Airshow Crashes, Why do you think there are so many Options

[Andy NIxon]

So far there have been Four major airshow crashes this year and the seasons not even over. Why do you think there have been so many crashes this year and what do you think should be done about it?

[davidshere]

Have there been more crashes? I think it's entirely possible that there haven't been any more this year than have been in previous years, we're just aware of more of them. Maybe this year's crashes have made bigger headlines because the season was started by a high profile crash with the Blue Angels.

What's in the news affects what's in the news. Around the time Amy Smart disappeared, missing girls cases were plastered all over the news. Now we don't hear much about them. Are fewer girls being kidnapped? Unlikely. We're just not seeing as many of them hitting the front pages. In the months after 9/11, a teenager in Florida stole and crashed a plane into a building. It was an instant national headline leading most news broadcasts. Had 9/11 not happened, it probably would have barely been a national story.

I think the Blue Angels crash has pushed other airshow crashes higher in the news this year than they would have been otherwise. This gives us the impression that they are more frequent, when if fact they are not.

[Airshow4444]

It is proably like David said, there may be more not be more crashes this year, but it may be just that we are more aware.

[Andy NIxon]

i understand what you guys are saying but do you think they need more safety training?

[M & C Strelka]

The internet makes the world smaller and world news is right at our finger tips. I am also an avid fan of NHRA Drag Racing. This sport has it's dangers as well. In March we lost Eric Medlen in the Fuel Funnycar class of John Force Racing. Safety is constantly developing and everyone knows the risks involved. The last death in Funnycar was I think 28 years earlier. The top fuel class lost Darrell Russell a few years ago and Blaine Johnson ten years ago. I think the airshow industry and racing organizations have done a good job.

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[Steven Holzinger]

For some reason I feel this is a very controversial subject and I am not going to try to offer any additional input into here than what I have already said...

[helioguy]

I'll add to what Steven has said, and you may want to take note.

The US Airshow industry is one of the tightest regulated spectator sports in the world, and aside from NASCAR, NHRA, and any others in reference to safety it is one who's community of performers, narrators, airshow bosses require that multiple safeguards are installed at any one time. John Cudahy has made several posts here that reveal the industry's tireless efforts to ensure the buying public has nothing to worry about, that being said, you need to address other posts on this forum that have already included these concerns.. This year may have been more noteworthy due news media actions that place more emphasis on ratings rather than the actual mishap percentages.
Every pilot who performs and visits these pages will tell you the best safety device in any airplane is a well trained pilot...... Hope this sheds some light on this



Stephen

[Andy NIxon]

I talking more about things in detail than on a whole like i believe that ever should have a standard seatbelt after the snowbirds crash. im not trying to say theres anything wrong with the safety measures they already take but is the anything else thats they could do really make it safer. Another example no inverted passes below a certain altitude so in case something happens to the pilot he or she has time to react. Im not trying to say you can prevent every crash.

[helioguy]

This has been addressed in another thread......... go to the "zero" card rule

Page two on buzz worthy.........."cleared to Zero"

[Andy NIxon]

This has been addressed in another thread......... go to the "zero" card rule

Page two on buzz worthy.........."cleared to Zero"

thoughs were examples

[draven]

The airshow industry is probably as safe if not safer than many other spectator sports and events. The only difference is that the risk of death due to mishap is far greater. Unless somebody can figure out how to change the laws of physics and motion, it's simply the risk/reward factor.

[RCoulter]

The airshow industry is probably as safe if not safer than many other spectator sports and events. The only difference is that the risk of death due to mishap is far greater. Unless somebody can figure out how to change the laws of physics and motion, it's simply the risk/reward factor.

My thoughts exactly. In a race car you can hit a tire wall and come out unscathed, in a plane, you have nothing but the hard ground (sometimes water) to hit.

[Andy NIxon]

what about requiring ejection seats then?

[RCoulter]

what about requiring ejection seats then?

I think that if you are heading towards the ground inverted you will end up just as bad if not worse.

[Airshow4444]

There is always danger, and that can not be fully diminished, just a little diminished.

[Andy NIxon]

There is always danger, and that can not be fully diminished, just a little diminished.

i said that early what im looking is what can make it just a little bit safer?

[Go Sox]

Respectfully: Are you kidding?

In a business where one mistake can result in your death...

...in an industry that is closely and exhaustively regulated by the FAA and Transport Canada as the air show industry is...

...in a segment of aviation where your colleagues are not just encouraged, but obligated to intercede if you are found to be flying dangerously...

...do you really think that we're going to have an on-line discussion in which we solve the "problems" facing the air show industry?

Are Patty Wagstaff, the Blue Angels, Sean Tucker, Gene Soucy, the Snowbirds, Michael Goulian and the Thunderbirds looking for things they can do to mitigate risk? Of course they are. But not just this season. They were doing the same thing last year...and the year before that. And long after we've lost interest in this thread, they'll still be doing it. We're fans talking about this issue as a form of entertainment. They're professionals -- REAL PROFESSIONALS -- whose lives depend on what they can do to make things just a little bit safer each time they fly.

Please, let's not get carried away with ourselves. We are air show fans and, IMHO, we should limit our comments to those things that we know about. Several of the folks who have answered your question have said more or less the same thing, but I'll say it more directly. Let the professionals handle this.

We're all entitled to our opinions. And I suppose that it's appropriate to voice those opinions here. But, when we publicly challenge the collective judgment of the entire air show industry, we're doing TO the air show industry just what we complain that the media does: commenting and judging without sufficient understanding of what the hell we're talking about.

[draven]

i said that early what im looking is what can make it just a little bit safer?

Things ARE safe. To err is human. This line of work is simply more unforgiving of error. The nature of the biz.

[Bryan S]

Things ARE safe. To err is human. This line of work is simply more unforgiving of error. The nature of the biz.

I recall a History channel program on the Blue Angels where one of the solo pilots said "... what we do isn't necessarly dangerous, just unforgiving." Pretty much sums it up for me. I've been going to airshows since the early 70s, had my breath taken away a lot , but never doubted the professionalism and dedication to safety.

[belugababy]

First my condolences go to the families of Biplane Class racer Steve Dari, Jet Class racer Brad Morehouse, and Formula One racer Gary Hubler...they will truely be missed, but I am sure they are happily racing again.
Protecting spectators should be the main and only concern.
Just as in any sport: they do it for the love, the excitement and the thrill, and know the dangers they place themselves in everytime they step into a plane. What a way to go...doing something you LOVE, versus, slowly dying from a disease. Go for the gusto....have fun and LIVE life to the fullest ,you are on this planet only once!