About ICAS
The International Council of Air Shows is a 501 (c)(6) not-for-profit trade association composed of professionals working in the air show community. Approximately 40 percent of the organization’s members are air show event organizers from the United States, Canada and the rest of the world. Another 40 percent of the organization’s members are individuals or organizations that perform at air shows. And the remaining 20 percent are support service providers who offer ancillary services (concessions, insurance, photography, etc.) to the air show community.
The primary missions of the organization are: 1) to maintain safety; 2) serve as an information resource on air show issues for those within and outside the industry; 3) provide for the training and continuing education needs of ICAS members and air show professionals generally; and 4) promote the air show industry to the media, Corporate North America and the general public.
ICAS supports these ambitious goals by:
- Establishing and maintaining strict guidelines for air show safety in cooperation with associated regulatory agencies;
- Serving as the understood go-to resource for anyone working in the air show industry;
- Providing dynamic educational opportunities that allow air show professionals to acquire knowledge in core subjects such as safety, professionalism, showmanship, and overall business management; and
- Building recognition and appreciation of the air-show industry among the general public, the media, and corporations.
Perhaps best known for its signature Annual Convention, ICAS is the hub of the air show industry, a centralized network that allows air shows and performers to work together and in tandem with military/governmental authorities to establish and enforce standards that truly define the business. These standards are embedded in virtually every program and service the organization provides to members, from the ICAS Safety Creed to the ICAS Air Show Manual, from the ICAS-administered Aerobatic Competency Evaluation Program to the organization’s strict Principles of Conduct and Professional Ethics.
ICAS was incorporated in 1968 and conducts operations from its headquarters office in Leesburg, Virginia with guidance from its volunteer Board of Directors and day-to-day administration by its professional staff.