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AirVenture Safety Procedures

Butch Dodd, EAA Manager, Safety & Security

EAA

May, 2023 – A detailed look at a number of the safety and security procedures to be aware of while volunteering at AirVenture.

— Missing Child —

Procedure:
This procedure has been developed from the model published by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The procedure has been adapted to fit the needs of AirVenture.

Operating Plan:
When a child is first reported missing, the following should take place:

  1. Notify EAA AirVenture Security Dispatch of the missing child.
    1. Dial 920-230-7754 (EAA AirVenture Security Dispatch — 24/7).
    2. EAA AirVenture Security Dispatch will notify all law enforcement on the grounds immediately.
  2. Obtain a detailed description of the child to include:
    1. Physical description, age, height, weight, hair, eye color, and clothing description.
    2. Last location the child was known to have been.
    3. Obtain all pertinent family information.
    4. If this occurs at the Seaplane Base, notify EAA AirVenture Security Dispatch of the need for additional personnel.
  3. EAA AirVenture Security Dispatch will broadcast this information to all EAA AirVenture Security.
  4. EAA AirVenture Security Dispatch will notify all law enforcement entities on the grounds.
  5. EAA AirVenture Security Patrol and Special Operations will assist with the search for the missing child.
  6. When the child is located; remain with the child in the location where the child is found. Do NOT move the child. If the parent(s) are unable to come to the child, the child can be transported to the parent(s) — but ONLY after the parents have been contacted and officially identified as the legal parent(s).
  7. If the child is located, but is with an unknown adult, reasonable efforts are to be made to stop the unknown adult and help the child. If this is not possible without causing danger to the child or others, a description of the unknown adult should be obtained and given to EAA AirVenture Security Dispatch. EAA AirVenture Security staff will monitor the direction of travel of the child and the unknown adult until law enforcement arrives. Contact with the unknown adult will only be made by the appropriate law enforcement agency.

Crisis Management Team:
If the child is not found within 15 minutes of the initial complaint, the director of safety and security is contacted and advised of the situation. If the child is not found within 30 minutes, the vice president of risk management & human resources will be contacted and he/she will brief the vice president of communities & member programming.

— Lost Child —

Procedure:
This procedure has been developed from the model published by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The procedure has been adapted to fit the needs of AirVenture.

Operating Plan:
When a child is found and appears to be lost, the following should take place:

  1. Ask the child if they are lost.
  2. If yes, immediately contact EAA AirVenture Security/law enforcement:
    • EAA AirVenture Security Dispatch — 920-230-7754
    • EAA Security Weekday — 920-420-6956
    • EAA Security Weekend — 920-379-9451
  3. Do not move the child. Stay in the same location where you found the child.
  4. Ask the child if they know where their parent(s)/guardian(s) could be.
  5. Wait in the same location where you found the child, with the child. Do not leave the child until assistance from either EAA AirVenture Security or law enforcement arrives.
  6. If this occurs at the Seaplane Base, the child should be taken to the admissions building at the Seaplane Base.

— Bomb Threat —

Procedure:
Any type of bomb threat should be treated as authentic. Any employee that receives a bomb threat should immediately contact their supervisor, EAA AirVenture Security Dispatch (920-230-7754), and risk management.

Lead Emergency Agencies:
The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office is in charge of the investigation. The sheriff’s office may choose to activate the Incident Command System or handle the incident internally depending on the information they received during the investigation process.

EAA Crisis Management Team:
The EAA Crisis Management Team will review the incident and assist the incident commander of the Sheriff’s Office. It may be necessary for some team members to report directly to the sheriff’s office command post or designated command area. The following team members will assist:

  • Director of Safety and Security:
    Report to the sheriff’s command post to serve as a liaison. Coordinate with security supervisors the proper response.
  • Vice President of Risk Management & Human Resources:
    Report to Convention HQ and be lead EAA person to coordinate EAA concerns.
  • Vice President of Communities & Member Programming:
    Works with President/CEO, along with sheriff’s office or incident commander on content and dissemination of information. Have a “basic” statement prepared to release.
  • Director of Convention Administration:
    Determines what vehicles, volunteers, etc. are available to assist if necessary and place a hold on these resources until the crisis event is over.
  • Director of Facilities and Grounds:
    Determine if staff is available to assist upon request for the sheriff’s office or incident commander. Will also provide equipment (fences, barricades, etc.) if needed.

Operating Plan:
If you receive a threatening phone call:

  1. Stay Calm.
  2. Listen to the caller and keep the caller talking if possible. This may lead to valuable information, such as background noises.
  3. Try to obtain the following:
    1. When will the bomb go off?
    2. Where is the exact location of the bomb?
    3. What does the bomb look like?
    4. What kind of bomb is it?
    5. What will make it explode?
    6. Who placed the bomb?
    7. Name of the caller.
    8. Phone number.
    9. Time of the call.
    10. Nature & details of the threat.
    11. Voice characteristics (gender/anger/slow/soft/loud/slurred/familiar).
  4. Let the caller talk. Do not ask another question until the caller stops talking.
  5. After the caller hangs up, dial 911. The emergency dispatch center will contact the sheriff’s command post on site with the information.
  6. After calling 911, contact the director of safety & security at 920-573-0741 to report the incident.
  7. The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department will dispatch an investigator to talk to the person who took the call.

— Unattended Objects —

Procedure:
Any type of unattended object should be treated as a serious situation. Any employee that finds an unattended object should immediately contact EAA AirVenture Security Dispatch (920-230-7754) and or Dial 911.

Lead Emergency Agencies:
The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office is in charge of the investigation. The sheriff’s office may choose to activate the Incident Command System or handle the incident internally depending on the information they received during the investigation process.

Operating Plan:
Unattended objects may simply be forgotten or discarded items — but it is better to be safe. Therefore, please report any of the following to EAA AirVenture Security:

  1. Unattended bags.
  2. Unattended packages.
  3. Unattended briefcases.
  4. Unattended backpacks.
  5. Any object/item that you believe to be suspicious that is found anywhere on EAA property.

What you should do if you find a suspicious object:

  1. Do NOT touch or move any suspicious objects.
  2. Do NOT use a cell phone or radio in the direct vicinity.
  3. DO notify the appropriate authorities as soon as possible.
  4. If possible, DO keep all individuals a safe distance away from the object.

— Active Shooter —

This procedure has been developed from the model published by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) in reference to responding to an Active Shooter Crisis Situation. The procedure has been adapted to fit the needs of AirVenture. Any employee that sees/hears/knows about an Active Shooter Crisis Situation should immediately call 911.

Emergency Agencies:

The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office is in charge of the investigation. The sheriff’s office may choose to activate the Incident Command System or handle the incident internally depending on the information they received during the investigation process.

Operating Plan:

  1. Do not approach the person.
  2. Get to safety as quickly as possible.
  3. If you cannot evacuate the area, find some place to hide; lock/block doors & silence phones.
  4. Dial 911 immediately and follow their instructions.
  5. Stay as far away as possible until instructed.
  6. Only attempt to incapacitate the shooter if your life is in imminent threat of death or great bodily harm.

— Prohibited Items:
The following is a list of Prohibited Items for all EAA grounds, including the Seaplane Base:

  • Coolers that are larger than 12 inches x18 inches.
  • Beer, wine, liquor, and all other alcoholic beverages. Recreational marijuana (THC/cannabis) is illegal in Wisconsin & is prohibited on all EAA grounds.
  • Firearms, fireworks, and explosives.
  • Laser pointers.
  • Smoking/vaping on all EAA grounds and in all EAA owned/leased buildings.
  • Large table umbrellas.
  • Recording devices other than standard consumer smart phones. No commercial or professional recording devices.
  • Pets (Note: Service animals/dogs are not considered pets. See below for information regarding service animals.) *** See below on dogs at the Seaplane Base. ***
  • Knives over 4” blade length.
  • Bicycles, roller skates, roller blades, skateboards, “Razor” style scooters, hoverboards, golf carts, and other personal mobility devices except as specifically permitted below***.
  • Large backpacks (Oversized).
  • Anything that can be used as, or considered to be, a weapon.
  • Anything that can be considered, by statute, as illegal or contraband.

** Prohibited items, other than firearms and illegal substances will be the responsibility of the individual who brought the item. If the item(s) is left behind, it will be taken to lost and found. If the item is food or beverage, it will be discarded.

** Members camping in EAA’s Seaplane Base camping area may keep large coolers in their camping areas.

*** The following mobility handicapped vehicles are allowed:

  1. One person electric/handicapped convenience vehicles; &,
  2. Segway personal mobility devices, when required because of the individual’s mobility disability and when operated in a safe manner consistent with 28 C.F.R. 36.311(b)(1). Such Segway mobility devices are required to display a special sticker, issued by EAA AirVenture Security personnel. All questions should be referred to EAA AirVenture Security.

Service Animals
EAA follows ADA guidelines regarding service animals. The ADA defines service animals as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. The specific work or task a dog has been trained to provide must be directly related to a person’s disability. Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals according to the ADA. Therefore, emotional support animals are not permitted on any EAA or AirVenture grounds or in any EAA or AirVenture facilities. Service animals must remain on a leash or in a harness and under the control of the owner at all times.

Note: Because the Seaplane Base is NOT considered a part of the flightline, dogs (on a leash & properly monitored), ARE allowed.

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