The last airshow hosted by the 104th Fighter Wing at Barnes Airport was in 2010.
WESTFIELD – The Air National Guard’s 104th Fighter Wing has canceled plans for a 2014 international air show here because of a potential multi-million runway reconstruction project at Barnes Regional Airport.
Wing Executive Officer Maj. Matthew T. Mutti confirmed Wednesday the cancellation of the 2014 show.
“We do not want to do an extensive planning for a 2014 show only to find out that it will be canceled later because of necessary maintenance to the runway,” Mutti said.
The Wing last hosted in 2010, and alternates with the Air Force Reserve’s 439 Airlift Wing at Westover Air Reserve Base in providing New England with air shows every two years. Westover held its last Great New England Air Show last August.
Barnes Airport manager Brian P. Barnes was unable to be reached Wednesday for comment on the runway project.
Airport officials have been working with the Federal Aviation Administration, Massachusetts Department of Transportation and the Massachusetts Air National Guard for more than a year to secure funding to address runway needs.
The reconstruction will involve the main runway, 9,000 feet in length, at Barnes and cost estimates range from $7 million for resurfacing only to $20 million for total reconstruction.
The last runway upgrade at Barnes was completed in 2008 when 300 feet from one end of its secondary runway was removed and reconstruction as part of a $1.9 million FAA safety project.
Mutti said the homeland security mission assigned to the 104th Fighter Wing will not be disrupted once runway work begins.
He explained that the wing seek assistance from Westover allowing the wing and its F-15 Eagle fighter jets to conduct operations at the Chicopee airport.
The Wing will now plan for a 2015 air show, Mutti said.