THIS year’s Jersey International Air Display could be the last, if funding is not found.
The display’s financial situation, made worse by surging fuel costs, has worried the organisers, who fear that the 55-year-old event could be coming to an end.
The world-renowned display attracts more tourists to the Island than any other event and generates millions of pounds for the Island’s economy. Perhaps because the air show is free to watch, many Islanders are unaware of how expensive it is. It actually costs £240,000 to run, which covers fuel, insurance and bringing the aircraft and military personnel to Jersey.
But rising fuel prices could add £40,000 onto the total cost of running the show. The States invest £100,000, but the rest of the money is raised through private sponsorship. Organiser Mike Higgins said: ‘If it were not for sponsorship from David and Anne Crossland and Venner Capital, there is no doubt in my mind that we would never have the air display we have today. It would be finished.’
Article posted on 8th September, 2008 - 3.00pm
27 Article Comments
The Air display has been going for 55 years and this story about funding has been going for 54.
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It would be a shame if this was to happen. why dont the states get there fingers out and pass this stupid out dated law about the national lottery, then with the funds from the lottery proceeds perhaps we could save the air display and maybe the battle of flowers and maybe other events that are not supported by any other means.
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im sure the Battle of Britain Organisers could do more to raise money, we only see them once a year at this time of year. Try Auctions were highest bidders get a trip in 1 of many planes that come over?
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Just like i said in August.
Battle of flowers in crisis!
I wrote and so will the battle of britain be in september.
Every year the same boring headline.
Have you nothing else to put on the front page year in year out.
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If everybody was to take the same attitude towards this story as “R.Dawkins”, the Air Display would definitely end up disappearing.
In the current World climate, it is bound to be becoming more difficult and expensive to stage this type of event. With it generating millions of pounds for the Island, surely The States should improve their funding?! Even if it just for the short-term whilst times are hard.
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If the Battle of Britain brings more tourists to the island each year than “any other event”, then why are ridiculous amounts of money wasted on bringing “celebrities” (and I don’t include Jodi Marsh in that polite company) over for the Battle of Flowers rather than saving this lucrative show-piece event?
Nobody who lives in Jersey is going to be swayed to go to the Battle of Flowers just because some B-grade celebrity happens to be riding on a float. Also, nobody who lives on the mainland or elsewhere is suddenly going to be persuaded to spend a fortune on flights, accommodation and car-hire, just because they might catch a glimpse of a “celebrity”.
If the air show brings more revenue to the island than the BOF, then that is the event that deserves the funds, especially if the air show is under threat due to rising costs.
I think it’s time that OUR money wa sput to better use and for a more deserving cause…and especially not to line the pockets of over-hyped and over-rated celebrities.
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Fair play Mr Barnes, best idea yet!
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That’s all everything amounts to here is generating millions of pounds for the island but how does that help the ordinary person in the street?
Are we perhaps going to be treat to a new luxury leisure centre giving families something to do.
Put class leading entertainment for adults on and giving children an amusement park?
Giving famillies an alternative to sitting in the pub or some second class restaurant?
Now that would be millions of pounds well spent.
Jersey has less to offer anyone than it did 30 years ago!!!
To get something out of something you must surely put something in.
Jersey dosen’t want to invest in things for children,the backbone of its future society.
The young generation grow up and move on and who will be there to support the grudgingly elders that denied them a quality youth.
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Boring!!! The air display was always a treat when I was a child, but to be honest the last few years has been nothing short of unspectacular.
The same story keeps coming up, instead of making us read this rubbish year after year why not just stop it altogether or stop moaning!! States manage to spend our money very well on cr@p like the steam clock, La Fregate etc etc need I go on, can’t they stop doing that and start spending it on stuff that makes (MADE) Jersey what it WAS?? ie Fort Regent, Air Display etc etc!!
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Have the sponsors threatened to pull out? Surely if the States invested OUR hard earned cash in something that gave something back to the Island, (the age old argument about the steam clock comes to mind), then we would never see headlines of this type again.
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I really feel for the event organisers who put a lot of hard work in organising these events and they are put down by the likes of R.Dawkins and co above because they voice their concerns about future funding. If they do not mention now that they will be in financial difficulty in the future then these events will fade away. What will Jersey be without the Battle of Flowers and the Air Display…..
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If the Battle of Britain costs an estimated … let’s say £300,000 given the rise in fuel costs etc., and generates MILLIONS of pounds for the island’s economy, then how come the States haven’t deemed it a worthy-enough investment to fund entirely through taxpayers money ?
Do they perhaps think we need more bubble clocks or sculptures ? Or perhaps they have a better plan for the HUGE amounts of money that GST has reaped from the taxpaying populace to go back into the States’ coffers ??
Why not actually FULLY fund an event that IS well-attended, BECAUSE you don’t have to pay to get in …
To my mind the island has lost altogether too many tourist attractions over the years, from Fort Regent (what use is that now !?) to Belle Vue, the Fantastic Tropical Gardens, as Paul has said above me, what would Jersey be without the Battle of Flowers and/or the Battle of Britain from a tourist’s perspective …
… and I also agree that putting people down for their concerns over future funding is a bit unkind – just because you’ve heard the same message year after year doesn’t mean the message isn’t without truth – Crosslands have always done a fantastic job of sponsoring it, so perhaps it’s time the States stepped-up to the bar, and acknowledged their role in what is taken as an ISLAND festival – not an elitist one.
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My views are as most people.
If it brings in millions of pounds in revenue for the island then funding £300,000 is a small investment for a large return to the economy of the island.
Jersey needs to get its name back as a great tourist destination as at the minute there is nothing and being similar, most of the time more expensive than spain, cyprus etc in terms of travel accomodation and dining out why would any one come here.
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i agree with CC air show is boring now, time to change it> commercial aircraft would be a treat don,t you think? after all they changed the title from battle britain to jersey international air show. hardly paris air show or farnbourgh
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Why not put the display on a Saturday ? More people would attend. I went a couple of years ago and loved it. It’s a shame alot of people have to use annual leave to go and view it.
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Tourism will decrease next year due to the credit crunch but they dont care in the States as its all Finance. next year Jersey will see the full effects of what the current house have done.. I ask why is Mr Walker leaving?
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The Air Display is a private company with shareholders.It is not a completely charitable organization.Admirable as it is,it wants to make a profit for the shareholders.The plea about underfunding has always been the cry.
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Why not have the Air Display and Battle Of Flowers (The night parade – scrap the afternoon parade) all on the same day? In between those two events, the various food and beer festivals could be held. The states and all the private sponsors could then put all there money into this one big day and then maybe there might not be such a shortage of cash.
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Up the percentage of tax for the 1(k) residents and you should be able to find the funding. These Senators, Ministers, etc, etc, etc… should really stop being a bunch of chickens, start sticking their finger out and actually start looking out for the people of Jersey.
Stop concentrating on the “RICH PEOPLE” and start thinking about getting Jersey to be a better place to live.
It makes me sick to think that something that has been in our Island for so many years could, one day, come to an end.
WAKE UP JERSEY PEOPLE AND FIGHT FOr YOUR RIGHTS!!!!
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Having just watched the display with my children who were both exited and have really enjoyed their day and they are both girls I hasten to say ! This is part of our heritage and we have to keep it going what bloody use is an undergroud road when we cant aford to drive the car on it ! come on people stand up and be counted, as Churchill said how much is owed by some many to so few ? we owe it to the memory of every person who lived and died though the various wars to keep this tradition and remeber them not just once a year on remeberance day when we pledge to remember them. How differnt would things be today if these people had not laid down their lives for us ? Think on that and get out and vote ! your vote counts and is important, if the majestic Vulcan can come back after 16 years absence then we can change this island for the good of our children and make them proud of us ! SO VOTE …………..
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Puzzled, I don’t think anybody meant to be unkind to the organisers, but feel it is prob a case of, look if the States won’t pay then the rest of us don’t want to hear the maoning cause there’s nothing much we can do. It is States responsibility to keep it going should they so wish.
Joe makes a very valid point, and if thats true then maybe thats exactly why people are getting fed up of it all.
I think Jersey people have lost their will to fight on anything like this, because the States will do what they want regardless as we have learnt so many times over the years….
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How about 10 top prizes, all of which are for the opportunity to sit in one or other of the participating aircraft.
I would gladly pay £10 or £20 for a raffle ticket if the top prize was to sit in the back seat of a Red Arrow or the Euro fighter during the display. I am sure that there are plenty of others who would love such a once in a lifetime thrill.
I would bet that even the slower planes or the helicopters would be very exciting. It would certainly help towards the cost.
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I hate the air display , every year I go to Rozel to get away from the infernal noise of the war machines; I am glad I am not in the Hospital or one of the old people’s homes in the area. Why can’t it be held over St. Ouen’s bay? This would be safer and less of a nuisance. I notice that now we have to put up with the noise and pollution on Wednesday as well as Thursday ; WHY?, I would gladly pay money NOT to have the air display. Everybody pays lip service to saving the environment, not wasting fuel, caring for the planet etc, but most of them are hypocrites.
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“Why can’t it be held over St. Ouen’s bay? ”
I totally agree with you Jack, more space, more parking, away from built up areas.. doh… except for one minor point…it would be in the way of the runway?
Make sure you fly over Rozel next year Biggles!
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How can anyone get bored with the Air Display and it will continue every year, it has to! I have noticed that the Air Display seems to be getting pushed further out to sea because of certain objects that have been PLACED on the water front, its crazy! We want to enjoy something in the island, my kids loved every minute of the Air Display and so did i! The display these people put on for us was lovely despite the weather but we stopped to the end because sadly the Air Display is only on for one day each year! For those of you that arent interested in the Air Display, if your not interested then go else where on the island and let the people that do want to watch it, enjoy it, the most!
What else is going to have to stop over here that the children enjoy, our island has megga problems, the island has a major drink and drugs problem and our children are being forced out onto the streets to face all of this! So do you really think Jersey is what its really made out to be, i dont think so! We have an beautiful island that has so much going for it only to be spoilt by sheer greed thats ruining it! I am Jersey but sometimes i am ashamed to be Jersey because of the way it is being run! Everywhere you have to pay to park, even on the day of the Air Display bollards were placed EVERYWHERE, hello, what the hell is going on over here??
Sadly, the island is all for the rich now,(not blaming the rich people for this) but some people do forget that this is Jersey we are living on and its not the South of France or London that we are living in! THE REALITY about Jersey that its not for us locals to enjoy anymore, its a place that is driving people and our children to drink and drugs!!
So, we would like to see Fort Regent reinstated back for our kids and we could enjoy the Air Display from Fort Regent if it was done up to its high standard once again! If it wasnt let to run rack and ruin in the first money wouldnt be wasted!!
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As organiser I have read all the comments with interest but I would like to address three in particular. Firstly, the air display is not organised by a commercial company seeking to make money. It is organised by a not for profit company whose shareholders have never received even a penny in dividends. It is also largely run by unpaid volunteers. Secondly, if we did not point out to people the hand to mouth existence of the air display from a funding point of view there would be no air display. Providing all those who derive a benefit from the air display contribute towards its costs the air display will go on for decades. Third, we cannot fly civilians in military aircraft such as Typhoon etc but we do fly sponsors in aircraft such as the B-17, Mustang, T-28 etc.
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i think the display is great but ,as Mike tells us its getting very expensive,why not hold it every two years ,then there would be more money for more plans etc,and we would look foward to it maybe more .All those people that complain about the noise etc should go elsewhere and shut up!I also totally agree with what broad bean says , i served in the army for 10 tens and only returned 4 years ago and its true that jersery is full of drunks ,greedy snobs and drugs,who whats to come here on holiday for the price of 3 hols in spain ,and maybe get attacked in town at night by some drunken idiots or repectless teenagers !!!!!
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