Pre-performance checks — how early before show time should these berunning?

Early enough that any failure has time to be resolved. Start with radiofrequency integrity: transmit on every frequency and get anacknowledgment back. Not just the primary — every discrete frequencyon your list. If a frequency has interference or a performer can’t reachyou, you find that out now.

Narrator frequency check is the one that gets skipped. I’ve had narratorson my frequency without knowing it until they stepped on a call.

That’s why the narrator check is explicit — confirm they are on the correctfrequency and confirm they are not on the Air Boss frequency. Thenestablish contact with the IIC on the emergency net, and confirm ATCknows the TFR and Certificate of Waiver window is active.

Site checks — what’s the standard before any act is authorized?

Crowd line marked and clear, crowd behind the line. Emergency vehiclesin their pre-briefed staging positions. Emergency access routesunobstructed. IIC in position and confirmed on-net. And the FDApositively confirmed clear before you authorize any act to enter theaerobatic box. Positively confirmed — not assumed clear because nothinglooks wrong.

Aircraft accountability is the piece that can get rushed on a busy showmorning.

You account for every Participating Aircraft before any performancebegins. Know where each one is — airborne, holding, or on the ground. If aperformer has an ACE endorsement requirement or a special qualification,verify it is confirmed before that act enters the schedule. Airbornepyrotechnics specifically: ACE endorsement verified before you authorizethat act, not during the show.