Storms miss airport, as spectators gather for airshow

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – It was a successful first day for the A.P. Property Services Rochester Airshow. Crews said there was a bit of concern over what the weather would bring, but storms just missed the Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport.

Now as you may know, this is the first air show since 2019. So, energy is high and spectators and families are just happy to be here.

Todd Cameron is the air boss for the airshow and said it took two years to prepare for this weekend. He talked about what goes into that prep work. It’s a collaboration with fire, EMS crews and law enforcement.

Even with the perfect plans in place, things can be unpredictable with the weather. Crews weren’t sure what to expect on Saturday as far as those looming rain showers forecast. They lucked out. The weather was perfect.

Cameron said, “These planes move very fast, they are flown by highly skilled pilots, but they rely on paramedics, medical technicians, firefighters. So, the days leading up, they’re trained on airplanes, how to care for pilots, how to get them out. There are very complex plans to take care of spectators, whether dehydration or hot day on the tarmac.”

Sunday is the third and final day of the airshow. The gates open at 9:30 a.m. and close at 6 p.m. There are still tickets available for general admission here.