Federal Sequester Means No Selfridge Flyover on Tigers' Opening Day

Detroit Tigers fans can keep their eyes on the field Friday during opening day.

That's because Selfridge Air National Guard Base will not be participating this year in the annual flyover at Comerica Park.

Potential federal sequester cuts have not only affected the beloved baseball flyover, they have also grounded goodwill flights during community events, including parades, trade shows, F-22 demonstration flights and more for the remainder of the 2013 fiscal year, according to the U.S. Air Force.

"Given the current federal budget environment, the Air Force has stopped all aviation support to community events, to include our traditional fly-over of the Tigers' home opener," Technical Sgt. Dan Heaton, 127th Wing spokesman at Selfridge Air National Guard Base said.

"We anticipate that this direction from senior Air Force leaders will remain in place through the end of the current fiscal year, meaning we also will not be able to participate in Memorial Day parades and similar activities," Heaton said.

The Air Force has also canceled the 2013 Thunderbirds' season, starting April 1.

The changes mean an approximate 18-percent reduction of flying hours—or about 203,000 less hours. But the Air Force said it is seeking ways to participate with the general public.

"Engaging with the public is a core Air Fore mission and communication and connecting with the public is more important today than ever before. However, faced with deep budget cuts, we have no choice but to stop public aviation support," Brig. Gen. Les Kodlick, director of Air Force Public Affairs, said in a prepared statement.

"The Air Force will reevaluate the program at the end of the fiscal year and look for ways to curtail the program without having to cancel aviation support altogether," he stated.

The popular Selfridge Air Show in Harrison Township will not be offered this year because of operational mission requirements, as the base previously announced. The show is still scheduled to take place in September 2014, according to the base.