REGISTRATIONS, BOOTH SALES, HOTEL ROOM RESERVATIONS AHEAD OF 2008 PACE
As air show attendance throughout North America continues to hit record or near-record numbers and the economic news coming out of Washington and New York begins to improve somewhat, ICAS is seeing a similar improvement in one of the key indicators for our industry’s overall health: participation in the annual ICAS Convention.
As of August 1, room reservations at our host hotel, exhibit booth sales and delegate registrations are well ahead of the pace set in 2008. Delegate registrations are doing particularly well, 20 percent ahead of 2008 and better than every year but one in the last decade.
“With air show attendance up significantly and clear indications that there is light at the end of the dark economic tunnel, our members are feeling confident about their 2010 events,” says ICAS President John Cudahy. “We’ve been cautiously optimistic about the convention throughout the spring and early summer. It’s nice to see that the statistics are beginning to support that gut feeling of optimism.”
ATTENDANCE AT EAA AIRVENTURE INCREASES 12 PERCENT
Officials with the Experimental Aircraft Association recently reported that attendance at their 2009 air show and convention increased 12 percent as compared to 2008. The unexpectedly high attendance comes on the heels of similar reports from air shows throughout North America. With attendance in excess of 575,000 and more than 10,000 visiting aircraft, anecdotal reports from the AirVenture grounds confirmed the statistical reports from EAA, with many longtime visitors commenting that the ramp in Oshkosh seemed unusually crowded.
THUNDERBIRDS LOOK FOR MORE TWO-DAY SHOWS IN 2010
The USAF Thunderbirds are putting a higher priority on two-day shows versus one-day shows for 2010 and future years. The team prefers to be at one location for the weekend because they get more bang for the buck, have less logistical issues to deal with, and fewer expenses as compared to two one-day shows at different locations on the same weekend.
If air show event organizers indicated on their DD Form 2535s that they only want a one-day show, but are willing to make it a two-day show if they get Thunderbirds support, these shows are invited to amend their DD Form 2535s using the process explained on page 4 of the form. Event organizers are also encouraged to directly contact Teddy Rux, Thunderbird scheduler at (702) 652-9593, e-mail:
michael.rux@nellis.af.mil, to let him know of their flexibility.
This is not to say that the Thunderbirds will not do a one-day show, but that given a choice, a two-day show will have priority. This policy does not pertain to midweek air shows or overseas air shows.
USMC TO SELECT HARRIER/OSPREY DATES IN EARLY NOVEMBER
The U.S. Marine Corps will conduct its annual selection board November 4 to determine which events in calendar year 2010 will receive an AV-8B Harrier demonstration, or a MV-22 Osprey static display. The exact number of aerial events to be selected for 2010 will be determined by the board. Due to the current operational and training requirements of the Corps’ Harrier and Osprey squadrons, the average number of demonstrations per year is 10 to 20.
Those interested in seeking a Harrier demonstration, or an Osprey static display for their event during 2010 must submit their completed request via the website: www.marines.mil/community, no later than October 12, 2009.
ICAS ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS FOR SWORD, SCHOLL AWARDS
With the August 31 deadline approaching, ICAS is encouraging members to submit their nominations for the organization’s two most prestigious awards, the Art Scholl Memorial Showmanship Award and the ICAS Sword of Excellence.
The Scholl Award is presented each year to the air show performer who best embodies legendary air show performer Art Scholl’s commitment to air show entertainment and showmanship. This year’s Scholl Award Selection Committee will be chaired by ICAS Board member George Cline.
The ICAS Sword of Excellence is presented each year to recognize outstanding contributions to the air show industry. The list of past recipients reads like a virtual Who’s Who of outstanding air show professionals over the last 20+ years. The 2009 ICAS Sword of Excellence Selection Committee is being chaired by ICAS Board member Ed Shipley.
Both awards will be presented during the 2009 Chairman’s Banquet on Wednesday, December 9 at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.
For more information and directions on how to nominate a fellow member, visit the ICAS website at www.airshows.aero. And remember that nominations for both awards close on Monday, August 31.
BEAT THE CROWD; RESERVE YOUR CONVENTION BOOTH TODAY
Well-positioned booths on the trade show floor at the 2009 ICAS Convention are still available. But, as we move into August, the pace of booth sales has picked up significantly. If you have not yet reserved your booth, click here to get detailed information on the cost and location of available booths. You can also call (703-779-8510) or e-mail (connors@airshows.aero) Karen Connors at ICAS headquarters to reserve your booth on the exhibit floor at the world’s largest air show industry business meeting.
ICAS SCHEDULES NEW AIR BOSS ACADEMY
ICAS has scheduled its first-ever ICAS Air Boss Academy for October 1, 2 and 3 in conjunction with the MCAS Miramar Air Show in San Diego, California. Like the traditional ICAS Academy, the new ICAS Air Boss Academy will use an actual air show to provide a small number of ICAS members with a unique opportunity to get a hands-on, practical air show education. The new ICAS Air Boss Academy will focus very specifically on the processes, customs, lingo, procedures, mannerisms and habits of safe, effective air show air bosses.
Moderated by ICAS member and contract air boss Wayne Boggs, the new program will begin on the evening of Thursday, October 1 with an informal welcome reception. On Friday morning, participants will attend the pre-show performer safety briefing. After some classroom discussions and instruction, the entire class will move out to the flight line where they will monitor the air show radio frequency and discuss the details related to air bossing this particular air show. As one of the most experienced air bosses in our business, Boggs will explain what the Miramar air boss does and why he does it that way. At the end of the first day, the group will return to the classroom to de-brief and discuss the day’s activities. On Saturday, the group will sit in on the performer safety de-brief and once again listen in as the air boss orchestrates one of North America’s finest air shows. The official program concludes on Saturday night.
Class size for this first ICAS Air Boss Academy will be strictly limited to 15 participants. The fee to participate in this unique educational program is $265 per individual. Registrations received without payment will not be considered. And because ICAS expects an overwhelming response to this program and because we will cut off registration once the 15 person limit is reached, there will be no refunds on registration. The Embassy Suites San Diego - La Jolla in San Diego, California (phone 858-453-0400) will serve as our host hotel and will provide hotel sleeping rooms at the discounted rate of $137 per night.
Because the program is so new that we have not yet developed a registration form and so small that space is extremely limited, ICAS will accept e-mail messages with the required information and payment to reserve a space in the class. This information should include name, organization, street address, city, state/province, zip/postal code, phone number, e-mail address, credit card number, expiration date, and polo shirt size. Academy registrations will be accepted on a first-come/first-served basis. All class participants will be expected to provide their own hand-held radio and headset.
NOMINATING COMMITTEE TO DELIBERATE
The ICAS Nominating Committee will soon be reviewing the names and credentials of possible nominees to the ICAS Board of Directors. If you are interested in being considered for a position on the Board, please forward your resume and a cover letter to icas@airshows.aero.
SIC APPLICATIONS DUE TO ICAS
Each year, pyrotechnic contractors serving as “shooters in charge” (SICs) must complete and submit an application with details on their experience and safety record to be included on the Shooter in Charge list that ICAS generates each year. This year, that application form has been revised. If you are a pyrotechnics SIC and you would like to be included on this list, please contact ICAS headquarters and ask for an application. To be included on this year’s SIC list, your application must arrive at ICAS headquarters not later than October 31, 2009. This is a hard deadline and requests for extensions will not be approved. If you have additional questions about the SIC list or the application process, please contact Pyro Subcommittee Chairman Rich Gibson at 815-494-0838 or by e-mail at dynamiteboss@comcast.net.
SNODGRASS, KERBY FORM NEW CIVILIAN JET TEAM
Dale “Snort” Snodgrass and Jerry “Jive” Kerby recently announced that they formed a new two-ship jet aerobatic formation team that will perform nationwide beginning with the 2010 air show season. Former military fighter pilots, Snodgrass and Kerby will fly the MS760, a fully aerobatic, 1960s era, four-set jet trainer used principally by the French air force.
THANK YOU TO 2009 CONVENTION SPONSORS
Many thanks to our 2009 ICAS Convention sponsors: Air Boss & Consulting, Inc.; Julie Clark’s Chevron Mentor T-34; John Klatt & Air National Guard; Team Chaos; Insurance Technologies & Programs, Inc.; Eddie Andreini Airshows; CAF/Tora Tora Tora; AirSupport, LLC; Shannon & Luchs Insurance Agency, Inc.; Aeroshell; Mohr Barstorming; AirBoss, Inc.; Jim Peitz Aerosports; Jacquie ‘B’ Airshows; Aerostars; Team Rocket; Gordon Bowman-Jones; ValleyWide Communications; Rob Reider; and OnBoard Images.
For information on how your organization might become a sponsor of the 2009 ICAS Convention, contact ICAS headquarters by phone at 703-779-8510 or by e-mail at icas@airshows.aero.
© International Council of Air Shows, Inc.
750 Miller Drive, Suite F-3
Leesburg, Virginia 20175
Phone: 703-779-8510
Website: www.airshows.aero
E-mail: icas@airshows.aero
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