ESTA E1.43 PDF

This document establishes a minimum level of performance parameters for the design, manufacture, use, and maintenance of performer flying systems used in the production of entertainment events. The purpose of this guidance is to achieve the adequate strength, reliability, and safety of these systems to ensure safety of the performer, other production personnel, and audiences under all circumstances associated with performer flying.

Performer flying systems within the scope of this standard include devices and systems supporting people or components to which people are attached, flying or suspended in the air. Situations covered by this standard pertain to any and all locations of the flight path, including over the stage or audience. This document covers the machinery, mechanisms, and mechanical attachments used to support flying persons or ride-on flown props, including attachment to the facility/structural support down to the termination of the lifting medium or the quick-connect hardware, if used. This document also covers the harness or other device that provides direct support for the flying performer whose connection does not ultimately rely on the strength or ability of the flying performer.

The scope of this document excludes the following:

• Systems for flying the general public or for people engaged in non-entertainment flying effects.

• Systems for supporting a performer in a non-overhead suspension manner, such as lifts, elevators, turntables in stages, raked stages, treadmills in stages, or stage wagons.

• Fall protection.

• Any connection that ultimately relies on the strength or ability of the Flying Performer.

• Bungee cord or other comparable high-stretch lifting medium in the load path.

• Flexible medium onto which performers actively engage their bodies, such as strap act webbing, silk act fabric, and natural fiber ropes.

The typical goal of theatrical-style performer flying is to entertain the audience by creating the illusion of flight; this is most often accomplished by adding a harness to the performer to provide a safe means of levitation. The typical goal of acrobatic flying, aerial dance, and some other aerial acts is to entertain the audience by displaying spectacular human feats of strength, agility, form and/or balance; this is often accomplished by skilled performers sometimes without the use of a harness. While these types of live performer flying as described exemplify the wide range of differing traditions and technologies, the governing principles of performer and non-performer safety (risk assessment and risk reduction, operational preparedness, and many other subject matters) are common to all performer flying situations. This document covers the elements that are common to all types of performer flying regardless of the style or type of flying performance.