U.S. Coast Guard sets water safety rules for Tyndall air show

PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. ( WMBB ) — The Gulf Coast Salute Air Show will be centered at the Russell Fields City Pier on Panama City Beach and take place over the gulf. That poses some extra safety issues for local law enforcement and the U.S. Coast Guard.

Coast Guard officials will be establishing water safety rules, including an area of the gulf that will be off-limits to civilians and spectators.

“The captain of the port and Sector Mobile have issued a temporary safety zone for the air show from 09:00 to 16:30 Central Standard Time,” Petty Officer Kyle Gaab said.

The zone begins at Gulf Parkway and goes west of Highway 79, extending about a mile off shore. Gaab says the zone will protect the public from potential hazards.

“You have aircraft, military and civilian, flying overhead. Anything could go wrong. To be prepared for that, that’s why the Coast Guard enacted the safety zone. It’s temporary. It’s only from the hours of the show operation, and it’s to keep boating traffic out of that box in the event that there was a mishap or a crash,” Gaab said.

Swimmers have safety restrictions as well.

“If you guys want to get in the water the day of the event, you can travel up to 100 feet. That’s about the shoreline to the first sandbar. There will be lifeguards traveling back and forth on jet skis to make sure that you don’t get beyond that 100 feet,” Panama City Beach Police Officer Tommy Anderson said.

Safety zone violators could face a hefty fine and even jail time.

“Up to $111,031 in fines and/or a civil penalty, imprisonment, or both could be enforced if you do not obey the safety zone,” Gaab said.

You can get live safety and traffic alerts from the Panama City Beach Police Department by texting PCB AIR SHOW to 888-777.

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