Hasselt 2006

The EAC Convention was held between

23 - 25 February 2006 in Hasselt, Belgium.

European Airshow Convention 2006

Hasselt, Belgium - 23 - 25 February 2006

EAC provides new assistance to airshows and performers under threat

The European Airshow Council (EAC) held its 11th annual Convention in Hasselt, Belgium, from February 23th to 25th, 2006.

A record number of 92 delegates from 21 nations all gathered in the Holiday Inn, Hasselt, to take part in this, now well established, annual meeting. Delegates were leading figures in the Airshow Industry, including airshow organisers, Air Forces, Civil Aviation Authorities, display pilots, national aerobatics team leaders, and website specialists.

The EAC welcomed the Al Ain Aerobatics Show delegation (United Arab Emirates) attending for their first Convention. Other new members at the 2006 Convention included representatives from Spain, Greece, Croatia, Luxemburg and Hungary. The EAC is succeeding in its ambition to expand its activities throughout central Europe and into the Middle East countries, especially important because the coming display season will see new, exciting large events which are being prepared in those countries.

During the Convention, delegates exchanged their experiences, demonstrated their knowledge and skills and also marketed their expertise in informal social meetings that took place in the friendly and enthusiastic atmosphere that has become the hallmark of the event. Experienced speakers briefed on a wide variety of subjects from ‘Airshow safety performance’ to ‘How to plan a flying display’ and ‘Airshows from a historical viewpoint’ to ‘Partnership and the Media’ and ‘Flying the Apache Helicopter solo display’. Discussions were lively, whether questioning the costs of insurance or offering views on the practicality of combining competitive air racing with normal Airshow flying displays.’

An innovation for Convention 2006 was the introduction of a special 3 hour seminar on ‘Crisis Management and Risk Analysis’, applicable to all types of airshows, which gave advice, illustrated by examples, to help organisers and military and civil authorities to assess the risks involved in Airshows and how to take practical steps to minimise them. .

Many secrets behind the organisation of several airshows in 2005, including the events in Marville (France), and the huge AirPower 05 Airshow in Zeltweg (Austria), were revealed. The EAC announced that their prestigious ‘Paul Bowen Trophy’, awarded for the best Airshow of the year, would go to to AirPower 05 and the EAC Chairman will take the Trophy to Austria to present it to the joint organisers in the near future.

Working groups studied specific subjects that needed to be tackled to meet the challenges faced by the airshow business. They were ‘A proposed revision of Joint Aviation Authority guidelines to assist the new European Aviation Authorities’, ‘The provision of competitive and simplified aviation insurance to Airshow organisers’, and ‘The development of a code of practice and a contract between organisers and display performers’.

A separate workshop for organisers and military authorities reviewed what was needed to obtain military aircraft participation in airshows throughout 2006 and future seasons and how to apply to have aircraft to fly at their Airshows. Details about new display aircraft that would become available were briefed by the United States, Hellenic and and Croatian Air Forces.

The experience of large Warbirds operators in 2005 threatened their future because of new EU legislation that led to insurance costs skyrocketing and making display flying uneconomic. Having learned about the problems faced by ‘Sally-B’, the B-17 Preservation Group, delegates agreed that a warning system would be a useful way of alerting each other of new legislation or other threats to the Airshow Industry. A ‘hot-line’ e-mail address has been set up (alert@european-airshow.com) and members in the UK and the Netherlands will take on the tasks needed to ensure that the Airshow industry’s voice is heard.

Bob Dixon (EAC Board Executive) said : "For anyone joining Airshow events and activities, whether to organise, participate or regulate them, the European Airshow Council offers the best door into the Airshow world and a wealth of practical experience and advice. We all want to have exciting, high quality events that are also safe for the participants and the spectators.’

EAC Board members are from 6 countries and they reflect the international viewpoint in a growing and increasingly influential organization. They are : Gilbert Buekenberghs, Chairman and director of the Sanicole International Airshow (Belgium); Bob Dixon, EAC Board Executive (UK) former Deputy Director of RIAT and organiser in other airshows; Jacques Bothelin, leader of the Breitling Jet Team (France); Joe Ciliberti, director of the Malta International Airshow; Dieter Thomas, former test pilot and Director of Operations of ILA Berlin (Germany); Ed de Bruijn, Head of RNLAF Display Office (Netherlands); and James Black, Europe Air Sports, FAI (UK).

The EAC also welcomed Jörg Thurnheer Deputy - Head of Section, Federal Office of Civil Aviation (Switzerland) - as a new Board Member. His previous experience in negotiating guidelines for many aspects of general aviation including Airshows and his expert knowledge of Civil Aviation Authorities provide a valuable addition to the strength of the EAC Board.

For further Information: www.european-airshow.com

For further contacts: EAC Honorary Press Officer, François Brévot at francois@european-airshow.com or EAC Board Executive, Bob Dixon at bob@european-airshow.com

PROGRAMME FOR THE EAC CONVENTION 23-25 FEBRUARY 2006

“New Challenges for Airshows: Youth, Excitement and Safety”

How will Airshows excite the media and the spectators and where are the young organisers, directors and performers?

Thursday 23 February

1000 - 2000     EAC Reception in Holiday Inn foyer: arrivals - registration

1400    Pre-Convention Seminar opens – “Crisis Management and Risk Analysis” – Ian Sheeley assisted by David Walton, UK in the main Convention Room.

1530    Coffee



1700`   Seminar ends

1715    Meeting of Delegates volunteering their assistance to the EAC – chaired by Gilbert      Buekenberghs, Belgium, Chairman EAC

1930 - 2030     Official Reception – in the foyer of the Holiday Inn.

                        (Delegates will make their own arrangements for dinner)



Convention 2006

Friday 25 February



0900    Briefing on Convention Arrangements – Bob Dixon, UK - EAC Board Executive

            Welcome from EAC Chairman, Gilbert Buekenberghs, Belgium - EAC Chairman

            Opening Address – Mr Ivo Belet MEP, Belgium

0930    Youth, excitement and safety at Airshows - from a historical viewpoint – Squadron Leader       Andy Pawsey,           UK - RAF Officer, commentator and air historian will look at how developments in Airshow activities in the past are relevant to planning for the future.

1015    The Zeltweg Airshow -- the biggest display of 2005? Lieutenant Colonel Geri Doblehammer,      Austria - Austrian Air Force will describe how the team planned and organised the very      successful Air05 Airshow with full cooperation from Red Bull and the county of Styria.

1100    Coffee

1130    Airshow Insurance from the Underwriter’s viewpoint – Ray Gaiger UK - AON Insurance           Brokers and Mark Stanley, UK – Global Insurance underwriter. The speakers will give an            update on the current status of Airshow Insurance in the world market together with the initiatives discussed with the EAC Board to offer simplified, streamlined Aviation Insurance    to Airshow Organisers.

1200    Working Groups – see separate programme below

1300    Lunch   (Lunch, with drinks, is included in the Convention Fee. All partners are welcome to         join delegates for lunch)

1415    Working Groups – see separate programme below

1530    Coffee

1600    “The Airshow Flight Safety Accident Record of the past 10 Years – Jacques Bothelin,    France – EAC Board Member and Director of the Breitling Jet Aerobatic Team brings a French perspective and uses his own considerable experience to examine safety risks and             incidents.

1630    From West to East – Airshow plans for 2006 in Spain, Italy and Hungary – Major Pedro        Solbes, Spain - Team Leader of the Spanish National Aerobatic Team; Alberto Moretti, Italy –      former             leader of the Italian National Aerobatic Team; Zoltan Sajtos, Hungary – Airshow    organiser and executive in the Gold Timer Foundation – giving us a brief picture of future          Airshow events in their respective countries.

1715    Airshows with a Theme - 'essential to their success' - Colonel Pierre-Alain Antoine,       France - former Manager of the French National Aerobatic Team, commentator, organiser            and aviation consultant looks at the importance of planning a theme to encourage popular support of Airshows.

1735    EAC Chairman closes session.

Working Groups-

1. Organisers and Military Authorities: Co-operation of Air Forces and Procedures - Chaired by Gilbert Buekenberghs, Belgium, EAC Board Chairman. The latest information about the procedures in use for the allocation of display aircraft by the military authorities, including the USAF and USAFE plans for the 2006 and 2007 display seasons in Europe. Updates on the Royal Netherlands Air Force, RAF, Italian Air Force and other nations allocation of aircraft to flying displays will also be discussed.

2. Performers: Developing a Guideline Contract between Organisers and Performers - Chaired by Jacques Bothelin, France, EAC Board Member. Following on from the discussions at the last Convention, the WG will discuss experiences of the 2005 season and try to formulate a code of practice for a Guideline Contract.

3. Aviation Authorities: Development of revised Joint Guidelines - Chaired by James Black, UK, EAC Board Member. Building upon the start made at the Convention in 2005, the WG is putting together a proposed revision of JAA Guidelines to be ready to advise European Aviation authorities in the future.

4. Aviation Insurance - Chaired by Joe Ciliberti, Malta, EAC Board Member and with the opportunity for face-to-face discussions with an Insurance Broker and an Underwriter specialising in Airshow Aviation Insurance.

Aviation Dinner

1900    Transport leaves Holiday Inn for the Sanicole Aero Club

            - Delegates and partners assemble for drinks and the traditional, gourmet, Airshow Dinner at in the Sanicole Aero Club.



            - Dress for the Airshow Dinner is “Airshow Dress”- whatever you would wear at an         Airshow, from flying suit to T-shirt!



            (Transport, drinks and dinner are included in the Convention Fee)

            - The UAE organisers of the Al Ain Airshow and the Film Director and Producer, Lionel Charlet will feature and the Chairman has a surprise or two for us. The winners of the Best publicity material – Organiser and performer - will be announced.

Saturday 26 February

0900    Flying the Apache Helicopter solo display – Major W Brandsen, the Netherlands,             Royal Netherlands Air Force Display Pilot describes the planning and execution of the, much admired, solo display of the Apache Helicopter.

0930    “How to plan a Flying Display” – Geoff Brindle, UK – former Group Captain RAF and    experienced Flight Control Committee specialist describes practical ways of putting together a           safe but exciting flying display programme that takes account of the needs of the organiser,           display performer and the crowd.

1000    Insurance costs for warbirds and large aircraft – Barry Tempest and Sean Maffett, UK will        ring out the warnings that the continued operations of warbirds, especially the larger aircraft,             could be threatened by European legislation and Sean will describe the specific example of the      battle for the affordable insurance of the B-17, ‘Sally – B’

1030    Coffee

1100    Feedback from Working Groups – WG Chairmen will update the whole meeting on the progress made in their working groups and recommend how any further work can be taken forward.

1130    Aerobatics and Competitions at Airshows - can they work together? Open Forum          discussion which will be led by Jacques Bothelin, France, EAC Board Member. Contributions         may including comments from JL Monnet, Switzerland; W Nachtwey, Austria; J Black, UK;    R Metcalfe, UK and all delegates are welcome to contribute to the discussion.

1200    Partnership and the Media – Gilbert Buekenberghs, Belgium – EAC Chairman and Sanicole International Airshow Organiser for 30 years; Bob Dixon, UK – EAC Board Executive, former Group Captain RAF and recently retired RIAT Deputy Director Public Affairs will look at how to gain media support before, during and after an Airshow.

1245    Close - EAC Chairman

            Lunch – at delegates own choice of location and expense.

Note that Speakers will be from many nations including Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, Germany, UAE, UK, USA, France, Spain, Italy and Hungary

Over 90 delegates represent 20 nations at the Convention – the largest meeting of the EAC to date.

Every attempt has been made to allow time for questions at the end of each Presentation and all delegates are welcome to join the discussions.