ICAS Convention 2026 Seminars
Air Force Open House Workshop
Sunday, December 6th
(Champagne 3/4)
8:15 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Developed in cooperation with active-duty Air Force personnel and fine-tuned continuously during the past two decades, the program has been offered to nearly 5,000 civilian and military Air Force personnel since it was first conducted in 2002.
During a fast-paced, information-packed, one-day course, the Air Force Open House Workshop will offer a detailed and specific look at the most important aspects of Air Force policy on open houses and how they will impact your planning for events on your base in 2027, 2028 and beyond. This year’s program will provide information and instruction on:
• Purpose
• Planning
• Building, organizing and leading an effective open house team
• Budgeting/finance/funding
• Regulations, policy and guidance
• Operations/safety
• Marketing and publicity
• Hospitality
• Concessions
• Sponsorship
• Contracting
• Legal considerations
• Working with Force Support
Also included in the program will be a detailed review of the Critical Task Timeline developed by ICAS to guide Air Force personnel through a schedule and step-by-step explanation of what tasks need to be accomplished during the planning and organization of an Air Force open house.
In addition to the instruction and discussion, each participant will receive an instructional manual that includes all the relevant text from the power point slides used during the program, a detailed funding matrix to help Air Force personnel determine what type of money (APF vs. NAF vs. outside funding) can be used to pay for nearly every open house expense with which the Air Force project officer may be faced.
The fee for the one-day Air Force Air Shows Workshop is $365 through November 1, and $395 thereafter. This workshop fee is not included in your Convention registration.
Register here
Air Shows 101: Air/Ground Operations Training Workshop
Monday, December 7th
(Skyview 5/6)
8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Timelines for initiating each aspect of your air show planning and execution; Laying out your air show site;
Establishing early control of ground operations and support; The pre-show operations briefing;
Mitigating hazards;
Key considerations related to your emergency response plan; How to develop a traffic and parking plan;
Air show security;
Temporary flight restrictions;
Applying for an air show waiver and your responsibilities once it is approved;
The business aspects of air shows that relate most directly to air/ground operations; Factors to consider when hiring performers;
Understanding, completing and submitting critical forms and applications related to air/ground operations; and
How to work with your assigned safety monitor.
Air Shows 101 is designed for newcomers and veterans alike. As a beginner, you’ll come away with a thorough introduction to the fundamentals of air show air/ground operations. And because information changes, Air Shows 101 is an ideal refresher course for those looking for a relevant
and detailed update on critically air/ground operations issues.
If you’re looking for the very best place to start learning what you need to know about how to conduct a safe and successful air show or a place where you can refresh and update your air/ground operations knowledge, the Air Shows 101 Air/Ground Operations Workshop is the course you are looking for.
The fee for Air Shows 101 is $365 through November 1, and $395 thereafter. This workshop fee is not included in your Convention registration.
Register here
Digital Strategies Workshop
Monday, December 7th
(Champagne 2)
8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Practical Air Show Applications of Artificial Intelligence Workshop
Monday, December 7th
(Champagne 3/4)
8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
AI is already showing up in operations manuals, sponsor decks, and event planning documents across the industry. This December, the 2026 ICAS Convention gives you four hours to learn how to put it to work in your own organization.
The AI Track runs Monday, December 7, 8:30 AM–12:30 PM, in a single block. It opens with three case studies of AI already at work in the industry: an operations manual rebuild, event planning and coordination, and a full show-cycle marketing campaign compressed to a fraction of the usual turnaround. From there, the session moves into a practical guide covering tool selection and a repeatable prompt framework, then 90 minutes of hands-on lab time where you bring your own laptop and work directly with air show documents, including an ops manual excerpt, a performer packet, and an FAA waiver checklist.
The track closes with a short panel on where AI belongs in the decision chain and where it doesn't. One rule holds throughout every segment: AI supports the people who run the show. It never replaces their judgment.
Organizers, sponsors, performers, and air bosses will all find something to take home. No prior AI experience is required. A tiered prompt menu lets first-time users and experienced practitioners start at their own level, and facilitators circulate through the lab to work attendee problems live.
Bring a laptop or tablet and a free account on at least one AI platform (ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, or similar).
[Reserve your seat in the AI Track when you register for the 2026 ICAS Convention.]
Navigating Military Air Show Partnerships and Sponsorships Workshop
Monday, December 7th
(Skyview 3/4)
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
The program will explore the rules, policies, and restrictions that govern air show/open house partnerships on military bases; where military personnel can go to find the kind of companies and organizations most likely to be interested in partnering on a military air show/open house; the mindset and expectations of prospective corporate partners; key tools and tactics for attracting and activating partnerships and sponsorships on military facilities; and several examples of air show/open house sponsorships/partnerships to provide participants with helpful and illustrative examples of the wide range of opportunities available to them.
Workshop Outline:
Purpose of military show business partnerships
What do military air show partnerships look like?
U.S. Department of Defense policies and restrictions on partnerships/sponsorships
Websites and social media: What do sponsors want?
Where to look for military air show/open house partners/sponsors
Case studies
The Navigating Military Air Show Partnerships and Sponsorships Workshop is not included in your registration fee. The fee for this workshop is $265 through November 1. Starting November 1, the fee is $295.
Air Show Sponsorship Workshop
Monday, December 7th
(Skyview 3/4)
1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Workshop topics include how to "inventory" your assets; building and pricing benefits packages; proposal development; and sponsor service. You'll also learn about sponsorship terminology, recent trends in the event sponsorship business, and how to put your proposal in the hands of the decisions makers at prospective sponsoring companies/organizations.
This workshop will address:
1. Terminology;
2. Recent sponsorship trends and how they impact the air show industry;
3. The selling and activation of sponsorships;
4. How to audit your air show to ensure that you are leveraging all of the resources available to give your sponsors maximum return on their investment;
5. How to activate the sponsorships you sell and how to help your sponsors do their part in activating their own sponsorships;
6. How to assess "sponsorable" assets and assign a dollar value to both the individual assets and the overall sponsorship package; and
7. How to assemble a sponsorship package and put it in the hands of the decision makers at prospective sponsoring corporations/organizations.
The fee for this workshop is $265 through November 1, with an increase to $295 after November 1. This fee is NOT included in your convention registration fee.
Register here
Air Shows 102: Business Basics Workshop - Part 1 of 2
Tuesday, December 8th
(Skyview 5/6)
1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
or small shows as well as newly assigned officers and enlisted personnel taking on significant open house business responsibilities for the first time.
Delivered at a fast pace by subject matter experts to provide you with an overview of key business issues, this course is ideal for those thrust into an air show management role for the first time.
Specific topics addressed during this two-part, eight-hour program include: finance; sponsorship; hospitality; volunteer and staff management; admissions and ticketing; marketing; social media;
facilities/logistics; concessions; and hotel negotiations and management.
The fee for Air Shows 102 (a two-part series) is $365 through November 1, and $395 thereafter. This workshop fee is not included in your Convention registration.
Register here