down District Council on everything from selecting and securing high profile aircraft to choreographing the afternoon air display and safeguarding the safety and well-being of around 100,000 visitors to the region. Their efforts have to be fully integrated to ensure that the whole event runs seamlessly on ‘the big day’.
This year the B/E Aerospace Festival of Flight has welcomed on board a new Flight Director, Rick Peacock Edwards. The son of a pilot, his own flying career has been spent mainly flying fighter aircraft (Lightning, Hunter, F4 Phantom and Tornado F2/3).
He has extensive experience with air display environment, as a display pilot and as display director. Rick is looking forward to coming to Newcastle to bring a fantastic line up of air crafts over the vista of Dundrum bay some of which making their first appearance here.
Councillor Bailie believes that team work and attention to detail are the keys to success. She added: “No stone is left unturned in our bid to provide visitors with the best possible experience and no detail is overlooked. This year, for example, benefiting from the experience of previous years, we have switched the location of our popular Aviation Village feature from its erstwhile home at Donard Park to Castle Park. This puts the attraction right at the heart of Newcastle and frees up some all-important additional car parking at Donard.
“I have been hugely impressed to see how the various agencies have come together to secure the ongoing success of this ambitious project. When our first air spectacular was launched, none of us could have imagined that this would so speedily grow to become one of the biggest and best attended events in the Council’s tourism promotion calendar.
“While the year-on-year development has been fantastic, securing significant economic benefits for Newcastle and the surrounding area, it has also brought challenges as the influx of visitors has increased from around 50,000 in Year 1 to an estimated 100,000 people this year. Our fantastic multi-agency working party is working hard to help keep them all safe, happy and well entertained.
“On behalf of all of all those who will come out to enjoy the B/E Aerospace Festival of Flight may I extend a sincere thank you to everyone who is going the extra mile to make the day such a highlight of Northern Ireland’s Summer season?”
Members of the Newry, Mourne and Down District Multi-Agency Working Group include Community Rescue Service, DRDNI, HM Coastguard, MOD, Mourne Mountain Rescue Team, Mourne Underwater Search Team, National Trust, Newcastle Chamber of Commerce, Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, PSNI, RNLI, St John’s Ambulance, RAF, Translink, and many other agency support services.
For further information or a FREE copy of the Festival programme please contact Newcastle Visitor Centre on 028 4372 2222 or full listings online at:
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