Many ICAS performers have begun testing the waters of the international air shows, and with the exception of the United States and Canada, the differences between how operations are handled at home and overseas are stark. ICAS performers have traveled to many locations in Europe, China and even the United Arab Emirates. While the opportunities provided in these locations are numerous, the obstacles and hazards can often be just as abundant.
While the end goal of a safe and entertaining air show is generally consistent across the world, there are several factors that can hinder this. Language barriers, regulatory differences and non-standard terminology can provide unwanted distractions to a safe air show performance. While English is the official language of aviation, non-standard phrases such as “knock it off” and “aerobatic box” can cause issues for potential controllers outside of the US or Canada. Talk with the show’s producers, air bosses, controllers and safety personnel to find the right combination of adherence to the local policies and your personal comfort zone.
When in doubt, default to your practiced and briefed routine, and call the ICAS office so that we may address the issues of harmonizing regulations with the ICAS counterparts across the world.
