The skies above Half Moon Bay won't be buzzing with excitement this spring as the much-anticipated Pacific Coast Dream Machines show is suddenly grounded. The annual event, a staple of spring in San Mateo County, has been canceled for 2024, leaving local aviation enthusiasts and county officials equally in the lurch. The reason behind the axing, according to San Mateo County's recent announcement, is a mix of red tape and risk, with increased FAA permitting requirements taking the blame.

But it's not just Dream Machines that's facing turbulence. Two other headline events at the county's airports are currently stuck in limbo, their fates up in the air. The Emergency Vehicle Operation Course, a critical training event for law enforcement at the Half Moon Bay Airport, and the Runway Run, the Hiller Aviation Museum's creation at San Carlos Airport, await the green light. The Federal Aviation Administration has informed the County's Department of Public Works' Airport Division that they'd like to thoroughly review safety and the environmental impacts before possibly approving. This increased scrutiny is a new hurdle for event organizers to, quite literally, fly through.

The Dream Machines show, which was supposed to kick off in April, had to pull the plug due to the tight timeline and the fear of financial fallout. The event organizers, understandably, weren't willing to bet on a runway to nowhere. "All three of these events are well-loved and appreciated in the County and we were hopeful to see them return in 2024," Airports Director Gretchen Kelly told San Mateo County's communications. "However, we also understand that the organizers must do what they deem best. We’re keeping our fingers crossed now that the other two shows will still happen this year and that Dream Machines can return in 2025."