AIR BOSS Airshows & Events 2024

Per the newly implemented FAA requirement, an Air Boss Letter of Authorization issued by the FAA is MANDATORY for issuance of 7711-2 Waivers, as of Jan 1, 2020.  

Christopher J. Hewison is holder of an Air Boss Letter of Authorization as a Basic Air Boss. This certification is granted by the FAA in conjunction with ICAS.

PREVIOUS AIRSHOWS

An air show is defined by the FAA (Order 8900.1, Change 87, Volume 3, Chapter 6, Paragraph 3-143 A. (5) as, “An aviation event defined as an aerial demonstration by one or more aircraft, Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), rocket, parachutist or ultralight vehicle before an invited assembly of persons. A rocket launch, parachute or UAS (civil or public) demonstration held in conjunction with an air show must be issued a Certificate of Waiver.”

If you plan to hold an event with aircraft, drones, or parachutist, then you likely need an Air Boss and a COW to conduct your event. We can help with many aspects of planning and executing a basic air show.

Within the broad context of “air show,” this document and related FAA documents recognize four specific types of air shows the require an ICAS / FAA Recognized Air Boss. One of those categories is a Basic Air Show. A Basic Air Show is defined as any air show that includes:

a) No more than one aircraft in the air within the Air Show Demonstration Area at one time except as follows:

A formation act in which all participants hold a current Statement of Aerobatic Competency for flying formation aerobatics or dynamic maneuvering formation maneuvers may perform as an act at a Basic Air Show;

A formation fly-by by a team consisting of FAST or FFI credential holders may perform as an act performing standard maneuvers at a Basic Air Show, but must be in formation at all times during their performance;

b) No aircraft circling parachutists;

c) No sanctioned military aerial demonstration teams (single ship team or multi-ship team, U.S. or international: however, a military fly-by or single-aircraft military demonstration may be part of a Basic Air Show);

d) No more than five (5) aerial acts; Non-flying, ground-based acts are not considered an aerial act. A single pilot flying a second performance is considered a second act.

The Air Show Demonstration Area at a Basic Air Show may be remotely located with participating aircraft traveling to the location from a nearby airport.

e) No ground- or water-based vehicles vs. aircraft races or simulated races;

f) No non-participating aircraft movements on the ground or in the Air Show Demonstration area unless a specific system has been developed and coordinated with the jurisdictional air traffic control facility and the Inspector In Charge (IIC). It is expected that these unscheduled aircraft movements will be allowed on an infrequent and exceptional basis;

g) No air carrier operations or passenger ride programs (media, sponsor, Living History Flight Exemption, helicopter, etc.) in the Air Show Demonstration Area during the air show waiver; and

h) No ground-based pyrotechnic displays. Airborne pyrotechnics are permitted if the performing pilot possesses the required endorsement as part of the ACE program.

If an air show includes any of those items listed in items a-h above, that air show is – by definition – either a standard air show or a complex air show, and a basic air boss may not provide air boss services to that air show.

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