A multi-engine, instrument rated pilot, James Wynbrandt has been an AIN and Business Jet Traveler contributor since 2003. His in-depth reporting and insightful features have won more than a dozen editorial honors, including two National Business Aviation Association Gold Wing Awards (2019; 2021), and his articles have also appeared in the New York Times, Barron’s, Fortune, Forbes, and Smithsonian Air &amp; Space. He has flown his Mooney M20K 252 on assignments throughout North and Central America and the Caribbean. Wynbrandt is also the author of Flying High (Wiley &amp; Sons), a biography of Jet Blue founder David Neeleman, as well as histories, references works, and books on a variety of other topics from major publishers. He lives in New York City.

Contributor - Business Aviation

James Wynbrandt

“Safety first”: That’s the credo behind the daily flying display here at the Dubai Air Show, where some of the world’s greatest pilots are pushing their high-performance military aircraft to the limit right before visitors’ eyes. The focus on safety is on full display at the daily briefing that all pilots, crews and coordinators attend.
The briefing conducted on Saturday before the flying display’s final practice session illustrated the care and caution that go into what can look like death-defying performances. With 16 separate flight displays scheduled for the daily show, some involving multiple aircraft, close to 100 pilots, support crewmembers and airshow coordinators filled the briefing room in the shadow of the airshow control tower.
All participants had submitted their planned flight routines, which were reviewed and approved by the show Flying Control Committee headed by Brig. Gen. Khaled Bahussain,&nbsp;FCC Dubai Air Show 2011 chairman Brig. Gen. Khaled Bahussain. The pilots and crews had already studied the flight rules, flight display airspace, emergency procedures and other show details.
A meteorologist provided a picture of recent, current and expected weather conditions, using multiple satellite images and charts projected on the briefing room screen, enabling pilots to account for winds, visibility, cloud heights and other meteorological factors. Using aerial photos and charts, the briefing coordinator then reviewed the flight display area, radio frequencies to use, emergency procedures and flight limitations: No maneuvers initiated below 300 feet; recovery from vertical maneuvers by 60 feet above the ground; and the speed limit of Mach 0.90.
After a final admonition to fly safely and observe all rules the briefing ended, and flight crews left to prepare for a thrilling–and safe–aerial display.

Air Display Pilots' Briefing Makes Safety Paramount 

“Safety first” is the credo behind the daily flying display here at the Dubai Air Show.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Dubai Airshow 2011

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN