As Cool As It May Sound, The Airshow Business Is Serious Stuff

During the heights of this year's ICAS Convention, we had the opportunity to spend time with the folks that make up the backbone of the modern airshow industry... the rank and file support companies that make all that wonderful stuff above look so pleasing to all of those below.

One of those that caught our attention was AirSupport LLC. AirSupport is a full-service airshow and aviation event management, planning and production company, founded in 1995. The company states that their primary mission is to provide aviation event services that allow its customers to enjoy a professional, profitable and safe airshow. From air and ground operations and logistics to security, event management and sponsorship fulfillment, AirSupport claims to be able to cover all the bases with a staff of professionals with expertise in all aspects of airshow management and production.

Michael McCabe is the founder and President of AirSupport LLC. A private pilot, he attended the Florida Institute of Technology, majoring in Aviation Management. His professional career, within the aircraft service industry, includes managing several Fixed Base Operations throughout the United States. Mike also has expertise in engineering, surveying and mapping that he gained with a national aerial mapping firm. He became involved with airshows in 1986 as a volunteer for the National Warplane Museum. From 1988 to 1999 he served as the Director of Ground Operations for the museum's Wings of Eagles Airshow -- the largest warbird airshow in the US.  In addition, he served on the museum’s Board of Trustees from 1988 to 1994. He is also one of the featured speakers and instructors for the International Council of Air Shows (ICAS) Air/Ground Operations Training Seminar.

At ICAS 2208, AirSupport towered over a number of the booths with the display of 'AIRCOMMAND I'... a state of the art mobile airshow support system. Purpose-built for airshow management, their mobile airshow unit is equipped with the latest in advanced interactive aviation technology. AIRCOMMAND I was designed and built in cooperation with a nationally respected technological institute and is fully networked and satellite capable. AirCommand I is a multi-purpose system that serves as the epicenter of show control. It houses the AirBoss as well as key ground and air operations managers. The AirCommand cab stands over thirteen feet tall -- affording a birds- eye view of the show line, crowd line and airspace. AirCommand’s first-of-its-kind, total glass enclosure offers an incomparable 360-degree horizon-to-horizon view. Features such as these provide a level of operational ability and safety enhancement unavailable in any other system -- including fixed airport control towers. In addition to providing incomparable operational and safety support, AirCommand I  serves as a show operations hub and a media staging area. A steady media platform, it provides an ideal venue for quality photography and videography, and is also equipped for state of the art sound and communications processing.

AIRCOMMAND I's debut took place in 2007, with early deployments at notable events such as The Gathering of Mustangs and Legends and the Kennedy Space Center.

Aero-TV Checks Out AirSupport's AIRCOMMAND I!!

FMI: www.airsupport.com, www.aero-tv.net, www.youtube.com/aerotvnetwork, http://twitter.com/AeroNews