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ICAS Schedules Air Boss Academy

August 13th, 2012
ICAS has scheduled its third ICAS Air Boss Academy for September 6, 7 and 8 in conjunction with the Airpower Arkansas-Heritage and Heroes Air Show at Little Rock AFB in Arkansas. Like the traditional ICAS Air Show Academy, the Air Boss Academy uses an actual air show to provide a small number of ICAS members with a unique opportunity to get a hands-on, practical education on air boss-related issues. Moderated by ICAS member and veteran air boss Wayne Boggs, the program will begin on the evening of Thursday, September 6 with an informal welcome reception. On Friday morning, participants will attend the pre-show performer safety briefing. After some classroom discussions and instruction, the entire class will move out to the flightline where they will monitor the air show radio frequency and use the interchange between the performers and the air boss as an opportunity to discuss methods, problems, pitfalls and opportunities. As one of the most experienced air bosses in our business, Boggs will explain what the Little Rock AFB air boss does and why he does it that way. At the end of the first day, the group will return to the classroom to de-brief and discuss the day’s activities. On Saturday, the group will sit in on the performer safety de-brief and once again listen in as the air boss orchestrates one of North America’s finest air shows. The official program concludes on Saturday night. Air show safety, generally, and the role of air show air bosses specifically, have come under greater scrutiny during the last 18 months. Air boss issues were a topic of extensive discussion at a National Transportation Safety Board hearing held last January in Washington, DC. There is a growing awareness within the industry that the person charged with air boss responsibilities at your show must have specific training and experience. Combined with classroom sessions at the ICAS Convention, the ICAS Air Boss Academy is intended to provide a foundation on which an individual can build their air boss education. This year’s Little Rock AFB air show will feature the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18, USAF Heritage Flight, U.S. Navy F/A-18 Hornet demo, John Klatt, Otto the Helicopter, and more. To ensure all of our participants receive individual attention, class size for the 2012 ICAS Air Boss Academy will be strictly limited to 15. The fee to participate in this unique educational program is $300 per individual. And because ICAS expects an overwhelming response to this program and because we will cut off registration once the 15 person limit is reached, there will be no refunds on registration. Click here for a registration form or contact the ICAS headquarters office at 703-779-8510 or by e-mail at Connors@airshows.aero.