The Long and Lomcevaking Road

(I'll expand on each of these items with future entries.  Each one could be a novel on its own.  I wanted to at least give a broad overview of what I am working towards.) 

To be an airshow pilot you need to have a slew of experience, credentials, and dedication.  I am currently working on all three.

The experience is usually gained through competing in contests sanctioned by the International Aerobatic Club (www.iac.org).  There are different levels of competition ranging from basic routines in the primary category to the unlimited category which can induce a headache just looking at it on paper.  Moving up through the categories is something that many airshow performers spend several years doing and is exactly where I am.

The credentials needed to fly the airshows are given by the airshow industry itself.  The International Council of Airshows (www.airshows.aero) developed a program with the FAA by which it determines a performers ability to fly aerobatics in front of crowds safely.  ICAS will grant low level waivers which allow a performer to do acro below the normal legal limit of 1,500 feet above the ground.  It is a graduated process in that the first waiver you get moves you down a certain increment, the next goes lower and so on.  In all, it will take me an absolute minimum four years to go from the first waiver to the last “unlimited low level waiver.”  That is if I even want to go that low.  We’ll see.  Once you are at this level there is a whole new world of sponsorships, marketing, branding and "we'll find outs" to consider.  For now, I am just focusing on getting to the point where a waiver is obtainable.  

The last item is dedication.  To be honest this is my favorite topic to research and the toughest one to nail down.  You will never have everything you want.  You always have to give up something in order to get something.  Is it worth it?  How much am I willing to give up in order to get to the airshows?  I could let loose with an anectodal tidal wave of inspirational quotes and passages I’ve found…but I wont (you’re welcome.)  Instead I’ll just say that I’m always redefining what that word means.  Just when I think I understand it someone comes along and shows me that no, you can push yourself harder.