St Helier Deputy Mike Higgins, who has organised the display for 18 years, had been planning to bring the Hawker Hunter jet back as part of this year’s display before the crash which has killed at least 11 people.
Deputy Higgins confirmed that the pilot at the Shoreham Airshow – Andy Hill – would not have been the same pilot as for the Jersey display and that Chris Heames, who took control of the Hawker Hunter at last year’s Jersey air show, would have been the pilot had the jet returned.
On Saturday, the Hawker Hunter, a 1950s RAF jet, crashed into traffic on the nearby A27 motorway while performing a loop. The pilot was today in a critical condition in hospital.
The crash has led to calls to rethink safety guidelines for air shows and the Air Accidents Investigations Branch is currently conducting a preliminary report into the Shoreham crash and has said that it could be published within weeks.
However, Deputy Higgins said that he would not book something to perform in Jersey unless he was convinced that the display could be done safely, and that safety regulations must be met before the event can go ahead.
He said: ‘It was my intention to get it back. The Hunter is a dynamic aircraft and the crowds like it so for that reason I was thinking about booking it.
‘This particular aircraft took part in the air show last year and was very popular.
‘When it comes to organising an air display, your first concern is safety.
‘Before we can have an air display we have to get permission from the director of the Civil Aviation Authority and we have to be able to prove that we can do it safely.
‘Our check-list is unbelievable and in the past I have been offered aircraft for free but I wasn’t entirely happy with the maintenance of them so I didn’t book them.
He added: ‘I have heard some people complain that the planes used to come straight over the crowds and that it wasn’t as exciting now.
‘That was how it used to be but it wasn’t as safe – there are restrictions on how close the crowds can be.’
This year’s Jersey International Air Display is being held on Thursday 10 September.
