By Lara Fominoff @fomsy1 on Twitter

Big changes coming for this year’s Lethbridge International Airshow

Jun 1, 2017 | 1:17 PM

LETHBRIDGE –  An extra day, more acts, new parking rules to avoid a bottleneck on Highway 5, and new Transport Canada rules are some of the big changes that will be introduced at this year’s Lethbridge International Airshow in July.
 
Brent Botfield, Past President,  says the airshow will now run Friday, July 14 through to Sunday, July 16.
 
Friday, there will be a Twilight Show, followed by a full day on Saturday, and a Family Day celebrating Canada’s 150th Birthday will take place on Sunday.
 
“It’s a great theme for everybody. And with the anniversary of 429 Squadron as well, it gave us the opportunity to do the Family Day on the Sunday, which will be an abbreviated show.”
 
No. 429 Bison Squadron is celebrating their 75th anniversary. The City of Lethbridge adopted B Squadron in 1944 during WWII. A flypast during the airshow has taken place nearly every year since 2008.
 
Botfield says the Canadian Forces Snowbirds have also been confirmed, along with the CF-18 Hornet, painted red and white, with the Canadian Maple Leaf.
 
This year, there will also be significant changes to the way parking and ticket sales will occur at the airport, in order to avoid serious traffic issues, as there have been in past years – including traffic jams that are backed up several kilometres.
 
“We’ve changed our gates this year,” explains Botfield. “Basically we won’t be collecting tickets right at the gate. We’ll be collecting at the security entrance, so the traffic will be able to free- flow right into the airport, into the parking lot.”
 
He says it will get people off the highway, into the field much faster and there is no charge for parking. 
 
Tables will be set up near the security gate for those who wish to purchase tickets on -site. Tickets can also be purchased ahead of time at London Drugs, Gas King, and on their website http://www.lethbridgeairshow.ca/
 
Botfield also explains that Transport Canada has introduced new rules for spectators, which means no one can bring in large golf umbrellas, tent shelters- or anything related that can blow away in the wind.
 
“Nothing that can potentially get away onto the airfield and damage an aircraft, is what they’re (Transport Canada) concerned about. A personal umbrella that you hang onto is allowed, lawn chairs are ok, that kind of stuff, no problem at all.”
 
Pets are not allowed on airport property, unless they are working or special needs dogs with proper identification.
 
There will also be zero tolerance for drones of any kind flying near the airport.
 
“Don’t even consider trying to bring in a drone. Security will be checking for those definitley,” he warns.
 
If anyone is also interested in volunteering during the weekend, about 200 volunteers are still needed for things like show set up and take down, security (must be at least 18 years of age), and parking attendants. Those interested can go to the website, click on “Contacts” and fill out a form.
 
Here is the complete list of acts/visitors:
 
Canadian Forces Snowbirds
CF-18 Hornets Demonstration Team
No. 429 Bison Squadron
Vampire Airshows
Ace Makers
Stefan Trischuk Airshows
Mustang High Flight Aerobatics-Dornier Alpha Jet
US Army Golden Knights Parachute Team
Geoff Latter Airshow
Precision Exotics
Smoke & Thunder
Pete McLeod Airshows
Rifle Airshows