QUESTION. Why is it important to relocate airshow practice?

ANSWER. Airshows and air show practices are inherently more dangerous. They involve high speed, Iow altitude, aerobatics maneuvers that significantly reduce recovery time in an emergency, e.g. impact with a bird. Oceana aircraft practice for air shows performed at Oceana and for 20-25 air shows that are performed annually at other bases on the East Coast. These high risk practices also produce extremely loud noise events that are aggravated by sudden onset. Conducting air show practice over the largest city in Virginia is both inappropriate and imprudent, and requires a safety waiver from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).