MIDLAND, Texas —
The day before the Midland Sky High Wing CAF AIRSHO there’s a rehearsal where the performers get to go through their acts to make sure everything’s in working order.
But just how much goes into preparing for the show?
“We start preparing for the show the day after the last show," said Gena Linebarger, AIRSHO director for Sky High Wing Commemorative Air Force. "There's a lot of paperwork that you have to go through. You send paperwork to the military to ask for request to jet team or a demo team. You need to start notifying and making connections with your performers that you want and getting contracts in [...] Since we're at the International Air and Space Port, we coordinate with the airport director and her staff, as well as the FAA, to get permission to have an air show in what we call waivered airspace."
There are several entities that work together to ensure the skies are ready for pilots to fly safely.
One of which is the oil and gas companies operating rigs in the outskirts of the airfield.
“We do coordinate with the leaseholders of the rigs to make sure they know we need a five-mile radius, and they can coordinate their production according to what we have going on in the show," Linebarger said. "They have been so gracious to work with us, and we couldn't do it without the help of many of the oil companies and sponsors as well.”
The FAA said this is because the areas close to the airfield where the pilots perform aerobatic tricks can be close to the ground and they don't want rigs raised unless it's an emergency.
Linebarger said all this collaboration with different groups and the volunteers that help with the show just showcases how much it means to the community.
“To be able to do this for the community could not happen with the mere small group that we have here in the Midland-Odessa area," Linebarger said. "It takes the whole community to come out and help us put it on. So, it's the CAF High Sky Wing’s show, but it's our community’s show.”