CC SR 20200317 03 - Air Show Proposal
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 03/17/2020
AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Regular Business
AGENDA DESCRIPTION:
Consideration and possible action to review a report regarding the addition of an air
show event to the City’s Fourth of July event
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
(1) Provide direction to Staff regarding the proposed addition of an air show event to
the City’s Fourth of July event.
FISCAL IMPACT: None at this time.
Amount Budgeted: N/A
Additional Appropriation: N/A
Account Number(s): N/A
ORIGINATED BY: Matt Waters, Senior Administrative Analyst, Recreation and Parks
REVIEWED BY: Cory Linder, Director of Recreation and Parks
APPROVED BY: Ara Mihranian, AICP, City Manager
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION:
In December 2019, Mr. John Linder asked the City Council about the possibility of
hosting an air show event in the City of Rancho Palos Verdes. The Council directed
Staff to research this suggestion as a potential supplement to the City’s existing Fourth
of July event.
Staff subsequently contacted Dennis Lord, Chairman of the Aviation Commission for the
County of Los Angeles, to discuss this possibility. Mr. Lord has managed multiple air
shows throughout California and is familiar with Rancho Palos Verdes and the Palos
Verdes Peninsula. Mr. Lord detailed two typical scenarios for aerial events: air shows
and flyovers.
Air Shows
The cost and complexity of an air show varies substantially based on the number and
type of aircraft involved, the extent of acrobatic maneuvers, and the location of the
aircraft in relation to event attendees. Air shows require additional personnel with
specific credentials to manage airspace supported by additional resources such as
1
radar services. Waivers from Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations are
often required. An experienced aerial coordinator would work with the City to develop a
comprehensive plan, which would be submitted to the FAA for review and potential
approval. Depending on the proposed activities and location of the air show, waivers of
existing FAA regulations and restrictions may be required.
An approved aerobatic practice area is located off the coast near Point Vicente,
although FAA regulations for operating in that area do not permit aerobatics under 1500
feet. Lowering that aerobatics floor would require an FAA waiver , which would increase
the costs. This is a higher level than most air show aerobatics, but Mr. Lord opined that
maneuvers could be performed above 1500 feet and still be visible from the coastline.
Flyovers
Flyovers are simpler to coordinate and less expensive than an air show. Coordination
with airspace control may or may not be required based on the location of the event and
the affected air space. Similar to the air show process, a plan would need to be
developed by an aerial coordinator and submitted to the FAA for review a nd approval.
Flyovers of City Hall/Point Vicente Park could occur with a minimum altitude of 1 ,000
feet above ground level (AGL) higher than the highest point within 2,000 feet
horizontally. Mr. Lord stated that those flyovers could be combined with offshore
aerobatics. Other options could include flag banner tows, formation overflights and
parachute jumps, which are often scheduled to coincide with performances of the
national anthem.
Mr. Lord did not recommend a full air show due to significant challenges with ingress
and egress concerns, limited parking availability and potential impacts on
neighborhoods. The Fourth of July event, which draws approximately 2,500 to 3,000
people, already requires substantial parking at City Hall, as well as several shuttle stops
and overflow parking at the Point Vicente Interpretive Center. The addition of an air
show, even a modestly-sized one, would present severe logistical challenges and would
likely require additional Sheriff’s Department personnel to handle security and traffic
issues. Logistical impacts and challenges would be similar at Whale of a Day, the City’s
other large special event.
Mr. Lord estimated that a flyover could cost between $8,000 to $15,000 depending on
the type of aircraft. Military aircraft may be available at no cost. Sponsorship possibilities
can also be explored to defray the City’s costs. The Fourth of July event’s patriotic
theme would fit with a well-timed flyover. A flyover would not be an additional event, but
a supplemental “added attraction.” Static aircraft could also be on display at the event
for the public’s education and enjoyment.
Insurance
Mr. Lord cautioned that liability and obtaining sufficient insurance coverage are
significant concerns that often become deal breakers for air shows and flyovers. Staff
reached out to the City’s insurer, the California Joint Powers Insurance Authority
2
(CJPIA), to discuss coverage. CJPIA’s recommendation was not to have an air show
due to the high level of exposure, emphasizing that while air shows and flyovers often
occur without crashes, when accidents do take place , the results are often catastrophic,
involving loss of life and serious injuries. CJPIA recommended a minimum of $30 million
of aircraft liability coverage, but still cautioned that if losses exceeded that amount the
City would be responsible. CJPIA referenced the 2011 Reno air show disaster, which
resulted in 11 deaths, almost 70 injuries and numerous lawsuits. CJPIA also noted that
it does not provide coverage for flyovers. In addition to insurance coverage and FAA
waivers and permits, due diligence would require the City to obtain aircraft maintenance
records, pilot training records and the age of all aircraft involved in the flyover or air
show.
CONCLUSION:
Due to the logistical impact on an already well-attended event such as the Fourth of July
and the insurance concerns detailed above, Staff does not recommend an air show. If
the City does want to include an airspace element at a future Fourth of July event, a
contract with a vendor to provide a modest, patriotic flyover in conjunction with a static
display of aircraft at the City’s helipad would be a preferred approach. The potential
fiscal impact of a typical flyover could cost between $8,000 and $15,000 depending on
the type of aircraft. Expenses for additional staff and Sheriff’s services are unknown
until an event is detail defined. These additional expenses are not currently included in
the Department’s budget.
3