ORGANISERS of an air show popular with visitors from East Lancashire are waiting to hear how new restrictions announced in the wake of the Shoreham tragedy will affect them.

Southport Air Show will take place on the weekend of September 19 and 20 but some of the displays may have to be scaled back following the Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA) announcement of restrictions and changes to UK air displays.

On Saturday a vintage Hawker Hunter jet crashed into traffic on a busy main road as it performed at the Shoreham Air Show, with 11 people expected to have been killed in the incident.

The CAA has announced flying displays over land by vintage jet aircraft will be significantly restricted until further notice. They will be limited to flypasts, which means “high energy” aerobatics will not be permitted.

The CAA will also conduct additional risk assessments on all forthcoming civil air displays to establish if additional measures should be introduced, including the Southport show.

A CAA spokesman said: “The safety standards that must be met by all major civil air displays in the UK are among the very highest in the world and are regularly reviewed.

“The CAA will offer every assistance to the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) as it seeks to establish the cause of the accident.

“The CAA will also act promptly in response to any emerging indications from the AAIB’s investigation.

“Further details will be provided in the coming days.”

A spokesman for Southport Air Show said: “We are aware of the fact the CAA has announced restrictions on some activities at air shows.

“However, we have not yet received details of the restrictions and so at present we cannot comment on how this may impact on the Southport Air Show.

“We will of course fully comply with CAA requirements.”