Blue Angels resume practice this week

The Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, The Blue Angels, resumed aerial practices at NAS Pensacola early this week, following the April 21 mishap which claimed the life of Lt. Cmdr. Kevin J. Davis at an air show in Beaufort, S.C.

Navy officials determined it best for the team to practice in the familiar environment of NAS Pensacola for at least one week prior to resuming their 2007 show schedule. The team will not perform at Offutt AFB near Omaha, Neb., on May 5 or 6.

"Safety is our primary concern," said Lt. Cmdr. Garrett Kasper, the squadron's Public Affairs Officer. "We respect and concur with our leadership's decision to practice at NAS Pensacola before performing publicly over unfamiliar terrain."

The team's commanding officer, Cmdr. Kevin Mannix, made it clear to all personnel that practice flights would only resume once everyone in the squadron is 100 percent ready to fly. Future show dates are still pending. However, the team's goal is to resume the show schedule at Seymour Johnson AFB in Goldsboro, N.C., on May 12.

The cause of the accident is still under investigation.