JACKSONVILLE — Construction on the flight line at Marine Corps Air Station New River has put a halt to this year’s planned air show.
“We are definitely not having an air show in 2013,” said Lt. Roberto Martins, the public affairs officer for MCAS New River. “It’s very tentative that we will even have one in 2014.
“We have a lot of construction on the flight lineso there isno way to logistically supportan air show. It’s a physical impossibility.”
According to Martins, the schedule for the rest of the Marine Corps Community Services events aboard the New River “looks good.” But only days into the sequester — which requires federal domestic and defense-related spending cuts of $1.2 trillion over nine years, including $85 billion for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2013 — there’s no clear vision of what’s on the horizon for annual events aboard area bases.
“I haven’t heard of anything being canceled as of yet,” Martins said. “But then again, going down the sequestration line, we haven’t gotten a lot of guidance. It’s going to be something that evolves from now into the coming months.”
Longtime popular events aboard Camp Lejeune are on schedule; however, base officials are not ruling out changes that may happen due to the budget cuts.
As of right now, Maynia, Sand Jam and the Fourth of July fireworks celebration are still a go for the base, officials said.
“At this time no decision has been made on canceling or scaling back these events or programs,” base public affairs officer Nat Fahy said. “With the sequestration and potential budget cuts, base leaders continue to work closely with Headquarters Marine Corps and the Department of the Navy to assess each on a case-by-case basis.”
Fahy said that if any changes occur, social media and other venues will be used to make the information public.
“There will be a public announcement or press release to cover any and all internal and external changes,” Fahy said.
New Riverair show a no-show
