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 (http://www.ntsb.gov/) on the day of the hearing.
Previous press releases on the Air Race Air Show Safety Hearing
