County airport to facilitate weekend air show; TFR and practice flights will affect traffic June 27–28

Kootenai County airport staff told the Board of County Commissioners on June 24 that the airport will facilitate a privately hosted air show at Coeur d'Alene Aviation on the coming Saturday, with practice flights the day before.

Gaston Patterson, director of the airport, said the event is not a county-hosted event but that the airport is supporting it and providing emergency services. He said organizers and agencies including the sheriff's office and fire departments have cooperated in planning.

Patterson said the show’s gates will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a waiver/airspace-control period (waiver window) roughly 12:30–3:30 p.m. for flying demonstrations; the practice/qualification flights are scheduled for noon–3 p.m. the day before. He said a four-mile temporary flight restriction (TFR) will be in place during the show that prevents aircraft from operating in the ring unless cleared by the air boss.

The program will include aerobatic performers and static displays. Patterson mentioned a P-51 Mustang and a Corsair doing aerobatics from a private collection, aerobatic performers in smaller aircraft, and an F/A-18 Growler arriving from Whidbey for static display (not to perform aerobatics). He urged public notice because Friday and Saturday will include low-altitude, out-of-ordinary flights that could prompt calls from residents.

Tickets are available through Coeur d'Alene Aviation’s webpage or the air-show Facebook page, and gate sales will be available. Patterson said children under 12 attend free. The BOCC received the briefing as informational.