INSIDE: Complete recap from the IAAPA Attractions Expo TM & ©2016 Amusement Today, Inc. See SECTION B January 2016 | Vol. 19 • Issue 10 www.amusementtoday.com SAFETY SEMINARS AWAIT STUDENTS INSIDE: Complete Safety & Maintenance coverage - PAGES 6-15 AIMS 2016 Safety Seminar: Jan. 10-15, Orlando NAARSO's 29th Safety Forum: Jan. 24-29, Hershey ORLANDO, Fla. — AIMS International 2016 Safety Seminar planners report- HERSHEY, Pa. — The board of directors of the National Association of ed a jump in registration prior to the November IAAPA trade show and convention Amusement Ride Safety Officials (NAARSO) are looking forward to the 2016 held recently. 29th Annual Safety Forum and are anticipating an attendance of about 300 when "We were way ahead of last year's numbers for that time of year," said AIMS it kicks off later this month. Executive Director Karen Oertley. Dates for the forum are Sunday, Jan. 24, to Friday, Jan. 29. The primary loca- In mid-December, AIMS registration continued well ahead of numbers from tion is the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center with hands-on activities set one year ago. Last year, attendance was reported at 300 with another 120-130 vol- for Hersheypark. unteer instructors. "This is the first time Hershey Entertainment and Resorts has hosted the The seminar is set to start Sunday, Jan. 10, and will run through Friday, Jan. 15, Safety Forum," said Laura Woodburn, NAARSO's public relations and director at the Doubletree by Hilton Orlando at SeaWorld. of ride of operations, Hershey Entertainment and Resorts. AIMS International, Ltd. is a non-profit organization dedicated to industry "Indoor hands-on experiences at both the Hershey Lodge and Convention safety. It consists of manufacturers, suppliers, organizations and individuals that Center and Hersheypark are being planned," Woodburn said. "Hershey Enter- have an interest in supplying products or services to the amusement industry. tainment and Resorts will not allow weather to affect the education of the par- A big change is coming to the seminar this year. The certification tests tradi- ticipants and looks forward to partnering with NAARSO to bring world-class tionally held on Thursdays during the seminar week have been moved to Friday attractions to this world class Safety Forum." afternoon after the completion of all the classes. NAARSO is a non-profit association dedicated to the advancement of "In the past, participants received their testing scores on Friday," Oertley said. amusement ride and device safety. Since its beginnings, the organization has "This year, that information will be processed and put in the mail by AIMS repre- provided news and educational resources for amusement industry profession- sentatives on the Sunday after the seminar. So, participants will know soon after als, including inspectors representing jurisdicational agencies, insurance com- 4See AIMS, page 6 4See NAARSO, page 8 iROC/IRT School: Jan. 27-29, Buena Park 36th Annual Safety Seminar, Feb. 14-19, Portland BUENA PARK, Calif. — Creative Operational Concepts, which spe- PORTLAND, Ore. — Last year's Northwest Showmen’s Club Safety cializes in assessment of hospitality, operation and safety, will hold its In- Seminar drew over 200 participants and those planning this year's 36th ternational Ride Operator Certification (IROC) School later this month at seminar are anticipating at least that many or more when the event kicks off Knott's Berry Farm, Buena Park, Calif., a Cedar Fair Entertainment Com- Sunday, February 14, at Oaks Amusement Park and the winter headquar- pany. ters of Funtastic Rides Inc., both located in Portland. The school traditionally has been held the first week in February, but It runs through Friday, February 19. Creative Operational Concepts' Patty Beazley and Cindee Huddy pushed "It seemed for many years we would get about 75 to 100 people, but then back the dates for the 2016 event. Those dates are January 27, 28 and 29. it started picking up and now we are getting more people every year," said John Hinde "We really wanted to get it in earlier so that participants have more time , one of the seminar's planners. "The seminar is now getting a lot of attention." to incorporate what they have learned at IROC," Beazley said. "So many In fact, he said, over the last few years, the seminar, which is designed parks start training their employees in March. There is a real push for them for and draws members of the carnival industry, also has been drawing to get ready. representatives from smaller amusements parks. "Plus," she said with a laugh, "I want to watch the Super Bowl." The Northwestern Showmen’s Club is a non-profit organization consist- Beazley added that they are "super excited" about this year's event. ing of members from the amusement, entertainment, fairs and festival in- "The people at Knott's Berry Farm have been wonderful," she added. dustry. "The seminar will be held in the Knott's Berry Farm Resort and in the park. The Northwest Showmen’s Club Safety Seminar was established 35 We will use both locations." years ago to provide a venue to promote continued education for the car- IROC is a three-day operator instructor training course. The course is nival industry and to provide an annual classroom setting for raising the 4See iROC, page 9 4See SAFETY, page 9 Dated material. material. Dated RUSH! NEWSPAPER POSTMASTER: PLEASE 21, 2015 Dec. Mailed Monday, PERMIT # 2069 # PERMIT FT. WORTH TX WORTH FT. PAID US POSTAGE US PRSRT STD PRSRT 2 AMUSEMENT TODAY January 2016 January 2016 AMUSEMENT TODAY 3 4 AMUSEMENT TODAY January 2016 NEWSTALK EDITORIAL: Gary Slade, [email protected] FLINT’S VIEW: Bubba Flint Tidbits As this January 2016 issue of Amuse- ment Today helps to kick off the new year, we want to take this time to remind the park owners and operators that it's not too late to send your key staff members to one or more of the upcoming safety seminars. These safety seminars not only offer Slade great networking opportunities through the various classroom topics, but hands-on training is also offered. Many times we hear the stories of a facility having an issue with a certain piece of equipment, or issues with water stains on their fiberglass waterslides, only to find the solu- tions to their problems at these seminars — either through the classroom instruction or through good, old-fashioned networking. The AT staff has worked hard to give you our biggest and most in-depth safety coverage and company sampling ever. Safety coverage is found on pages 1, 6-15. • INDUSTRY OPINION: Andrew Mellor, [email protected] It was good to see everyone at the IAAPA Attractions Expo, and thanks to all who stopped by our AT booth to vis- Expo reflects industry strength My annual pilgrimage to the IAAPA perhaps inevitably, I haven’t been able it and pass along new product news. Just from the number Attractions Expo in Orlando in November to see all the people I wanted to see. of visitors who poured into our booth, we can see why the was once again a very enjoyable experi- I always make a list of those booths I show was a record breaker with 32,900 attendees on the ence and is worthy of a quick recap even want to visit but every year I always floor. though it seems a long time ago now. come away with many not ticked off, AT has brought back our pullout section for our IAAPA Having begun the activities of the which is a shame. But to be fair, I think editorial coverage. Complete coverage, including IAAPA week by taking part in the annual IAAPA the show could last for a month and I’d award winners, can be found in the 12-page Section B. charity golf tournament on the Sunday Mellor still not get around everyone I would • prior to the show, the next event was an like to. And finally, congratulations to Wonderland Park's Ale- informal get-together of members of the U.K. At last November’s show the first day was thea Roads who celebrated her 100th birthday (see page parks association BALPPA on the eve of the particularly notable for all the press conferences 40) on Nov. 7 in Amarillo, Texas with family and friends. It trade show opening. There was a good turnout that had been arranged, and I dutifully followed was good to see the entire Dean family from Joyland Park, once again, and, as is always the case with such many of my fellow reporters around the show to Lubbock; Jerry Pendleton, who spearheaded so many pro- networking events, it proved to be a great cou- attend many of these. I believe, in fact, that more ple of hours of catching up with fellow Brits. press conferences were held this time around on totype Hopkins rides at the park; Margaret Nelson Spear of The show itself, of course, was what we all the trade show floor, or in adjoining rooms, than the former Joyland Park in Wichita, Kan.; and all the cur- have come to expect from it and provided the during any previous Expo. And, I might add, by rent and former employees who turned out to congratulate biggest shop window for the industry anywhere a very wide range of companies — not just major Alethea. once more. The amazing array of products and ride manufacturers — and that certainly reflects Funniest comment of the night came from Alethea services on display never ceases to amaze me the current strong state of the industry world- herself, who said “I did it!” She was not referring to her her and although it’s hard work pounding the floor wide.