Aerial view of parked cars during the 2017 International Air Show at Barnes Regional Airport (photo courtesy 104th ANG)
WESTFIELD, Mass. – The 104th Fighter Wing was awarded the International Council of Air Shows Pinnacle Award for the 2017 Westfield International Air Show traffic logistics plan.
The ICAS pinnacle awards showcase innovation, ingenuity, achievement, professionalism, and excellence during the 2017 air show season.
“I am very proud of the hard work and innovation by our team that put together the 2017 Airshow traffic, parking, and logistics plan and grateful to our local and State Police that helped every step of the way,” said Col. James Suhr, the 104th Fighter Wing commander.
Recognizing traffic challenges during the 2010 air show, the 104th successfully implemented new traffic logistics such as additional parking lot managers, online traffic updates and traffic broadcasts over the radio for the 2017 air show.
“The feedback from the community was overwhelmingly positive,” said Lt. Col. Eric Armentrout, the airshow director. “Our team at the base made traffic and parking one of our highest priorities from day one of planning this airshow, so it’s nice to be recognized for that. This award is the culmination of a massive team effort, and I’m proud of the partnerships we built to make this happen. A special thank you goes out to the Mass. DOT and our police departments throughout the area who coordinated traffic flow with our base parking teams, ensuring a safe and efficient experience for all visitors.”
Lt. Col. Steven Reynolds, airshow logistics director, said “Lt. Col. Armentrout’s leadership was the driving force behind unifying the planning and execution phases of the airshow by integrating our community partners into the process. This unity of effort synchronized and enhanced the interoperability and efficiency of all forces involved in the event. Additionally, the tactical leadership displayed by the Airmen and Police Officers on the ground executing the traffic and parking plan was the critical linchpin in the overall success of the airshow.”
The 104th FW hosted 92,000 visitors over the air show weekend, parking over 17,000 cars during the event.
