How Do Airshow Performers Get Their Tickets?
By Aleta Vinas
Have you filled out
your 8710-1 to get your 8710-7? Did you choose an ACE? Simply put,
how do the airshow pilots receive their Aerobatic Statement of
Competency (8710-7)? How did the folks that will be dazzling
audiences at Oshkosh EAA AirVenture in a matter of days (and at
other airshows around the country) get permission to throw
themselves and their aircraft around the sky?
In a truly rare moment of nobility, the FAA acknowledged its
inability to certify aerobatic pilots to do what they do. A
nationwide training program would not be cost effective so in the
words of John Cudahy, President of International Council of
Airshows (ICAS), "after considerable discussion between the FAA and
industry representatives, the FAA authorized the ICAS and the EAA
(Experimental Aircraft Association) to begin administering the
Aerobatic Competency Evaluation program in the winter of
1992."
The program covers the US and Canada. ICAS was founded in 1968
as a trade and professional association. The addition of the ACE
(Aerobatic Competency Evaluation) program significantly expanded
their scope. ICAS ACEs (Aerobatic Competency Evaluator) are
responsible for certifying approximately 90% of today’s
aerobatic pilots. The remainder is certified through the EAA
Warbird ACE program or Formation Flying, Inc. (FFI). Endorsements
from more than one association are possible.
The Warbird program is based on the ICAS program and certifies
strictly Warbirds and their pilots. Formation Flying, Inc. was
formed to pick up the non-warbirds wishing their non-aerobatic
formation card when ICAS terminated its issuance of the
non-aerobatic formation card in late 1998. The FFI program is
patterned after the EAA Warbird Formation and Safety Training
program (FAST) and essentially uses the FAST standards, manual and
video. This of course allows for standardization across the
formation flying community. The three organizations developed their
programs independently but with a great deal of crossover to ensure
similarity, all done under the watchful eyes of the FAA.
Not just any pilot can
become an ACE, there are written recommendations from the FAA or
Transport Canada, recommendations from a current ACE pilot and
various minimum flight standards. Once the qualification of ACE is
obtained, there is a Code of Ethics within the ACE manual to be
followed. The ACE manual is available on line for those with too
much time on their hands or those who are writing articles on the
ACE program. Anyone who may mumble about buddy-buddy behavior in
the evaluations, consider ACE Code of Ethics # 4 "At all times, the
ACE shall conduct himself or herself in a manner that reflects on
the professionalism of the airshow industry and the integrity of
the ACE program." Cudahy adds "Over the years, ICAS and the FAA
have attempted to develop a program that objectively measures the
aerobatic competence of individual air show pilots. The
introduction of practical evaluation criteria to our program in
2001 did quite a lot to improve those aspects of the program. By
and large, our pilots and – in particular – our ACEs
recognize that our collective ability to fly aerobatics at air
shows is dependent on our ability to self-regulate and ensure that
only competent pilots are allowed to perform aerobatics at public
air shows."
Regarding the program, chapter 31 of FAA publication 8700.1 Chg
22 offers some of the most glowing compliments about the ACE
program. "The most encouraging part of the proposed program
was that, for the first time, there would be a well-orchestrated
program that would directly effect virtually all active airshow
pilots in the US and Canada.
"Moreover, the industry is providing a database of information
on airshow pilots and their competency checks," continues the
publication. "Such a fund of information is unprecedented and the
program far exceeds the FAA’s capabilities for action in
light of other priorities. This action will significantly advance
airshow safety with little cost to the public."
Finally, the FAA document states, "The FAA is convinced that
industry evaluators are people who are credible and dedicated to
fulfilling their duties to conduct peer review, counsel and make
appropriate recommendations to the FAA." However, par for the
course would be the clause "although the evaluation program is
administered by the industry, the FAA is the final authority on
issuance of a Statement of Acrobatic Competency."
Why is that not a surprise? Perhaps, equally surprising is that
Cudahy knows of no instances where the ACE recommendations were
overturned.
Exactly what does the applicant have to go through to obtain the
necessary endorsement to perform at an airshow? An aerobatic
competency renewal is needed each year. The appropriate industry
organization, ICAS, EAA or FFI must be contacted to obtain an
application. After the applicant’s request is received, a
numbered application form as well as the checklist used for the
evaluation is returned to the applicant. The ACE is then contacted
by the applicant and a time and date for the flight and ground
session are scheduled. The applicant’s evaluation flight can
be done at an air show or at another time convenient to applicant
and ACE.
There are four flight level restrictions to each endorsement, as
well. Level Four has a "floor" of 800 feet, endorsements to lower
levels must be evaluated by an ACE and proof of performances at
several airshows is required. The ACE will evaluate the flight from
the ground. The ground evaluation checklist looks suspiciously like
the Practical Test Standards (PTS) until each line is looked at in
detail.
In addition, the applicant’s entire flight sequence is
reviewed during the ground portion as well as in flight. A separate
evaluation and endorsement is needed for each additional
certification an applicant wishes to possess. As an example, even
if a pilot is an experienced solo aerobatic performer, another
evaluation must be completed if formation aerobatics or night pyro
is to be added. Here are just a few of the ground topics.
- Understanding of past history of airshow accidents and common
causes
- Out of control flight (planned and unplanned)
- Ability to maintain energy
- G Tolerance
- Responsibilities at airshow briefings
- Show line vs. crowd line
There is even more for specialty acts, formation flying, wing
walking acts, ribbon cuts, night pyro and the like.
- Dissimilar aircraft in formation
- Wingman responsibilities
- Pyro ashes
- The ever popular "engine failure with a wing walker."
The flight portions sort of reads like the PTS. Task: Three turn
upright spin. Each task is broken down like the PTS into the task
with description of the task then the standards to which the task
must be performed. How about a four point roll, Inside Loop, Half
Cuban Eight and the necessary Snap Roll. After demonstrating single
tasks, the applicant executes his full aerobatic sequence. Pass the
barf bag, please.
If the applicant is approved, the ACE forwards the paperwork to
ICAS, EAA or FFI. The relevant information is entered into the
aerobatic database then the FAA receives the recommendation to
issue the Statement of Aerobatic Competency to the pilot with the
specified certifications and limitations.
To help those pilots with an aerobatic bent but perhaps not the
funds, ICAS sponsors several scholarships available to help a pilot
break aerobatic ground. The scholarships are awarded annually to a
recipient to either start or further their training; some specify
aerobatic training others don’t. Each scholarship honors a
fallen member of the air show community.
The guidelines and regs issued by the FAA regarding running
airshows, as well as Air Races, Parachute demonstration jumps and
the like as well as the performers leave little to chance. The FAA
and Transport Canada along with ICAS, EAA and FFI work hard to
uphold the strictest safety standards in order to keep the public
safe. Pilots have tragically lost their lives at performances but
it has been over forty years since any accident involved spectators
and that accident happened after the air show had concluded. Cudahy
believes "that the ICAS administered Aerobatic Competency
Evaluation program is a model of government/industry cooperation.
Airshow pilot fatalities in the United States and Canada have
plummeted since ICAS assumed administration of this program. Though
our involvement is not the sole cause of this dramatic drop in
accidents, it’s likely the most important one.
"The program is essentially based on a single, very logical
concept," Cudahy says. "Experienced air show pilots are better
equipped to judge good and bad aerobatic pilots than FAA inspectors
with little or no aerobatic experience. The acknowledgement of this
basic fact in 1992 has likely saved dozens of lives in the twelve
years that have passed since." In this instance, it’s a very
good thing that the FAA, with help from the other organizations,
has very strict guidelines, so the crowds that attend Oshkosh EAA
AirVenture and any other air show can have a deeper appreciation
for what the performers go through as well as having a higher sense
of the safety factor present.