The National Transportation Safety Board's (NTSB) Air Race and Air Show Safety Hearing took place today January 10, 2012. The hearing was held at the NTSB Conference Center and Board Room in Washington, DC.
According to the NTSB, 15 witnesses provided the Board and the public insight into current safety regulations, the protocols and practices utilized for planning, and the specifics of air show and air race operations. Following the presentations by each panel, the witnesses were questioned by the NTSB's five Member Board.
Earlier in the day, the NTSB tweeted:
"In response to NTSB's Chairman's question, FAA states, current rules for air race and air shows are stringent enough."
In 2011, there were six air show accidents in the United States, including the infamous Reno Air Races crash that killed 11 people including the pilot and injured about 70 others.