Buses to shuttle spectators to Airsho

EL PASO, Oct 03, 2008 (El Paso Times - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- TM | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Terrie Todd, executive director of this year's Toyota Presents Amigo Airsho, and her 15-member board are glass-half-full types. They have to be with only two paid staff, about 300 volunteers and a $750,000 budget swelled by nearly $250,000 in additional expenses this year.

They don't see the move up the runway -- or a major changing in the parking policy -- as negatives. There's a lot of work transforming a once-closed taxiway into a staging area, but this is the place they'll call home for the foreseeable future.

The new staging area is about 2.5 miles northeast of the traditional one on the tarmac and Taxiway A, just past the Base Operations building on the former Air Force base.

Todd said the changes at Biggs Army Airfield could have grounded the high-flying event, but the board and Biggs officials insisted that the air show continue.

"Rather than do away with the event, we're moving, working around it," she said.

Unlike at Airshos past, patrons won't be able to park

on or near the premises. They'll have to leave their vehicles just inside Fort Bliss' Robert E. Lee gate where Airport Road and Airway Boulevard meet (parking for handicapped and corporate sponsors will be at the Chaffee gate off Fred Wilson).

From there, they'll climb aboard one of nearly 90 school buses -- leased from the El Paso, Socorro and Ysleta school districts -- which will take them to and from the staging area.

There's no charge for the shuttle service, the first employed by the Amigo in about 15 years, Todd said.

But attendees will have to show their driver's license, proof of insurance and registration to get in the parking lot.

To get the word out, the Airsho has posted a locator map of the parking area prominently on its Web site, amigoairsho.org. It's was also going to put up "three times the signage" than normal by the middle of this week, said Michael Guerra, the air show's VP of logistics.

The new park-and-ride area will accommodate up to 12,000 cars a day, about the same as before, he said, with many of the same people who've been running the parking for years.

"We have goals of doing stuff like parking one car every 1Aseconds. It's down to a science, really," he said.

Because most people leave after the featured aerial attractions finish performing around 4 p.m., Guerra said, organizers hope to avoid a mass exodus with plenty of diversions on the ground.

They've moved back the hours of operation by one, with gates opening at 10 a.m. and closing at 6 p.m.

In addition to the usual assortment of static displays -- tanks, military and commercial aircraft, a trade show, food and drink concessions, a kids' activities area, Airsho sponsor Toyota's NASCAR trailer -- some decidedly kinetic offerings will await.

They include an FMX Motocross exhibition and concerts -- featuring local bands Chapter 13 on Saturday and Radio La Chusma on Sunday -- that will start after the daring men (and women) in their flying machines are done for the day.

It's hard to envision all of this now, but come Friday, when the Airsho goes through a dress rehearsal for media and about 1,000 area special-needs kids, the sky will be the limit.

Doug Pullen may be reached at dpullen@elpasotimes.com; 546-6397.

Big changes

Construction at Biggs Army Airfield has necessitated several major changes for this year's Toyota Presents Amigo Airshow. Here's the highlights:

--New location: The staging area moves from the tarmac behind Base Operations on Taxiway A about 2.5 miles northeast to the intersection of Taxiways D and E, about 1,000 feet from the runway.

--New parking: Parking will not be available on the post, as has been tradition. Instead, general admission parking will be in a lot just inside Fort Bliss' Robert E. Lee gate at Airport and Airway. Corporate sponsors and those who need handicap-accessible parking will use a lot near the Chaffee gate on Fred Wilson.

Note: You'll need your driver's license, proof of insurance and registration to get on post.

--Shuttle service: Just like an airport, the Airsho will shuttle patrons free from the parking lots to the staging area and back. Buses will run all day.

--Hours: Operating hours will be 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 4-5, about an hour later than before.

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