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What is an air boss? Early airshows consisted of a collection of "BARNSTORMERS" arriving in a community, performing stunts over the town to attract crowds and then earning revenue from giving rides to the locals. Over the years, air shows have grown to the level where they draw the second largest audience after professional baseball. Air shows draw larger crowds than both the NFL and NHL. Flying performers must now undergo annual certification for aerobatic competency and government regulations are strictly enforced to ensure spectator safety. Airshows have evolved into full-scale entertainment events. Associated with professional entertainment is the expectation and requirement for professional operations. Your customers, sponsors, and performers expect a professionally operated and safe event from arrival to departure. You have chosen professional pilots to fly, you should expect professional managers to control flight operations. Air shows imply that they will have and operate a safe show environment for participants, spectators, workers and volunteers without ever using the word "SAFETY". Safety should be first, foremost and ever-present! Although safety is everyone's responsibility, one of the most, if not the most important safety job is that of the air manager. As described by the International Council of Airshows, the air manager is, "The individual with the authority and responsibility for the safe and effective flow of aircraft during all activities which form the aerial event". An enormous amount of time, knowledge, preparation, work, experience and command ability is required! Above all, the air manager must have the knowledge and experience to function in a responsible manner in all of the described duties, including the actual control of the air display itself. Actual air show control requires experience in the timing required for scheduled air-carrier arrivals and departures, warbird scenarios which involve multiple aircraft and proper radio protocol. The air manager has to be an expert in logistics, timing and know the basic operational envelope of every aircraft scheduled in the show. In addition to controlling the air show itself, the air manager must direct ground personnel in handling aircraft starts, taxi, preparing for launch, recovery, parking and fueling of aircraft. The air manager should be "hands-on" from the very beginning of show preparation. He should be involved with the following: The air manager must also be able to react to and assess the severity of an in-flight emergency and direct the appropriate emergency response while attempting, if safely possible, to continue the show. Does a volunteer have these capabilities? The air manager is the person who writes the actual show script. The job now involves both safety and showmanship - the ability to plan an entertaining and awe-inspiring yet safe air show. The air manager is also the proper person to present the pilot and departure plan briefs. He must know all of the applicable government regulations regarding air displays and how to apply them throughout the entire operation. The air manager must possess all of the proper equipment for positive air show control. The responsibility of the air manager is a serious business; lives, health, aircraft and property are delicately balanced within his knowledge, experience and ability. If safety is at the forefront of your air show operation, then a professional air manager is an absolute must. SAFETY IS THE MISSION....ENTERTAINMENT IS THE RESULT |
