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Letter of the Week: Airshow Crashes, Media Sensationalism and Improving Safety

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • The International Council of Air Shows (ICAS) has proactively enhanced airshow safety since 2007 with dedicated initiatives, including a safety officer and risk mitigation, which they believe has positively impacted accident rates.
  • The author notes a significant disparity in media coverage, with television often sensationalizing airshow accidents disproportionately, potentially exaggerating public perception, despite a strong record of no North American spectator fatalities since 1951.
  • Achieving further safety improvements in both airshows and general aviation will require more fundamental changes in pilot behavior and mindset, as easier fixes have already been implemented, but the organization remains committed to continued progress.
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After our piece last week on the risky nature of airshow flying and the challenging process of improving safety given all the variables (“Airshow Crashes: The Cost of Doing Business? Going Direct, by Robert Goyer), we received a number of emails from our readers, one of whom is John Cudahy, the president of the International Council of Air Shows, whom we referenced in the blog. Cudahy weighs in with some nuanced views on the subjects that Goyer raised in his blog and sets the bar for safety even higher.

Mr. Goyer:

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