The cancellation of the Chennault International Airshow in 2025 has been a disappointment for many, among those are Eric Trahan and Kelly Precht.     

“My grandfather has taken me to this show since I was a tiny kid,” said Trahan, “and we didn’t have the air show for a long, long time, and now we get the air show back and then all of a sudden…. I have two grandkids. I want to continue a family’s tradition.”

Trahan is a helicopter and powered parachute owner/pilot. Kelly Precht is a Powered Parachute owner/pilot. Every year, he and Trahan would set up their personal aircraft and promote their sport, what Precht calls “the safest way to fly.”

“It sounds like someone is trying to reinvent the wheel,” Precht said. He is incredulous that an agreement couldn’t be made on an event that so many people look forward to and impacts the area’s economy.    

The show had 25,000 spectators last year. One hundred or more rooms are booked for performers alone.

The decision to cancel was made due to an inability to reach an agreement with the event venue, Chennault International Airport. The proposed agreement led to increased costs and overly restrictive rules and regulations that differed greatly from those required of previous airshow operations, according to the Airshow Board of Directors.

“Nobody was more disappointed about the failure to reach an agreement than me and the core team that begins working on every airshow 24 to 26 months in advance,” said Mary Jo Bayles, airshow director. “The decision was not made lightly.”

A statement from Chennault International Airport said, “We regret the airshow board’s decision to cancel its 2025 airshow. We hope the airshow will be able to return, because we know the airshow is important to our community. Those conversations are already under way. To clarify, the airshow board is its own entity and operates separately, even though many in the community may think the airport organizes the event.

“The airport’s number one priority remains security and safety for our tenant partners, their clients, aircraft operations, all other users of the airport, and event visitors, such as the airshow. We value the airshow. That’s why the airport revived it, helped lead it, and saw it become an independent nonprofit organization.

“Chennault builds on the engagement of the airshow to demonstrate our outreach to the community, our job-creating impact, and our aggressive economic development efforts. All of these, by extension, are part of our accountability to taxpayers. We still want the airshow here at Chennault,” the Chennault statement concluded.

Bayles said it has been more difficult to come to a lease agreement with Chennault for a few years. However, she did not anticipate not being able to reach an agreement at all. Every year, we do it by the book, Bayles said. The guidelines are sanctioned by Washington and Baton Rouge.

“We have to follow the FAA guidelines,” Bayles said.

The airshow also works with the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s and Marshal’s offices — and Bayles said that service has been exemplary.

There were no incidents at the 2023 airshow or any other airshow that led to Chennault’s decision to pose more restrictions, according to Bayles.

Pressed for more information about restrictions, Bayles said certain performers have routines that they have adhered to for years. For example, the Blue Angels have always been allowed, in the interest of their safety and the safety of spectators, to drive to their planes and go through their checklist system.

“If they can’t be allowed to do that, they won’t come,” Bayles said.

There is some room for optimism, however. Bayles said she is hoping for an airshow in 2025. It will not be in the same form as air shows from the past.

“I think we can get back on track. I hope that we can with every fiber of my being,” she said, “for the community.”