No Airshow Without Safety
Once again, I had the pleasure of attending the European Airshow Council (EAC) convention, held in Mellieha, Malta, from 2 to 4 March. This forum brings together airshow organisers, both military and civilian display pilots, and professionals related to this world from regulatory authority officials to professional photographers and videographers.
All of this takes place in an excellent setting, at a tourist resort in the north of Malta, where a team of EAC volunteers mainly from Belgium, but also from the UK and Denmark ensured that accreditation and other organisational tasks were handled quickly and efficiently.
A pesar del impresionante número de asistentes (más de 150), año tras año se ven caras conocidas, y finalmente da la sensación de pertenecer a una gran familia con una pasión común: los festivales aéreos.
La comunidad de festivales aéreos europeos está claramente dominada en número por los británicos, no en vano el Reino Unido congrega más de 270 eventos durante todo el año, lo que contrasta con las cifras del resto de países, que raramente llegan a las 10 citas anuales, a excepción de Francia, que puede llegar a las 30.
La convención de la European Airshow Council es, ante todo, un evento social. Es un lugar perfecto para hacer contactos y que los organizadores puedan ver qué hay en el mercado para contratar, en caso de los civiles, o convencer, en caso de los militares. Así pues, las pausas para el café (coffee breaks) son un momento idóneo para encontrar a quien te interesa y presentarte.
However, the convention is also a place to share experiences from a full season of airshows in order to improve flight safety and the overall organisation of events.
In addition to the main talks, two seminars were held: one for Flight Display Directors (FDDs), and another for Fast Jet Display Pilots military display pilots flying fighter and attack aircraft.
This exchange of experiences and opinions is essential to improving the safety of airshows and aerial displays.
In my case, I attended the FDD seminar and was able to see how legislation and the working methods of regulatory authorities differ significantly between countries, and how common sense is not always the prevailing factor when regulating certain practices in airshows.
For example, in one country it is permitted to go below the 500 foot limit during the display, but not during training flights, which creates a safety risk.
The Conferences
The main programme consists of a series of conferences running from Friday morning until Saturday lunchtime.
Topics range from airshow marketing and flight safety to restoration projects, such as the Norwegian F-104, or airshow management software systems.
These are 30-minute mini talks that allow attendees to get first-hand insights into new developments in the airshow industry, new regulations, and more. For example, the Secretary General of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), Susanne Schödel, spoke about drones, associated regulations, and their inclusion within air sports.
Also generating significant interest was the talk by “Red 10”, Squadron Leader Mike Ling, who discussed the Red Arrows’ Asia tour and the experiences and challenges they faced when operating in countries such as China, Malaysia, India, and Singapore. It became clear that being a military pilot or part of a world renowned team like the Red Arrows does not exempt one from bureaucratic issues or long delays at transit airports.
There were also presentations from delegates coming from further afield. Jeanette Lusty explained how the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority operates and highlighted the country’s large collection of vintage aircraft, while John Cudahy, president of the International Council of Air Shows (ICAS), the US counterpart of the EAC, spoke about differences in safety measures between the US and Europe particularly in aerobatic energy management near spectators, which is strictly prohibited in the US, while unlimited lower height limits are sometimes allowed.
Alongside the meeting room was an exhibition area showcasing materials from various teams offering their services or promoting their airshows, with all kinds of merchandising and attention-grabbing displays some quite creative, such as Second World War aircraft playing cards handed out (as every year) by the insurer Haywards.
On Saturday evening, a gala dinner is held, where pilots and organisers from different countries mix in a relaxed atmosphere. The dress code is simple: wear what you would wear at an airshow. As such, pilots attend in their flight suits.
During the dinner, several awards are presented to individuals or organisations that have made significant contributions to the airshow world, as well as for the best merchandising presented at the convention. This is followed by a much-anticipated raffle, with tickets sold to help cover part of the convention costs, and prizes donated by sponsors such as Breitling, the Belgian Air Force, and others.
In summary, once again the EAC has succeeded in bringing together a large part of the European airshow community in a relaxed setting where highly important topics for the survival of these events are discussed, allowing leading experts in their fields to share experiences and improve safety in both the air and on the ground.
We say goodbye for now from Malta, as the 2018 convention returns to Antwerp, Belgium, before heading south again in 2019, when it will be held in Athens.
