NTSB Hearing update

[bill_f]

National Transportation Safety Board

Washington, DC 20594



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JANUARY 5, 2012

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Final agenda announced for NTSB's Air Race and Air Show

Safety Hearing

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Washington, DC - Today, the National Transportation Safety

Board (NTSB) has announced the final agenda for its Air Race

and Air Show Safety Hearing, which takes place on January

10, 2012. The start time for the hearing, which is being

held at the NTSB Conference Center and Board Room in

Washington, DC, has been changed to 9:00 a.m. (EST).



Fifteen witnesses will provide the Board and the public

insight into current safety regulations, the protocols and

practices utilized for planning, and the specifics of air

show and air race operations. Following presentations by

each panel, the witnesses will be questioned by the NTSB's

five Member Board.



Below is the agenda for the one-day hearing:



9:00 a.m. Opening Statement: NTSB Chairman Deborah

A.P. Hersman



9:15 a.m. Panel One: Regulations and Oversight



* Federal Aviation Administration

John McGraw, Deputy Director, Flight Standards Service

Michael Umstead, National Aviation Events Specialist,

Flight Standards Service



* International Council of Air Shows (ICAS)

John Cudahy, President, International Council of Air Shows

Wayne Boggs, ICAS Member

Judy Willey, Chairman, ICAS Board of Directors



10:40 a.m. Panel Two: Aviation Event Organizations

* Reno Air Race Association (RARA)

Mike Houghton, President/CEO, Reno Air Race Association

Michael Major, RARA Board Member, Pilot and Aircraft

Registration



* Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA)

Rod Hightower, President/CEO, Experimental Aircraft

Association

Sean Elliott, Vice President for Government Affairs



* Air Boss Inc.

George Cline, President, Air Boss Inc.



1:00 p.m. Panel Three: Aviation Event Operations

* Seafair Air Show

Frank Sebastian, Air Show Coordinator and Chair



* Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Air Show

Edwin Dunham , USMC Air Show Director



* Commemorative Air Force

Robert Stenevik, Vice President of Safety, Operations, and Maintenance



* Red Bull Air Racing

Jim DiMatteo, Former Race Director for San Diego and New York Events



* Team Oracle

Sean Tucker, Performer



3:15 p.m. Hearing Adjourns



Bios for each panelist will be posted on the NTSB's website the morning of the hearing.



The NTSB Conference Center and Board Room is located at 429 L'Enfant Plaza, SW,

Washington, DC. A link to a live webcast will be available on the NTSB's homepage

(www.ntsb.gov) on the day of the hearing.



Previous press releases on the Air Race Air Show Safety Hearing

http://www.ntsb.gov/news/2011/111220_2.html

http://www.ntsb.gov/news/2011/111202.html

###

NTSB Media Contact:

Terry N. Williams (terry.williams@ntsb.gov)

202.314.6100

[Coyote Chris]

Re: NTSB Hearing update

Thanks for posting this. I am going to try and free up some time to watch this. Wish I was savy enough to put the whole shebang on DVDs but at least we can get the transcript.

[bill_f]

Re: NTSB Hearing update

"Hearing 'bigger' than the air races" – RGJ 1/8:

http://www.rgj.com/article/20120109/NEWS/120109001/NTSB-meeting-bigger-than-air-races?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

[bill_f]

Re: NTSB Hearing update

RGJ coverage link: http://tinyurl.com/6ptqpj2

[BillRo]

Re: NTSB Hearing update

OK Got up at 0530 and watched the whole of the NTSB Air Show Safety hearing. Although as political folks they probably have to make recommendations to justify their existance, the only substantive item I saw was that there is a need to certify Air Bosses similar to the ACE program for aerobatic performers, provide more aerobatic practice boxes and stiffen ACE requirements. And Sean Tucker is a rock star who had them eating out of his hand.

The two Mikes did OK for RARA but stumbled a bit trying to explain why the Home pylon location was the same for all 6 classes.

BillRo

[Coyote Chris]

Re: NTSB Hearing update

Thanks for the report. If anyone finds a link to the transcript before I do, please post it.

[xmh53wrench]

Re: NTSB Hearing update

The two Mikes did OK for RARA but stumbled a bit trying to explain why the Home pylon location was the same for all 6 classes.

BillRo

My head is about to explode over this infatuation with Home Pylon...the second to the last pylon is common as well...purpose....to bring the stars of the show to center stage for their audience....as long as it meets the unlimited/jet set back criteria, who cares!!
you don't put the stars of the show in the wings at the back of the stage? Its the FINISH LINE, FOR PETES SAKE!!!
ahhhrrrrggggghhhh

[BillRo]

Re: NTSB Hearing update

Chairman Hersman's opening and closing remarks are up:

http://www.ntsb.gov/news/speeches.html

[BillRo]

Re: NTSB Hearing update

The live stream will come up here and be available for three months:

http://www.capitolconnection.net/capcon/ntsb/ntsb.htm

BTW the Board solicited comments from the public on the issues and will accept them until Feb 17th.

[Coyote Chris]

Re: NTSB Hearing update

Thanks! Hope when the broadcast appears it will be easy to watch in serveral sessions....

I sent in my comments/views to the NTSB designated e-mail address a few days ago.

chris

[shorebird]

Re: NTSB Hearing update

I could see interested parties suggesting that the course be changed to have more of an East/West orientation where unlimited racers would be close to level and on a straightaway while passing the majority of the crowd. No room for this kind of fix.

[tim]

Re: NTSB Hearing update

KTVU Oakland just had a piece on the races. It concluded with a statement that sources do not believe that there will be any major changes to the rules. I hope those sources are right.

[bill_f]

Re: NTSB Hearing update

RGJ hearing followup: http://tinyurl.com/7r2j7v7