NEWS

19.09.2008 SECURITY TOP PRIORITY

Never-ending quest to better safety for crowds, pilots, crew

Using state-of-the-art technology, the Red Bull Air Race has been on a tireless quest since its first race in 2003 to improve the safety not only for the pilots but also for spectators and crew members. A team of 32 safety specialists oversee a force that can contain around 600 security officials.

“We’re responsible for race safety,” said Hannes Schwenter, head of Red Bull Air Race security operations who coordinates police, fire, and rescue operations. “We’re always trying to improve security. We learn more each race. Our view is that it’s always best to see the problem before it becomes a problem. We’re doing everything we can to make the race as safe as possible for everyone. We’re constantly looking for ways to improve. We’re always looking for people and ways to help us get better.”

There has never been any serious breach of security or injury to pilots, crew or spectators in the 37 races dating back to 2003 – thanks to the indefatigable efforts of Schwenter and his team. Yet with 150 tonnes of material and a race crew of 350 moving to set up and dismantle race infrastructure at races around the world there is considerable scope for things to go wrong – especially when crowds at some races have reached as high as 1 million.

Sitting in a high-tech, airtight container with its own power supply and satellite-based communications near the race tower in front of dozens of screens showing security cameras, weather information, Schwenter (who is also a senior Austria police official) and his team of police and security experts recruited from police departments around the world have an unrivaled overview of the race course and the crowds with the help of 48 security cameras as well as infrared equipment. They also coordinate water rescue teams and race infrastructure. There is also a mobile medical unit. They are available 24/7 for the crew during the weeks of set up and dismantling if they have any medical emergencies, Schwenter noted.

But Schwenter and his specialists don’t keep their intelligence to themselves. They are in constant communication with the race director, rescue crews and with spectators as well, providing useful information instantly about imminent weather changes or anything else a spectator would need to know. They work hand in hand with local police at all the race venues around the world.

“We all have backgrounds in police work and all speak the same police language even if we come from so many different countries,” he said, noting there are senior specialists on his team from police departments as far and wide as Abu Dhabi to San Francisco. “We work closely with the local police at each race. Last year in London we noticed on the cameras that there were some people in the crowd intentionally brushing up against others. It looked like pickpockets at work so we informed the London police and they arrested the thieves right away before they could cause any more trouble.” On another occasion at another race a security camera detected a contractor trying to pilfer equipment as he loaded into his private car.

Schwenter, who added officials in some race locations have been so impressed by the comprehensive security operation that they want to adapt similar systems of their own for big events such as football matches, said that Red Bull Air Race crowds are for the most part fun-loving reasonable people and there has never been any fan violence.

The rivalries between Britain’s Paul Bonhomme and American Mike Mangold may be intense in the air but they – and their respective fans – are friends on the ground. “Our crowds are friendly people,” said Schwenter. “It’s usually the whole family -- fathers, mothers, children and even the grandparents come out to watch the races. Aside from the pickpockets we’ve spotted, we don’t have any problems with the crowds. But what we do sometimes have a problem with is the weather.”

With summertime thunderstorms that have appeared out of nowhere in a bright blue sky in races such as in Budapest in past years, the Red Bull Air Race security team keeps a close eye on its weather radar equipment and in coordination with the race director can, and has, moved the starting times for Qualifying and Racing forward or back to avoid severe weather – for the benefit of the crowd and pilots.

“Storms can become the biggest security issue in an open-air race like this,” said Schwenter. “The weather is our biggest friend but it can also be our biggest enemy.”

Not only can Schwenter in the control tower see any severe weather as it moves around in the vicinity of a race, he and his staff share their data and up-to-the-minute forecasts with the race director and crowd to give the spectators unprecedented intelligence on weather conditions. They can warn them it’s about to start raining to advise them they can fold up their umbrellas because the rain is about to stop and won’t come back.

“Last year at Budapest we were able to warn the crowd that heavy rain was on the way and they should make their way away from the river area right away,” he said. Less than 15 minutes after the race ended dark clouds rolled in and dumped torrential rain on the by-then vacated area. “These sort of things may sound simple but whenever you have a big crowd they’re so important.”