ICAS Today -- Monday, December 6
Today's Schedule Highlights
8:30 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. Opening General Session and Jet Team Announcement (Concorde Ballroom)
Sponsored by Jim Peitz Aerosports
10:30 a.m. - 1:45 p.m. Exhibit Session A (ICAS Convention Delegates Only with lunch, Paris Ballroom)
Exhibit Hall sponsored by Tim Weber Airshows, Inc.
Exhibit Hall Lunch sponsored by Mohr Barnstorming
2:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. ICAS Safety Stand-Down (Champagne 1)
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Concurrent Education Session #3
* Air Show Business Basics: Volunteer Management (Versailles 1/2)
* Parking and Traffic: Solving the Air Show Industry's Biggest Challenge (Versailles 3/4)
* Results of the 2010 ICAS Spectator Survey (Burgundy)
* U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds Forum (Concorde A)
* U.S. Air Force Air Combat Command Forum (Concorde B)
3:15 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. Concurrent Education Session # 4
* Air Show Business Basics: Logistics (Versailles 1/2)
* Putting Cause Marketing Techniques and Tactics to Effective Use (Versailles 3/4)
* What to Do When Corporate North America Knocks on Your Door (Burgundy)
* U.S. Navy Blue Angels Forum (Concorde A)
* U.S. Navy/Marine Corps Forum (Concorde B)
4:15 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Exhibit Session B (ICAS Convention Delegates Only, Paris Ballroom)
Exhibit Hall sponsored by Tim Weber Airshows, Inc.
6:15 p.m. – 7:45 p.m. First Annual ICAS Film Festival: Barnstorming (Concorde Ballroom)
Sponsored by FedEx Express
8:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. ICAS Has Talent! (Concorde Ballroom)
Johnson to Deliver Opening Keynote This Morning
Sponsored by Jim Peitz Aerosports
This morning's opening keynote presentation will be delivered by Congressman Sam Johnson of Texas. A retired Air Force colonel, Johnson flew the F-86 Sabre in the Korean War, the F-4 Phantom in the Vietnam War, and the F-100 Super Sabre as a member of the U.S.A.F. Thunderbirds.
While flying a mission over North Vietnam, he was shot down and taken prisoner. He spent seven years in a North Vietnamese prisoner of war facility, three and half years in solitary confinement.
After retiring from the Air Force, Johnson worked in the construction business before being elected in 1991 to serve the citizens of the Texas Third District as their elected representative in the U.S. House of Representatives. A vocal advocate of less government and lower taxes, Johnson sits on the prestigious Ways and Means Committee. In 2009, Johnson was recognized by his peers as the "most admired" Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
In this year's opening keynote presentation, Congressman Johnson will discuss his time in the military, his service in Congress, and his perspective on aviation, generally, and the air show community, specifically.
ICAS Today Made Possible by Our Newsletter Sponsors
This year's newsletters – both printed and digital -- are made possible through the generous sponsorship support of Team Rocket, the Commemorative Air Force, Tora Tora Tora, Rob Holland Ultimate Airshows, and Shannon & Luchs Insurance Agency, Inc.
2011/2012 Jet Team Schedules to be Released This Morning
Planning for the 2011 air show season shifts into high gear later this morning when the performance schedules for the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, U.S. Navy Blue Angels and Canadian Forces Snowbirds are released following the opening keynote presentation by Congressman Johnson.
This year, the Thunderbirds will release their 2011 schedule; the Snowbirds will release their 2011 and 2012 schedules, and the Blue Angels will announce their schedule of performances in the 2012 air show season.
Exhibit Hall Opens Today
Exhibit Hall sponsored by Tim Weber Airshows, Inc.
This year's ICAS Convention exhibit hall features 240 exhibitors in 335 booths on 60,000+ square feet of exhibit space. It will also be the center of activity for this year's ICAS Convention.
"Year in and year out, our members tell us that the exhibit floor is the single most important thing about the ICAS Convention," says ICAS President John Cudahy. "The educational sessions and the social events have become important elements of the event, but it is the exhibit hall that defines our convention as THE business meeting of the air show industry. And it is the focal point around which the rest of the ICAS Convention has developed over the last 40+ years."
Beginning at 10:30 a.m. this morning, the products and services of those exhibitors will take center stage as ICAS offers the first of four exhibit sessions. The 2010 ICAS Convention includes a second session this afternoon from 4:15 to 6:00 p.m. and then one session each on Tuesday and Wednesday.
ICAS Members Show Off to Benefit Foundation
ICAS has talent, but not just in the air. Turns out that ICAS members can sing, too. And perform magic tricks. And maybe tell a good joke. A small group of ICAS members will demonstrate some of that talent tonight from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m. in the Concorde Ballroom.
In this exciting new addition to the annual ICAS Convention, ICAS will showcase a wide range of ground-based entertainment skills. A fundraiser for all the good work done by the ICAS Foundation, this tightly choreographed, eentertaining talent show will leave you awe-struck, laughing in the aisles and thoroughly entertained. Don't miss this new event; it is likely to be a frequent topic of conversation throughout the 2011 air show season. Cash bar available.
Lunch is served!
Exhibit Hall Lunch sponsored by Mohr Barnstorming
To help make the first exhibit hall session of this year's ICAS Convention as efficient and productive as possible, ICAS will serve a light lunch on the exhibit hall floor today. Generously sponsored by Mohr Barnstorming, the exhibit hall lunch helps all of our exhibitors and convention delegates stay focused on the important business of interacting with one another and planning the upcoming air show season.
Stand Down Puts Focus on Safety
For two hours and fifteen minutes this afternoon, the attention of ICAS Convention delegates will be focused on the all-important topic of air show safety.
The new safety stand-down session will begin with a 45-minute presentation by Major General (retired) Des Barker. A retired test pilot and air show performer with the South African Air Force and author of a book, Zero Error Margin, that provides analyses of air show accidents during the last 50 years, Barker will discuss steps that all air show professionals can take to reduce the number of accidents and mitigate risk in the air show environment.
After Barker's presentation, the group will divide into three groups - performers, event organizers, and air bosses - for presentations and discussions more specific to those disciplines. Performers will discuss a wide range of accidents, near accidents and incidents during the last year. Air bosses will look at accidents and incidents from the air boss perspective. And event organizers will take a big picture look at air show safety both in front of and behind the crowd line, with a particular emphasis on tactics and techniques for identifying and mitigating hazards - from gopher holes, tent pegs and golf carts to dehydration, concession-area hazards and adverse weather.
The session begins at 2:00 p.m. in the Champagne 1 meeting room.
Reserve Your Seats at Luncheon, Banquet
After several years of evolution, the process by which ICAS assigns seats at the Marketing Competition Luncheon and Chairman's Banquet has evolved and improved to suit the needs of our convention delegates. The seat reservation process was begun in response to member requests for something more civilized than the every-man-for-himself system used by ICAS in the past.
To reserve a seat, either by yourself or with a group of friends, stop by the registration area beginning at 10:30 a.m. on Monday. We'll make reservations for you at the Tuesday Marketing Competition luncheon, the Wednesday Chairman's Banquet or both.
Barnstorming Kicks Off ICAS Film Festival
Sponsored by FedEx Express
For the first time ever, ICAS is holding a mini-film festival on two nights during its annual convention. The event begins on tonight with Barnstorming, a new documentary film that looks at the true story of a small group of pilots who land in an Ohio farmer's field, strike up a relationship with the famer, his family and friends, and then continue to visit and fly an informal air show at the farm each year for more than a decade.
The film immerses the viewer in the adventure, giving them the perspective of a participant. It follows the pilots and the farmer's family as they prepare for the most exciting day of the year. The pilots gather from around the country before flying to the farm, while the farmers their alfalfa field into an airstrip and prepare a picnic for 200 friends. The film unfolds with ever-increasing anticipation, leading to the annual reunion.
Come watch the film, hear parts of its beautiful soundtrack played live, and talk with filmmakers Paul Glenshaw and Bryan Reichardt. It's not just a great story and an outstanding entertainment; it's also a wonderful reminder of all the things that make the air show business so exciting and alluring.
The film begins in the Concorde Ballroom at 6:15 p.m. tonight.
Auction Benefits Foundation and Its Programs
The traditional ICAS Foundation silent auction runs all day today in the entrance area to the convention space downstairs in the Paris Hotel. ICAS members are encouraged to bid on some of the unique products, services and opportunities available in this year's auction. You may even pick up a pre-holiday bargain or two. And you'll be providing valuable financial support for the Foundation and the many important programs it operates on behalf of the entire air show community.
You may bid all day, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Winning bidders can pick-up their items tomorrow between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Internet Café Available for Delegate Convenience
Sponsored by Stallion 51
Thanks to the generosity of Stallion 51 and The Gathering Foundation, ICAS is once again pleased to offer a multi-station Internet Café to provide 2010 ICAS Convention delegates with convenient, high-speed access to the internet. Located in the busiest area of the convention center, this bank of laptop computers and a laser printer will allow delegates to check e-mail, print documents, and check in virtually with the "home office." Delegates will have access to the Internet Café during working hours throughout the convention.
Monday Education Sessions Offer Unique Insight, Difficult Choices
Education Program Sponsored by AirSupport, LLC
In addition to the two hour and fifteen minute Safety Stand Down, ICAS is offering a series of particularly strong one-hour break-out sessions on Monday afternoon.
The U.S.A.F Thunderbirds, U.S. Navy Blue Angels, USAF single-ship demos, and single-ship Navy demos will conduct their traditional briefings this afternoon. The Navy Forum will also include updates on the Centennial of Naval Aviation planning and the War of 1812 bicentennial commemorations being planned for the 2012 air show
The series of introductory level "Business Basics" sessions continues on Monday with presentations on volunteer management from 2:00 to 3:00 and on logistics from 3:15 to 4:15 p.m.
Parking and traffic will be the focus of a panel discussion session from 2:00 to 3:00. The session will include both an overview of widely accepted traffic/parking management practices as well as case history presentations from two air shows that have implemented successful parking/traffic plans. At the same time, ICAS will present the preliminary results of its just-completed survey of more than 2,000 air show spectators conducted during the 2010 air show season.
Cause marketing – marketing partnerships between businesses and philanthropies for mutual benefits – will be the subject of a one-hour session on Monday afternoon from 3:15 to 4:15 p.m. Concurrently in a different session, a panel of ICAS members will discuss steps to take to be well-prepared for sponsorship inquiries from Corporate North America.
Exhibit Floor Solicitation Policy
Selling privileges on the ICAS Convention exhibit hall floor are limited to organizations that have contracted and paid for space assignments. No other persons or organizations will be permitted to sell product or services, solicit contributions, distribute advertising materials, or demonstrate products on the exhibit hall floor. Non-exhibiting personnel observed selling on the exhibit hall floor will be asked to stop such activities. If these non-exhibiting personnel refuse to stop, they will be asked to leave the hall.
ICAS Needs Your Show Dates
Much of the ICAS Convention revolves around the gradual development of the upcoming air show season schedule. For that part of the program to work, we need your involvement. Whether you're a performer or an event organizer, we want to hear from you. Fill out the form in your Convention Program/Proceedings book and turn it in at the Registation Desk. We'll take the information we gather and we'll update the schedule periodically throughout the convention.
Be Sure to Take Advantage of Hotel Discounts
As delegates to the ICAS Convention, you are entitled to a number of discounts at the Paris Hotel & Casino. Check the delegate bag you received at registration to see how you can save a few bucks here and there while you're in Las Vegas.
Consider Taking Part in Harrah's "Teacher Exchange"
The Harrah's Foundation, which owns the Paris Hotel & Casino, has engaged with the Las Vegas Community on an initiative known as "Teacher Exchange." The program allows business to provide all manner of materials to schools through the foundation that can be of use in the classroom. Here at the Convention, exhibitors might consider leaving any materials left over from your booth for use in classrooms through the Harrah's Foundation – whether it's paper or leftover marketing promotional items to blank CDs or even items you might otherwise think of as garbage such as remnant carpet. Stickers will be circulated for you to mark your materials leftover in your booth for collection by the Teacher Exchange.
Have You Met Jane Wicker?
"I actually feel like I'm stepping back in time to the barnstorming days," says Jane Wicker of her Stearman biplane.
But Wicker has to choose her steps carefully. That's because she doesn't pilot the 450-horepower plane at air shows, but stands on its ribs and hangs off its struts as a wingwalker.
"Every other single wingwalker uses a safety line and I don't," says Wicker. "As I transition on to the wing, the crowd can see that."
Wicker, who used to wingwalk as a team with her then-husband Kirk as the pilot, came out of a nine-year-long retirement from air shows this year. "A couple years ago, I was looking through old video tapes and I started to miss it even more," said Wicker, mother of two. "I said 'I've got to get back into this.'"
With some inheritance from her late father, Wicker put out a classified ad that read, "Stearman wanted."
She found a 1941 model that was a work-in-progress. "I was able to build an airplane that, personality-wise, was mine."
After an arduous refurbishing process, the plane, which Wicker named "Aurora," arrived at its Virginia home base on June 25th. Still, Wicker was able to fit in four shows during the 2010 season.
While other pilots are flying Wicker's plane for now, don't be surprised to see her behind the stick in 2011. "I've been flying it and doing landings," said Wicker. In fact, her ex-husband is her instructor. "We're divorced, but the one thing that never faltered was the flying. It's a very interesting story."
Visit Wicker at ICAS Convention booth 815.
Have you met Abbott and Costello?
There are a lot of good routines in air shows. Patty Wagstaff's snap-rolling turn. Sean Tucker's triple ribbon cut. The Blue Angels' Fleur-de-Lis. Now add the classic "Who's on First" to the list.
"We're a tribute to everything that Abbott and Costello did," said Joe Ziegler, who plays Bud in The Ultimate Abbott and Costello Tribute Show. "We do pretty much every routine that Bud and Lou did as a team in the '40s."
Zigler and his co-star Bill Riley have been traveling the country as the duo at air shows since 1994, and are attending the ICAS convention, pulling Abbott and Costello's timeless gags at booth 805.
"We do shows that can be any length people are looking for," said Riley. "Sometimes, we just show up and walk around at the show. Sometimes we do half-hour shows. Really, whatever people are looking for, we can accommodate." Ridley adds that the team has been "called upon to keep entire shows entertained when the weather is bad."
Ziegler and Riley both agree that their routines are family-friendly entertainment that's enjoyed by kids and old-timers alike. "We bring a lot of nice memories from the old days," said Riley. "We've had people walk up to us and thank us for doing a show that they can sit through with their grandchildren."
"There are a lot of people that are looking for things to do at a show that don't have to do with planes," said Ziegler. "Maybe dad's really into airplanes, but now there's something for everybody else, too."
Convention Sponsors Add Value, Defray Convention Expenses
The organizations providing sponsorship support to this year's ICAS Convention provide assistance to the event in many different ways.
First, they help us improve and expand the convention in ways that we would not have been able to without their support.
Second, they help us "hold the line" on price increases and keep the ICAS Convention as affordable as possible so that as many members as possible may participate. Due in large part to the generosity of our sponsors, the inflation-adjusted cost of convention registration and convention booths at the ICAS Convention has actually GONE DOWN over the last fifteen years.
Thirdly, as leaders within the air show community, their support helps strengthen ICAS and our very important annual convention.
If you get the chance, we hope that you'll stop by and offer your thanks to these sponsors for their commitment to and support of YOUR organization.
This year's ICAS Convention sponsors are:
AirShowBuzz.com
Air Boss & Consulting International, Inc.
American Aerobatics, Inc.
ExtremeTix Inc./ClicknPrint Tickets
Greg Poe Airshows
Team Chaos Extreme Airshows
FedEx Express
Mike Goulian Airshows
John Klatt Airshows, Inc.
Insurance Technologies & Programs
AirSupport, LLC
Commemorative Air Force/Tora Tora Tora
Shannon & Luchs Insurance Agency, Inc.
Air Boss, Inc. - George Cline
Jim Peitz Aerosports, Inc.
Jacquie B Airshows
Nalls Aviation, Inc.
Mohr Barnstorming
Mach 1 Productions
Team Rocket
Gordon Bowman-Jones
Geico Skytypers
Tim Weber Airshows, Inc.
Rob Holland Ultimate Airshows, LLC
Air Show Network
Aerostars Formation Aerobatic Team
Stallion 51 Corp.
Patriots Jet Team
Rob Reider, Air Show Announcer
OnBoard Images
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