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FAA Volunteers Organize for World Aerobatic Championships

By Carl Gadd.

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK--July 23--It takes a lot of help to put on a one-time only international event. One of the first to step forward and offer support was the FAA. Thank heavens. With the potential of hundreds of pilots flying in from heaven knows where - it could be chaos without them.

FAA volunteers are contributing their time and resources (including a personal RV) to insure success of the World Aerobatic Championships. The RV, contributed by John Wright of the McAlester Automated Flight Service Station, will be used as a temporary flight service station during the event. Wright and his friends hitch up the RV frequently to provide flight service for air events, most recently Aerospace America. These guys say the long hours and no break for two weeks don't bother them - it's fun being out among the pilots and doing a little PR for the FAA. The added benefit of the RV is a front row seat for the show and a bargain place to sleep and eat at night.

Volunteer staff will be available from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day for weather briefings to contest participants and pilots arriving in their personal aircraft for the event. Flight planning and filing services are provided. Assigned frequency for in-flight monitoring is 122.2.

Handling the requirements for an international event has been keeping the Oklahoma City Flight Standards office busy. Aviation Safety Inspector, Bob Dippi says this is a "big, big event for Oklahoma City" and the tremendous amount of extra work is worth it to insure everything goes smoothly and safely.

The Flight Standards office has been researching regulations, passing on information concerning certification of foreign aircraft and pilots, and approving a multitude of waivers. Their job has been multiplied by 12 for practice sites around the state prior to the competition.

Keeping track of airspace over and around Page are air traffic controllers from the OKC Tower. Normally an uncontrolled field, Page Airport will require restricted airspace for duration of the show.

OKC Air Traffic Control Tower assistant manager for programs, Rusty Smith says the WAC means staffing two facilities (Will Rogers and Page) with the same number of people. Controllers have volunteered to work longer hours, days off and are using comp time to make this event a success for Oklahoma.

Preparations for a temporary control tower meant arranging for the tower structure and necessary communications equipment. The set up work at Page will begin August 1st. Beginning August 1st they will start setting up a working tower. The extra two weeks will be devoted to hooking up power, testing frequency and basically getting the bugs out. Smith promises this will be a temporary tower in name only. It will have a back up generator and the same back up systems as Will Rogers.

Aside from securing a physical "home" these volunteers have been establishing necessary training and certification for the controllers, developing air traffic control procedures for the event and coordinating efforts to establish a temporary flight restricted area within a three-mile radius of the airport to prevent pilots flying into the area where aerobatics are being performed.

Dealing with general aviation pilots flying in and international pilots who may have limited command of English is another challenge. Each competing pilot will be furnished an interpreter. Briefing pilots on two-way communication in the air will insure everyone understands basic key phrases such as "roger" and "cleared to land."

Rusty Smith says he's ecstatic for Oklahoma City to be chosen for the Championships. He believes benefits extend beyond a one-time event. The extra work and hours, the cooperation between all areas from the union to the brass, is bringing FAA employees closer together. That's good for Oklahoma too.

The tower will be staffed from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day.

Oklahoma City is attracting an unprecedented number of competitors, making this the largest WAC in history. Pulling it off takes a lot of help from your friends. Thanks to volunteers from the FAA that job is a whole lot easier.

MEDIA CONTACT:

B. Carl Gadd, DPR Company
405-848-6407-Telephone
405-848-6368-Facsimile
carlgadd@ionet.net

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