Plans move ahead for Blue Angels' return to Westmoreland airshow in 2021

Beset by the covid-19 pandemic and construction at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport that has slashed commercial passenger traffic by 60%, the Westmoreland County Airport Authority is turning the page on 2020 and planning the return of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels next year.

The flight demonstration squadron based in Pensacola, Fla., officially slotted performances at the Unity facility Memorial Day weekend, May 29-30, for the Shop ’n Save Westmoreland County Airshow, Airport Authority Executive Director Gabe Monzo said Tuesday.

“It’s going to take a lot of planning this year because we have to prepare for a number of scenarios because we don’t know what the status of the pandemic will be in May,” Monzo said. “We’re going to prepare several scenarios, one for worst-case scenario up to the best. And hopefully, it will be the best and people will be ready to get out and enjoy themselves here.”

Authority member Janice Smarto, who chairs the events committee, said the formal notification that the flight team is resuming shows next year and has included two local shows “is definitely great news for the airport and local businesses in the area.”

The team last appeared at the airport in 2017. The airshow was not held this year for the first time since 2012.

Previous Blue Angels performances have drawn an estimated 100,000, according to authority officials.

If social distancing restrictions are still in place next spring, Monzo said one scenario being examined is having spectators “drive their personal vehicles on to the airport grounds, and set up a tailgate to enjoy or something along those lines where they are able to socially distance.”

“We’re looking at a lot of possibilities,” he said.

An advance Blue Angels team is expected to fly into the airport in December to discuss plans for the show.

Authority member Don Rossi said the ongoing $18 million runway strengthening and widening project will please the precision air squadron and air show fans alike.

“With the widening, the jets will be able to take off side by side, and we’ve never been able to do that here before. It will be an awesome sight,” Rossi said.

The project that began in April to widen the runway from 100 to 150 feet is about 95% complete, authority engineer Scott Kunselman said.

Kunselman said grooving the runway areas should take about three weeks, he said. A third phase, which mainly includes grading and seeding, will be completed in the spring, prior to the air show.

Monzo also told the authority that Spirit flights to Myrtle Beach and Orlando resumed this month.

“I’m told that this Thursday, both flights to Myrtle Beach and Orlando are completely filled, so it shows things are returning to normal,” Monzo said.

Monzo said Spirit flights to Fort Myers and Tampa are slated to resume in November.

According to authority officials, during January through September in 2019, the airport handled 241,412 commercial passengers — versus just 97,148 through September this year.