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Air boss controls the skies at Southern Wisconsin AirFest

Photo

Photo by Dan Lassiter

Air Boss David Schultz applauds an act during Air Show rehearsals at Southern Wisconsin Regional Airport on Friday.

JANESVILLE — Standing on his air-traffic control tower in aviator shades, David Schultz looks like the man as he directs aircraft at Southern Wisconsin AirFest.

He is the Big Kahuna, the CEO, the El Presidente when it comes to all things AirFest.

His official title: air boss.

“Everything from the standpoint of operations is cleared through me,” the air boss said. “It’s really a necessity to have a good safe air show that’s running on time.”

Schultz is in charge of his Pennsylvania-based company, David Schultz Airshows. He handles air-traffic control and ground control for about 30 shows a year.

His job is to brief AirFest performance pilots, manage takeoffs and landings and monitor ground movement along taxiways or hangars.

It’s his name on the papers for Federal Aviation Administration waivers and flight restrictions to put on AirFest. It’s Schultz who coordinates with the U.S. Department of Defense.

He’s in charge of the air space.

“Ultimately, that responsibility has to ride with someone, and that someone is me,” Schultz said.

Southern Wisconsin Regional Airport’s air-traffic controllers are on standby to be used only in an emergency.

Schultz travels with his own mobile tower. It has communications systems and weather radar.

“We have communication ability with every person in the air, and I communicate with everyone on the ground, too,” he said. “We use a lot of frequencies.”

Holding the title of air boss is rare.

About four or five air bosses in the International Council of Air Shows do a dozen or more shows a year, Schultz said.

Air bosses have help.

Eric Miller, Schultz’s employee, handles ground operations. He said his job is to control all display or performance aircraft not in the air.

He also monitors fuel and oil requirements.

“I make sure everything runs safely, smoothly and on time,” Miller said.

Justina Anuszewski, another Schultz employee, coordinates everything for the U.S. Navy Blue Angels.

She makes sure the Blue Angels pilots have the support equipment, tow bars and liquid oxygen they need for their jets.

“The Blue Angels are actually surprisingly easy to work with,” Anuszewski said.

AirFest should run without a hitch, but managing the show is a big job, Schultz said.

“Some people like to use the words controlled chaos,” Schultz said. “I don’t like to use the word chaos when it comes to metal flying through the air.”