TRAVERSE CITY — David Bearss is a member of the air show committee during the National Cherry Festival. This is his second year with the event.
"Our job is a bit unique because we open the festival," Bearss said.
Most of his role happens over the first weekend. Bearss said he works with "aquatic assets," acting as a guide to boaters. He helps set up a perimeter in West Grand Traverse Bay. No boaters are allowed directly underneath where the planes will fly, an area marked with 32 buoys.
"I build the buoys and all the rigging on shore," Bearss said.
Aces Marine and Salvage did the installation this year.
Bearss added that boats from the fire department, police and U.S. Cost Guard patrol the waters during the shows. When they are done, boaters may return to the area in front of the Open Space.
His work is not finished when they planes land, though. Bearss said they also recover the buoys and clean them before storing them for use next summer.
The week before the festival, Bearss said, he spent a couple evenings after his regular job inspecting their rigging equipment to make sure it was usable this year. His day job involves working out on the water.
"It's a stressful position that not a lot of people want to take on, but it's a good way to use my professional skills," Bearss said. "It's really amazing to see how much gets done just by volunteers. It's been fun to meet so many people."
Bearss grew up in Traverse City but moved away for about 12 years. When he returned, his pilot friend asked him to help with the buoys. So Bearss joined the Cherry Festival team.
"I always enjoy being around the planes," he said.
[Originally published online and in print July 3, 2024]
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