Risk
STUNT PILOTS?
It will probably surprise you to learn that most airshow pilots do not consider themselves “risk takers”. Instead they view themselves as expert risk managers. In fact most disdain the term “stunt” pilot, because to an airshow pilot a “stunt” is something that involves unreasonable risk. Airshow pilots do not have a death wish and are not adrenaline junkies.
So what do airshow pilots and the FAA do to protect the spectators and pilots from accidents? Two things - FAA regulations and "common sense rules".
FAA REGULATIONS
The Aerobatic Competency Evaluation (ACE) program, administered by the International Council of Air Shows (ICAS), provides the entire air show industry with a tool for periodically evaluating the aerobatic competence of airshow pilots. In partnership between ICAS and the FAA, the ACE program prescribes minimum standards, rules and regulations by which evaluations are conducted, and the necessary qualifications for both evaluators and air show pilots.
Pilot receive annual “check rides” by ACE evaluators. New performers are restricted to higher minimum altitudes. After gaining experience the limit is lowered to “unrestricted”.
Spectator Protection - The FAA requires a minimum distance from the crowd. This distance varies based on aircraft speed. For smaller aircraft it is 500 feet. For jets it is 1500 feet. This provides a buffer from the crowd in case of a crash. The main concern is protecting the spectators.
The FAA also requires that aerobatic maneuvers not be flown that direct energy towards the spectators. There is an exception for FAA approved "maneuver packages" on an individual basis. Generally only military jet teams fly maneuvers toward the spectators.
Our pilots do not fly aerobatic maneuvers toward the crowd! It is just not worth the risk of jeopardizing the spectators.
COMMON SENSE RULES
Practice - Risk is managed through careful practice and sticking to a consistent proven sequence of maneuvers. Like any sport, frequent practice keeps skills sharp and thus tunes the mind for a safer performance.
Maintenance
- Aerobatic aircraft are built to take incredible stress.
Frequent inspections and repairs, to a standard higher
than non aerobatic aircraft, help minimize the risk of
mechanical failure.
Planned Maneuvers - No "unplanned" maneuvers are flown
during a performance. If we want to add a maneuver or
change the sequence of maneuvers, we first practice them
at a higher altitude. This allows analysis of the
maneuvers altitude loss and predictability. Once proven
it can be used in a performance at low altitude.
Safety Spotter - Airshow Marketing is one of the few teams that uses a “safety spotter”. The spotters job is to be in constant communication with the performer and monitor the flight for hazard such as getting too low in altitude or energy. This is similar to how spotters are used in NASCAR races.
When a pilot is rolling rapidly towards the ground, it is not easy to precisely judge altitude above the ground. If the spotter see a bad trend developing he will advise the pilot to stop the maneuver.
JUST AN ILLUSION
The goal of the performance is to entertain the audience. Performers strive to make their maneuvers “look” dangerous or tricky, but in fact be very safe and well proven.
Take for example a simple two aircraft opposing pass with a roll to “knife edge” as the aircraft pass. This is a spectacular maneuver and a heart stopping crowd pleaser. For the pilots it's a ho hum no brainer maneuver. Usually a reference line, such as a taxiway, is used. One aircraft flies over one edge and the other over the other edge. There is usually 50 to 75 feet of clearance between the aircraft. From the crowds point of view it look like a “near miss”.
WHAT IF TRAGEDY STRIKES
The Red Baron Pizza Squadron has been performing since 1979 in their four vintage Stearman Bi-Planes. In April 1998 there was a midair collision of two aircraft that took the lives of two pilots. Much like a death in auto racing, this was perceived as a tragic loss for the team and a tough break. There was an outpouring of sympathy for the team members and their families. This accident had no negative affect on Red Baron Pizza's business.
SWISS CHEESE
We are all well aware that accidents of most kinds are seldom the result of a single factor. In their aftermath, investigators piece together the causal factors and produce their report.
In airline training there is a useful analogy used to explain how accidents happen. It is called the Swiss Cheese model. Consider each causal factor as a slice of cheese with a hole in it, the more complex the situation, the more holes. If circumstances manage to line up the holes in the slices, you can fly straight through holes to an accident.
Both airline pilots and airshow pilots understand this model. What experience and training gives us, is the ability to spot the ‘holes’ and avoid the ‘alignment.’
Trapping the errors before they “line up the Cheese”, careful training, well maintained equipment and good judgement all add up to safe airshow performance.