The ICAS Air Boss Recognition Program — the ABRP — is the industry’s credentialing framework, and the FAA recognizes it as qualifying training for LOA issuance. That recognition is not automatic — it’s built on theprogram’s rigor and FAA acceptance of the curriculum.

Walk me through the credential levels. I want to understand how they map to show complexity.

Four operational levels. Basic Air Boss — BAB — covers Basic Air Shows only. That’s this course. Standard AirBoss — SAB — covers Standard Air Shows and below. Recognized Air Boss Single Venue — RAB/SV — is a specific venue authorization. And Recognized Air Boss Multi-Venue — RAB/MV — covers multiple venue authorization. Each level up carries additional demonstrated knowledge requirements and Show Day Credit thresholds.

What about the people who run the program — ABIs and ABEs?

Air Boss Instructors train and mentor candidates. Air Boss Evaluators conduct the Evaluative Conferences —that’s the formal assessment process where LOA recommendations are actually made. I’m an ABE. The reason this distinction matters is that your credential level must match your show complexity. A BAB does not manage a Blue Angels show. That’s not a technicality — it reflects a real gap in credentialed knowledge and experience.

And each level requires an Evaluative Conference, not just a completed course.

Correct. The course satisfies the training requirement. The Evaluative Conference is where an ABE verifies that you can actually apply that knowledge. Both are required.