2012 ICAS presentation to the NTSB.

Fuel for Thought: So, How're We Doin'? (2010,3Q) It's been three years since ICAS and the air show community launched its initiative to change the culture of air show safety. By Ralph Royce

ICAS has been communicating with veteran members to develop a single checklist that air bosses and other operations personnel can use to plan and conduct the mandatory pre-show performer safety briefing.

Revised September 2009

The International Council of Air Shows (ICAS) ICARUS form is a confidential, voluntary and responsive reporting channel to notify ICAS’s Director of Operations of your concerns about hazardous conditions in the air show industry. Any person(s) may use the ICARUS Form to report a hazardous condition or situation to the ICAS Director of Operations

Sure, the Tora Tora Tora team may be having fun, drinking bear and telling lies at their spring practice session and crawfish boil. But don't let all that laughing and carrying on fool you: the emphasis of this annual event is safety, safety, safety. By Debbie Gary

(Power point presentation from the break-out education session conducted at the 2008 ICAS Convention.) Physical and mental fitness directly impact our ability to consistently and safely fly an air show maneuver sequence. On any given day, illness, fatigue or stress (from home, work or the air show environment) can detract from our fitness to fly. Identifying, acknowledging and mitigating these distractions allows us to know how to adjust for the days when we're not 100 percent, when we shouldn't fly at all and the difference between the two.

(The power point presentation from the break-out educational session presented by Allen Silver at the 2008 ICAS Convention.) If you’re an aerobatic pilot, you won’t want to miss this perennially popular presentation with one of the world’s foremost authorities in this area. You’ll learn more about how to use the parachute that you wear each time you fly. You’ll get a refresher course on what to do – and what not to do! – when it comes time to get out of the airplane. And, even if you never have the need to use the information, you’ll leave with a quiet sense of confidence that you have reviewed the information and mentally rehearsed your quick exit if and when it becomes necessary.

This ICAS document provides air show pilots with a brief checklist of critical issues that should be addressed and/or considered prior to an air show performance.

ICAS Safety Creed explains the safety philosophy of the International Council of Air Shows and its members. The Creed also serves as a call to action for ICAS members to actively participate in working to keep air shows safe.

The ICAS Safety Committee developed this document as a planning aid to help event organizers safely host Monster Trucks at their air shows. It contains the guidelines and standards recommended by the International Council of Air Shows.

The ICAS Safety Committee developed this document as a planning aid to help event organizers safely host Radio Controlled aircraft at their air shows. It contains the guidelines and standards recommended by the International Council of Air Shows.

This document developed by the ICAS Safety Committee offers guidelines and suggestions on how to manage and regulate the use of individuals as inverted ribbon cut pole holders during an air show aerobatic performance.

ICAS Pyro Safety Subcommittee developed this document as a planning aid. It contains the guidelines and standards recommended by the International Council of Air Shows.

Written by the ICAS Safety Committee, this document provides events with detailed guidance on how to host a jet vehicle demonstration.

Earlier this year, ICAS surveyed both performers and event organizers on issues related to air show safety. The results offer some interesting insight into the mindset of ICAS members, what they agree on and what they don't.

We talk with a broad cross section of the ICAS membership to get their assessment of why the culture of air show safety must change and what specific aspects of the business are most in need of adjustments.

An experienced British air show pilot discusses his efforts to find a common cause or circumstance among recent air show accidents.

The status quo isn't working. Warbird pilot and safety advocate Doug Rozendaal argues that pilots shouldn't just tolerate change; they should embrace it.

Results of two different ICAS member surveys: one on safety and the other on ticket prices

Even though there is no definitive data on how much jet fuel mixed into avgas would cause a problem, our expert panel agreed that the pilot is operating in the realm of experimental test flying when using suspect fuel.

Perhaps the only thing more tragic than a fatal air show accident is a fatal air show accident that nobody is permitted to learn from. It is with that in mind that ICAS, the ACE Committee and several individual members recently undertook a project to catalog, classify and come to some better understanding of recent accidents in the air show industry. The results of that project are presented and discussed in this issue of Air Shows Magazine.

Airmanship and Piloting Tips and Advice from Air Show Pilots for Air Show Pilots (2001, 2Q)

An aerobatic performer who is also a physician discusses the impact of stress on air show performers (1999, 4Q)

Safety First: Reflections of an Air Show Veteran (1998, 2Q)

This FAA Advisory Circular provides pilots with information that can help them improve their aerobatic piloting skills. It also discusses the Federal Aviation Regulations that pertain to aerobatics, including airworthiness considerations, aerobatic instruction, operations and aerobatic flight safety. (See FAA website for updates)

Medical tips and advice for pilots, including fitness, altitude, hypervenilation, carbon monoxide, vision and illusions, aerobatic flight, and judgement aspects of collision avoidance.

This FAA advisory circular provides suggestions to improve sport parachute jumping safety and offers information to assist all parties associated in compliance with FAR Part 105, Parachute Jumping.

This Special Provisions document from the FAA website provides guidance and details about Ground-based pyrotechnics in the air show environment.

This Special Provisions document from the FAA website provides guidance and details about parachute jumps in the air show environment. (Check FAA website for updates)

This FAA Advisory Circular explains stall and spin awareness training and informs pilots of the airworthiness standards for the type certification of normal, utility, and acrobatic category airplanes. Spins, stalls, recovery, stall speed, weight and balance. (See FAA website for updates)

This document provides introductory-level guidance and insight on stalls and spins.