How Do Airshow Performers Get Their Tickets?

By Aleta Vinas

Have you filled out your 8710-1 to get your 8710-7? Did you choose an ACE? Simply put, how do the airshow pilots receive their Aerobatic Statement of Competency (8710-7)? How did the folks that will be dazzling audiences at Oshkosh EAA AirVenture in a matter of days (and at other airshows around the country) get permission to throw themselves and their aircraft around the sky?

In a truly rare moment of nobility, the FAA acknowledged its inability to certify aerobatic pilots to do what they do. A nationwide training program would not be cost effective so in the words of John Cudahy, President of International Council of Airshows (ICAS), "after considerable discussion between the FAA and industry representatives, the FAA authorized the ICAS and the EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) to begin administering the Aerobatic Competency Evaluation program in the winter of 1992." 

The program covers the US and Canada. ICAS was founded in 1968 as a trade and professional association. The addition of the ACE (Aerobatic Competency Evaluation) program significantly expanded their scope. ICAS ACEs (Aerobatic Competency Evaluator) are responsible for certifying approximately 90% of today’s aerobatic pilots. The remainder is certified through the EAA Warbird ACE program or Formation Flying, Inc. (FFI). Endorsements from more than one association are possible.

The Warbird program is based on the ICAS program and certifies strictly Warbirds and their pilots. Formation Flying, Inc. was formed to pick up the non-warbirds wishing their non-aerobatic formation card when ICAS terminated its issuance of the non-aerobatic formation card in late 1998. The FFI program is patterned after the EAA Warbird Formation and Safety Training program (FAST) and essentially uses the FAST standards, manual and video. This of course allows for standardization across the formation flying community. The three organizations developed their programs independently but with a great deal of crossover to ensure similarity, all done under the watchful eyes of the FAA.

Not just any pilot can become an ACE, there are written recommendations from the FAA or Transport Canada, recommendations from a current ACE pilot and various minimum flight standards. Once the qualification of ACE is obtained, there is a Code of Ethics within the ACE manual to be followed. The ACE manual is available on line for those with too much time on their hands or those who are writing articles on the ACE program. Anyone who may mumble about buddy-buddy behavior in the evaluations, consider ACE Code of Ethics # 4 "At all times, the ACE shall conduct himself or herself in a manner that reflects on the professionalism of the airshow industry and the integrity of the ACE program." Cudahy adds "Over the years, ICAS and the FAA have attempted to develop a program that objectively measures the aerobatic competence of individual air show pilots. The introduction of practical evaluation criteria to our program in 2001 did quite a lot to improve those aspects of the program. By and large, our pilots and – in particular – our ACEs recognize that our collective ability to fly aerobatics at air shows is dependent on our ability to self-regulate and ensure that only competent pilots are allowed to perform aerobatics at public air shows."

Regarding the program, chapter 31 of FAA publication 8700.1 Chg 22 offers some of the most glowing compliments about the ACE program.  "The most encouraging part of the proposed program was that, for the first time, there would be a well-orchestrated program that would directly effect virtually all active airshow pilots in the US and Canada.

"Moreover, the industry is providing a database of information on airshow pilots and their competency checks," continues the publication. "Such a fund of information is unprecedented and the program far exceeds the FAA’s capabilities for action in light of other priorities. This action will significantly advance airshow safety with little cost to the public."

Finally, the FAA document states, "The FAA is convinced that industry evaluators are people who are credible and dedicated to fulfilling their duties to conduct peer review, counsel and make appropriate recommendations to the FAA." However, par for the course would be the clause "although the evaluation program is administered by the industry, the FAA is the final authority on issuance of a Statement of Acrobatic Competency."

Why is that not a surprise? Perhaps, equally surprising is that Cudahy knows of no instances where the ACE recommendations were overturned.

Exactly what does the applicant have to go through to obtain the necessary endorsement to perform at an airshow? An aerobatic competency renewal is needed each year. The appropriate industry organization, ICAS, EAA or FFI must be contacted to obtain an application. After the applicant’s request is received, a numbered application form as well as the checklist used for the evaluation is returned to the applicant. The ACE is then contacted by the applicant and a time and date for the flight and ground session are scheduled. The applicant’s evaluation flight can be done at an air show or at another time convenient to applicant and ACE.

There are four flight level restrictions to each endorsement, as well. Level Four has a "floor" of 800 feet, endorsements to lower levels must be evaluated by an ACE and proof of performances at several airshows is required. The ACE will evaluate the flight from the ground. The ground evaluation checklist looks suspiciously like the Practical Test Standards (PTS) until each line is looked at in detail.

In addition, the applicant’s entire flight sequence is reviewed during the ground portion as well as in flight. A separate evaluation and endorsement is needed for each additional certification an applicant wishes to possess. As an example, even if a pilot is an experienced solo aerobatic performer, another evaluation must be completed if formation aerobatics or night pyro is to be added. Here are just a few of the ground topics.

• Understanding of past history of airshow accidents and common causes
• Out of control flight (planned and unplanned)
• Ability to maintain energy
• G Tolerance
• Responsibilities at airshow briefings
• Show line vs. crowd line

There is even more for specialty acts, formation flying, wing walking acts, ribbon cuts, night pyro and the like.

• Dissimilar aircraft in formation
• Wingman responsibilities
• Pyro ashes
• The ever popular "engine failure with a wing walker."

The flight portions sort of reads like the PTS. Task: Three turn upright spin. Each task is broken down like the PTS into the task with description of the task then the standards to which the task must be performed. How about a four point roll, Inside Loop, Half Cuban Eight and the necessary Snap Roll. After demonstrating single tasks, the applicant executes his full aerobatic sequence. Pass the barf bag, please.

If the applicant is approved, the ACE forwards the paperwork to ICAS, EAA or FFI. The relevant information is entered into the aerobatic database then the FAA receives the recommendation to issue the Statement of Aerobatic Competency to the pilot with the specified certifications and limitations.

To help those pilots with an aerobatic bent but perhaps not the funds, ICAS sponsors several scholarships available to help a pilot break aerobatic ground. The scholarships are awarded annually to a recipient to either start or further their training; some specify aerobatic training others don’t. Each scholarship honors a fallen member of the air show community.

The guidelines and regs issued by the FAA regarding running airshows, as well as Air Races, Parachute demonstration jumps and the like as well as the performers leave little to chance. The FAA and Transport Canada along with ICAS, EAA and FFI work hard to uphold the strictest safety standards in order to keep the public safe. Pilots have tragically lost their lives at performances but it has been over forty years since any accident involved spectators and that accident happened after the air show had concluded. Cudahy believes "that the ICAS administered Aerobatic Competency Evaluation program is a model of government/industry cooperation. Airshow pilot fatalities in the United States and Canada have plummeted since ICAS assumed administration of this program. Though our involvement is not the sole cause of this dramatic drop in accidents, it’s likely the most important one.

"The program is essentially based on a single, very logical concept," Cudahy says. "Experienced air show pilots are better equipped to judge good and bad aerobatic pilots than FAA inspectors with little or no aerobatic experience. The acknowledgement of this basic fact in 1992 has likely saved dozens of lives in the twelve years that have passed since." In this instance, it’s a very good thing that the FAA, with help from the other organizations, has very strict guidelines, so the crowds that attend Oshkosh EAA AirVenture and any other air show can have a deeper appreciation for what the performers go through as well as having a higher sense of the safety factor present.

FMI www.airshows.org www.icasfoundation.org www.eaa.org