C E R T A L E R T 

ADVISORY       CAUTIONARY      NON-DIRECTIVE

FOR INFORMATION, CONTACT AIRPORT SAFETY SPECIALIST, AAS-310 (202) 267.8729

DATE: 	October 18, 2002	No.  02-07	
TO: 	Airport Operators, Airline Operators,
FAA Airport Certification Safety Inspectors	
TOPIC: 	Air Show Event Ground Operations Plan	

December 17, 2003 will mark the 100th anniversary of the first flight taken by the Wright brothers in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.  Throughout the next year many airports will be celebrating this historic event with different aviation events on or near their airports.  In the planning process for these events certain coordination is required.

In order to have an airshow on an airport, the airport operator and the sponsor of the airshow must have the approval of the Federal Aviation Administration’s  Flight Standards District Office (FSDO).  This is done by the FSDO approving an air event waiver (Form 7711-1 Certificate of Waiver or Authorization).  As part of the approval process, airport operators need to submit an air show event ground operations plan to the FAA Regional Airports Division Office for approval.  This plan must be submitted in writing.  The FAA Regional Airports Division will review this plan and will notify FSDO if the plan has been approved.

The following guide provides information to assist airport operators in developing an air show event ground operations plan. The plan should address:

•	ARFF capability during commercial operations at airport:
•	Pre-positioning during air show preparation to allow timely response and clear access to the movement area
•	Availability of appropriate index equipment/manning during the air show
•	Hazardous Material (HazMat) plan for the air show (hydrazine, LOX, smoke, etc.)

•	Integrity of Runway and Taxiway Safety Areas during commercial operations:
•	Placement of Temporary Arresting Systems 
•	Military Flight Demonstration Team centroid placement (e.g. use of vehicles or other non-frangible device to mark aiming point for aerial demonstrations)
•	Verification of pyrotechnic device placement and safety of planned operations:
•	Location – RSA/TSA/OFZ 
•	Timing – After placement prior to detonation during air show
•	Public Protection – crowd line located to provide public safety prior to and during pyro detonation (fragment patterns)
•	Condition of Safety Area post-detonation (ruts, humps, depressions, etc.)

•	Movement Area maintenance – crowd barrier, FOD control, noise, jet blast, marking, signage, lighting operation and visibility
•	Fueling operations – location and situation 
•	Public protection – crowd lines during air show and/or during commercial operations
•	Appropriate airport related NOTAMS drafted
•	Air show related vehicles in movement area – training/licensing of operators
•	NAVAIDS operation / Wind Indicators 
•	Airport Emergency Plan (AEP) contingencies
•	Airport Operations plan for self-inspection before, during and after air show
•	Mitigation of Wildlife Attractants affected by air show
•	Changes to airport marking, lighting and navaids (approach slope) to accommodate air show – appropriate marking for closed runways 

OSB					October 18, 2002
Benedict D. Castellano
Airport Safety and Operations	Date