AIRCRAFT INNOVATION In The Air Show Industry TIMING IS Everything Convention Roundup VOLUME 47 / NUMBER 1 / FIRST QUARTER / 2016 air shows 1Q 2016 2 From THE HOME OFFICE A Promising Beginning to the 2016 Air Show Season BY: JOHN CUDAHY ver the past two and tone for the upcoming air education sessions were decades, ICAS has show season. the best ICAS had ever of- O slowly become much fered. And this high level more than its annual conven- So, it is significant for many of excitement was plainly tion. From our publications reasons that nearly 1,300 visible in the exhibit hall, in the break-out sessions and advocacy work to our members of our air show and around the bar at the safety initiatives and efforts to community gathered a few Rio Hotel. After several increase professionalism in the weeks ago at the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas for an uplifting, years of tough sledding, business, the organization has our industry is energized business-intensive convention. worked hard and deliberately and optimistic about the And, as preparations for the to parlay the success of our coming air show season. big event each December into upcoming season continue in • Years from now, we will a broader stable of benefits Abbotsford, Cape Girardeau, look back on the Thun- and programs that advance Greenwood Lake, Ypsilanti and dozens of other com- derbirds’ decision to move the air show industry all year to a two-year scheduling munities throughout North long. These are perhaps best cycle as the leading devel- America this winter, I’d like to summarized in the Five-Year opment at the 2015 ICAS Strategic Plan approved by summarize some of what hap- Convention. Both U.S. pened in Las Vegas and talk a military jet teams are now JOHN CUDAHY the ICAS Board of Directors eighteen months ago; the word bit about what it might mean giving event organizers at President/CEO “convention” does not appear for the upcoming year. least fifteen full months to plan for hosting the anywhere in the 673-word • More than three quarters document. teams. This not only pro- of our delegates agreed or vides the shows that get a strongly agreed that, “… Still, our convention is the jet team with more time there was a higher level to plan and solicit spon- organization’s of energy and enthusiasm oldest, largest, sorships; it allows shows at the 2015 ICAS Con- that don’t get a jet team to What stands out this year is the clear and most visible vention than previous establish their own dates message that the convention sends about program. Over conventions.” That is, by much earlier and avoid the positive mood of the business as we a course of four far, the most optimistic approach the beginning of the 2016 air the scheduling conflicts days, it gener- response to that question show season and the longer term upward that have plagued our ates almost all since we began asking it in trajectory of the industry through the rest business for years. of the funding 2005. Sixty-three percent of this decade and beyond. • If you were with us in on which other of our delegates agreed or strongly agreed that Vegas, you could not help ICAS programs more business was being noticing the return of depend and, from an industry done on the floor than the military. The chal- perspective, sets the agenda at previous conventions. lenges and deprivations Members said that the of sequestration are still air shows 1Q 2016 1 air shows 1Q 2016 2 From THE HOME OFFICE impacting parts of the government, But, by itself, a strong convention – even – and is! – a sense that we have moved but its disproportionately nega- one as successful as this one – is not beyond the malaise and setbacks of 2013 tive consequences on the air show particularly remarkable. What stands out and 2014. community are quickly becoming a this year is the clear message that the con- thing of the past…at least for now. vention sends about the positive mood of 2016 is looking like a banner year for the The U.S. Department of Defense –the the business as we approach the begin- air show industry. From all of us here at U.S. Air Force, in particular – is back ning of the 2016 air show season and ICAS, best wishes for clear skies, safe fly- in the business of conducting air the longer term upward trajectory of the ing and big crowds in the coming year. shows. And participation of military industry through the rest of this decade aircraft at both military and civilian John Cudahy, President/CEO shows is also increasing. In all, nearly and beyond. It wasn’t just my impression; 100 different military organizations I checked with many others and there was were represented at the convention. • Among the topics discussed during the convention were a number of issues that will substantively impact the industry. For instance, a proposal now being considered by the FAA will allow aerobatic competency evaluators to set up evaluation and practice operations anywhere in the country simply by getting the land- owner’s permission and informing the local FSDO. An initiative cur- rently being pursued with the U.S. military and the FAA will mandate a 60-second response by crash/fire/ rescue personnel in the event of an air show accident or incident in the aerobatic box; the U.S. Air Force has already approved and implemented this new protocol. ICAS is continuing to fine-tune its air boss recommen- dation program, and a final version will likely be released early in 2016. ICAS held a focus group discussion during the convention on a voluntary “certified air show professional” pro- gram that will recognize and show- case top air show professionals. ICAS and the entire industry are active, en- gaged and working hard to improve safety, increase professionalism and build additional sustainability for our business. ICAS members, speakers and staff worked tirelessly to make our most recent con- vention successful. And they all should be proud of their contribution to this very successful event. air shows 1Q 2016 3 air shows 1Q 2016 4 The Professional Journal of the Air Show Industry International Council of Air Shows, Inc. 748 Miller Drive, SE Suite G-3 Leesburg, Virginia 20175-8919 Phone: 703.779.8510 Fax: 703.779.8511 E-mail: [email protected] website: www.airshows.aero 1 From the Home Office: A Promising Beginning to the Staff 2016 Air Show Season John Cudahy From our publications and advocacy work to our safety initiatives and Publisher efforts to increase professionalism in the business, ICAS has worked hard and deliberately to parlay the success of the ICAS Convention Matt Warnock into a broader stable of benefits and programs that advance the air Editor show industry all year long. Marcia Lowry By John Cudahy Assistant Editor 6 Director’s Cut: Let’s Talk Numbers Mary Ann McManamay Advertising Sales It has been almost a decade since ICAS and its members helped to introduce the newest, lifesaving change to how we approach air show Six Half Dozen Design Studio safety, but we cannot stop now. Every great improvement that the air Magazine Layout show industry has ever achieved was the result of shouldering the responsibility ourselves. Advertising ON THE COVER Contact By Dan Hollowell Mary Ann McManamay, Redline Air Shows pilots Jon 748 Miller Drive, SE 11 Marketing Matters: For the Good of the Industry, Bring Thocker and Ken Rieder fly ahead Suite G-3 on the Change Leesburg, Virginia 20175-8919 of a Memphis, Tennessee, sunset Phone: 703.409.1162 Once a person or company has experimented with change, it’s hard on a photo flight to promote Fax: 703.779.8511 to go back to business as usual because now they know that there’s the Memphis Airshow, and cre- E-mail: ate new team photos for Team something different, and maybe a little better, out there. [email protected] Redline. Photo by Glenn Watson By Matt Warnock for more information on - Mach Point One Aviation. advertising space in Air Shows. 15 60 Marketing Tips Additional Subscriptions 22 Timing is Everything Additional subscriptions to Air Shows Magazine are available to Our industry is healthy now, but is it sustainable? And are we meeting members, employees of members the expectations of our younger fans? I fear the answer is “no” to both and air show committees for $30 questions. per year (four editions). Send sub- By Ric Peterson scription orders along with check, money order or credit card infor- 34 2015 ICAS Convention Roundup and Photo Essay mation in U.S. funds to Air Shows Magazine, ICAS headquarters, 46 Thank You to our 2015 ICAS Convention Speakers 748 Miller Drive, SE Suite G-3, Leesburg, Virginia 48 What’s Past is Prologue: Aircraft Innovation in the Air 20175-8919. Show Industry Air show fans flock to airports to see the thrills and excitement of Postmaster modern day aviation. Stick and fabric flying machines have given way Air Shows Magazine (ISSN to modern composite airplanes that race through the sky, capable of 10973133) is published quarterly by the International Council of Air unprecedented gyroscopic maneuvers never imagined when Orville Shows at 748 Miller Drive, SE and Wilbur first flew. Suite G-3, Leesburg, Virginia 20175- By Mike Berriochoa 8919. Periodicals postage paid at Leesburg, Virginia and at additional 61 2015 Pinnacle Awards: Innovation and Professionalism mailings offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to Air Shows 71 Short Final: News from the Field Magazine, ICAS headquarters, 748 Miller Drive, SE 79 2016 Air Show Schedule Suite G-3, Leesburg, Virginia 104 Advertiser Index 20175-8919.