The Aviation Magazine No. 54 January-February 2018 | Page 28
When the Malta Aviation Society (MAS) started organising this annual air show back in the early 1990s, MIA
was still a relatively quieter airport affording more space for an event of this size with an underutilized sec‐
ondary runway and several more open fields in its immediate vicinity. Both change and development are
however inevitable and the airport has strived to maximize its revenue and profitability by expanding facili‐
ties offered to the ever growing demand for low cost carriers, executive jet chartering operations, aircraft
servicing and engineering.
Malta is a small country covering just over 316 square kilometres, where building sites creep up overnight
and where tower cranes dominate the skyline. The Islands have one airport. The immediate vicinity of MIA
is almost entirely built up. Administrative local governance in villages surrounding the airport have always
voiced their concerns about the sounds generated by air show jet displays and the potential risks that an air
accident could pose for their respective communities.
Such a state of affairs has led the Air Show’s organisers to have no option but to accept the shifting of the
air display to the coast. For the second in as many years the static park and air display have been segre‐
gated from each another resulting in a severe loss of revenue to the MAS. This year’s air show has however
registered a marked increase in participating aircraft over the last few years. No fewer than 56 aircraft took
part in this year’s edition of the Malta International Air Show. In this milestone 25th year the event has at‐
tracted participants from 12 foreign nations to our shores. Three aerobatic display teams took part, the
Turkish Stars and Saudi Hawks employ jet aircraft during their display routines, meanwhile the Swiss PC‐7
team uses the turbo powered low winged tandem trainer manufactured by Pilatus.
MAS25 saw the first ever participation by the Northrop F‐5, a compact and agile jet which was first tested
and flown in the late 1950s. Other notable aircraft participants included the Boeing P‐8 Poseidon operated
by the US Navy out of Sigonella NAS, an aircraft which is very rarely displayed at air shows anywhere, the
Ukrainian Air Force’s Antonov An‐30 Open Skies and a CF‐188 Hornet operated by 433 Squadron of the
Royal Canadian Air Force.
The weather Gods were kind on the air displays. During the Saturday air display which was held between
4pm and 7pm heavy rain clouds loomed in the distance and this posed a challenge for photographers as the
sun began to set. Meanwhile on Sunday, the static display in the morning had to be cancelled due to a
heavy downpour which lasted until noon. The afternoon display proceeded as planned and the weather
remained exceptionally clear throughout the whole three hours.
The three hour air display comprised of the following, here shown in the order in which they flew:
AFM SA316B Alouette III ‐ opening flag ceremony;
Saudi Hawks aerobatic display (Turkish Stars on Sunday);
P‐8 Poseidon flew in from Sigonella AB and returned to Sicily after its display (Saturday only);
AFM Agusta Westland AW139 helicopter and a Beechcraft B200 King Air;
French Armee de l’Air Alpha Jet;
French navy Dassault Falcon 50 Surmar;
Swiss AF PC‐7 team display; and
Turkish Stars aerobatic display (Saudi Hawks team on Sunday).