Felts Field Vandalism Won’t Stop Air Show

Vandals smashed more than 40 landing lights early Wednesday at Felts Field.

A maintenance supervisor found 18 Federal Aviation Administration approach lights and 21 blue taxi lights had been smashed, said a police spokesman.

Five of the six red and green threshold lights also were snapped off, and the lens was broken out of the sixth, said Spokane City police spokesman Dick Cottam.

The lights were repaired later Wednesday, said Dennis Locke, who oversees Felts Field for the airport board.

The damage will not affect the Spokane Air Show which starts today at the field.

“Every airport gets this type of damage on occasion, but I don’t recall we’ve had this many,” Locke said.

The airport spent $1,500 repairing the taxi and threshold lights, Locke said.

The FAA is responsible for repairing the remaining 18 lights, Locke said. Damage totals were not available, but the figure is expected to be several thousand dollars, Cottam said.

Airport gates are locked after 6 p.m., Cottam said. Police suspect the vandals either knew the combination lock or climbed the fence to get in.

No arrests have been made and no other damage to the airport was reported.

“I don’t know why people want to do that,” Locke said. “There are people that get their kicks that way I guess.”

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: LOOK UP! The Spokane Air Show at Felts Field opens tonight at 9 with the launching of 20 illuminated hot air balloons. The aerobatics show opens at noon Sunday; the field opens at 9 a.m. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for children.