WASHINGTON – Air shows and air races are sufficiently regulated despite tragedies like the September crash at a Reno race that killed 11 people, the National Transportation Safety Board was told Tuesday.  John McGraw, deputy director of the Federal Aviation Administration for flight standards, told the board that current regulations are enough for overseeing shows and races.  FAA officials review standards after every crash to see if there is some risk that was missed, he said. But the goal is is to make it clearer what standards and requirements are already in place.  "At this point, I'm not aware of any changes — at least any significant or substantive changes — to the policy and guidance we have in place," McGraw said. "If we become aware of a risk that exceeds the boundary of what we think is acceptable, we will make those changes. But not currently."  The FAA, he said, stepped in after the Reno crash and separated the regulation of air shows, where planes simply perform aerobatics, and races, where pilots race up to 700 mph in a closed course.  McGraw said the agency also set up more training for inspectors, for when show operators ask for waivers to customary flight rules. Each plane is inspected and standards such as airspeed and precautions are set for each show, and FAA inspectors can cancel a show for safety.  "Each event is unique," McGraw said.  The NTSB, which investigates crashes and watches over transportation safety, held Tuesday's hearing because of the Sept. 16 Reno crash and the deaths of five performers at other air shows last year.  Eleven people died and about 70 others were badly injured at the Reno race after a souped-up World War II-era fighter crashed in front of VIP boxes and sent shrapnel into the crowd.  The events are popular, but feature risky flying. The $300 million industry attracts 12 million spectators a year at about 300 shows. Nobody died at air shows in 2009 or 2010.  NTSB members are looking in particular at whether planes should fly farther away from spectators and whether flight directors at air shows and races should be regulated.  "Performers are assuming a certain level of risk," said Deborah Hersman, chairman of the NTSB. "But when spectators come to an event, they are coming to be entertained and they don't expect to be in a situation where their lives are at risk."  John Cudahy, president of the International Council of Air Shows, which was organized in 1967, also told the safety board that additional regulations aren't needed.  "Are we regulated enough? I think we are," Cudahy said. "But that is not to say there isn't always room for improvement."  He said the industry developed safety standards after a 1957 crash at a Colorado air show killed 20 spectators.  He also said the standards focus on the space between planes and the audience, the size of space where planes fly, a prohibition against flying toward the audience and rigorous industry evaluation.  "The air-show industry depends on raw space," Cudahy said.  The industry has avoided any spectator deaths at air shows since 1951.  "The data for spectator fatalities is extremely good," said NTSB board member Earl Weener.  The Reno crash was at an air race. A World War II era P-51 Mustang flown by Jimmy Leeward had completed several laps and was in a steep left turn toward the home pylon before the crash.  The plane suddenly banked to the left before banking to the right, and pitching to a steep nose-high attitude before crashing nose-first into the ground at a box-seat area near the grandstand, according to a preliminary NTSB report. The hearing didn't delve into what caused the crash.  Mike Houghton, president of the Reno Air Race Association, said the pylon-race course and the distances from spectators are based on the weight, power and speed of the planes.  Starting 12 years ago, the group started requiring all newcomers to the races to participate in a four-day seminar called "rookie school" to ensure they are familiar with flying the course.  Houghton said a blue-ribbon panel including former NTSB and FAA officials is developing recommendations about how to make the races safer. "We have a continued commitment to safety," Houghton said.  Michael Major, a Reno Air Race Association board member who oversees pilot and aircraft registration, said the finish line for each race is at the same place in relation to the spectator seating, but that race courses are enlarged away from the crowds depending on the aircraft.  "We have adequate space so that the crowd is in the safe area," Major said.  So-called air bosses direct the aircraft during air races and shows like air-traffic controllers. But the FAA doesn't have certification standards for air bosses, which surprised NTSB board members.  Michael Umstead, FAA's national aviation events specialist, said waivers for customary flight standards are provided to air shows, which then hire people to direct planes in flight.  George Cline, president of Air Boss Inc., said these flight directors are typically former air-traffic controllers with a great deal of aviation experience. Cline said there are briefings for pilots before each show to review flying patterns, weather and directions.  "If you can get someone to hire you, you can be an air boss," Cline said. "There is no training in place right now for an air boss."  NTSB board member Robert Sumwalt said "that disturbs me."  Cline said if the FAA worked with the industry to develop certification for air bosses, "that would make air shows safer."
An FAA official says it's unlikely there will be significant changes to air show and air race safety rules following fatal Reno crash.