TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – The fate of this year’s National Cherry Festival airshow in Traverse City hangs in the balance as festival organizers and the Northwest Regional Airport Authority, responsible for the Cherry Capital Airport, struggle to reach an agreement. The central issue revolves around the terms governing the airshow in 2024 and the subsequent two summers.

Cherry Festival organizers don’t want airport dictating the air show’s lineup.

According to the Detroit Free Press, Steve Tupper, a lawyer representing the Cherry Festival organizers and an airshow pilot, the airport is overstepping its authority by dictating the show’s lineup.

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Tupper claims that the proposed agreement grants the airport control it should not have over the airshow, jeopardizing a long-standing Traverse City tradition.

Airport argues Cherry Festival not being open to necessary adjustments.

Airport CEO Kevin Klein, however, contends that an agreement is necessary under Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations, as the airport governs the use of its facilities for takeoffs and landings during the airshow.

Klein asserts that the festival organizers have resisted the airport’s proposed plan and want to dictate airport activities, insisting on having their own way.

Airport’s position is that the traveling public comes first.

Klein emphasizes the airport’s responsibility to balance the needs of various users, including travelers, airlines, vendors, employees and the festival itself. He underscores the primary obligation to operate a safe and efficient airport for the public, asserting that an airshow, while entertaining, is secondary to the airport’s core mission.

The current standoff arises from the airport’s substantial growth, making it the third-largest in Michigan with over 700,000 passengers in 2023. Increased air traffic raises concerns about potential disruptions caused by the airshow, impacting over 70 flights with delays and cancellations over five days.

Airport makes recommendations to change air show schedule.

The airport proposes rescheduling practice times for the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels and avoiding performances by other high-performance aircraft during specific periods.

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Festival lawyer Tupper argues that the proposed restrictions are excessive, contending that the planned airshow would only affect airport operations for an hour each day for three days. He accuses the airport of prioritizing growth over preserving a cherished airshow tradition enjoyed by half a million attendees.

Potential solutions include adjusting airshow practice and performance windows, exploring night shows, incorporating alternative technologies like drones, and relocating the airshow’s center point away from Grand Traverse Bay and the airport.

Collaboration is needed for this year’s show and those in the future.

Discussions among Grand Traverse County commissioners and airport officials emphasize the impact of the airshow on commercial flights and the need for a collaborative strategy. With the airport experiencing record passenger traffic, the challenge lies in finding a balance that accommodates the airshow while avoiding disruptions that could lead airlines to consider alternative summer destinations.

Michigan News Source reached out to Traverse City Tourism about the gridlock but they have no comment about the situation other than being optimistic that everyone can find common ground.

For those who want to experience what it’s like to be in a Blue Angels cockpit, click here.