Performer Flying Systems: Safety Requirements, Professional Standards, and Risk Management
Performer flying represents the highest-stakes rigging operation in the performing arts. The consequences of a failure are catastrophic and have resulted in documented deaths and severe injuries. The professional and regulatory community has responded with a specific standard, ANSI E1.43-2025, and an unambiguous professional norm: only trained specialists should design, install, and operate performer flying systems. This article explains why that standard exists and what every technician needs to know about it.
The Governing Standard: ANSI E1.43-2025
ANSI E1.43-2025, Entertainment Technology: Performer Flying Systems, is the primary American National Standard for systems used to fly performers in theatrical productions. Published by the Entertainment Services and Technology Association (ESTA), the standard establishes requirements for system design, installation, testing, and operation.
Key requirements of ANSI E1.43-2025 include design factors of 10:1 or greater for life-safety performer flying applications (meaning the system is designed to withstand 10 times the maximum intended load before failure), redundant braking and backup systems, specific requirements for performer harness attachment and inspection, and operator training requirements.
Why Performer Flying Requires Specialists
Performer flying differs from scenery rigging in ways that make it uniquely hazardous for generalist riggers:
- Dynamic loading: a flying performer generates dynamic loads that are fundamentally different from static scenic loads. The forces during acceleration, deceleration, and swing are complex and must be calculated by engineers experienced in dynamic loading.
- Anatomy and harness: the human body has specific vulnerabilities under arrest and suspension forces. Harness fit must be precisely matched to each performer’s body dimensions. Improper fit can cause injuries independent of any system failure.
- Performer behavior: performers are not inert loads. They may panic, move unexpectedly, or signal distress in ways a rigger must recognize and respond to.
- Rescue procedures: extracting an injured or distressed performer from a mid-air suspension requires specifically planned and rehearsed procedures.
- Medical considerations: not all performers are medically appropriate candidates for flying. Pre-flight medical evaluation by a qualified professional is part of the risk management process.
Professional Performer Flying Companies
The established practice in professional theater is to engage a specialist performer flying company for any production involving performer flying. These companies provide system design and engineering, custom rigging installation specific to the venue and production, specially designed and maintained performer harnesses, trained operators who work exclusively with the specific production’s flying system, rehearsal supervision, and emergency rescue planning.
When engaging a performer flying company, productions should verify: the company’s experience with similar flying effects, their insurance coverage, their compliance with ANSI E1.43-2025, the qualifications of their operators, and their emergency rescue procedures. References from prior productions should be checked.
System Design Requirements
ANSI E1.43-2025 requires that performer flying systems be designed with safety factors of at least 10:1 for the life-safety components (the lines and hardware that directly support the performer). This is significantly higher than the 5:1 or 8:1 factors required for scenic rigging because the consequence of failure is certain severe injury or death.
Redundant braking is required: at least two independent braking mechanisms must be capable of holding the performer in position if one fails. Backup systems must be in place to maintain the performer safely if a primary system component fails during a flight sequence.
Performer Harness
The performer’s harness is the interface between the flying system and the human body. Key considerations:
- The harness must be selected by a person trained in performer flying harness selection, not by the performer or the general rigger.
- Each harness must be individually fitted to each performer. Costume modifications to accommodate the harness must be part of the costume design process from the beginning.
- Harnesses must be inspected before each use by the flying operator.
- A harness that has been involved in any load event beyond normal performance must be retired.
- Attachment points on the harness must be specified by the harness manufacturer and flying company. Improvised attachment points are not acceptable.
Rehearsal Protocols
First flights in any performer flying system must proceed through a carefully structured escalation:
- Initial slow-speed, low-height familiarization with performer on safety ground line.
- Progressive increase in height and speed as performer comfort and operator confidence are established.
- Full-sequence rehearsal at reduced speed before any full-speed performance flight.
- Technical rehearsal at performance speed only after all other stages are complete.
- Continuous communication between director, flying operator, and performer throughout.
Emergency Procedures
Every performer flying system must have written emergency procedures that address: performer in distress during a flight sequence, inability to complete a flight sequence due to equipment malfunction, and performer stuck at height. These procedures must be rehearsed before performances begin. All crew who are in the vicinity during performance must know the emergency stop protocol and their specific role in a rescue response.
OSHA Considerations
OSHA does not have a standard specifically for performer flying. The General Duty Clause (Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act) applies: the employer must furnish employment free from recognized hazards. In a multi-employer construction environment (a production is constructed in a venue by the production’s team using the venue’s facilities), each employer bears responsibility for hazards they create or control. The flying company, as the entity that creates and controls the flying hazard, bears primary responsibility for the safety of the flying system.
Key Takeaways
- ANSI E1.43-2025 is the governing standard for performer flying systems. Design factors of 10:1 apply to life-safety components.
- Only trained performer flying specialists should design, install, and operate performer flying systems.
- Performer harnesses must be individually fitted by trained personnel. Improvised attachments are never acceptable.
- Rehearsal must proceed through a structured escalation from slow/low to full performance speed.
- Written emergency procedures must be in place and rehearsed before any performance.
- The General Duty Clause applies. Flying companies bear primary responsibility for the systems they provide.
References
Entertainment Services and Technology Association. (2025). ANSI E1.43-2025: Entertainment technology: Performer flying systems. ESTA. https://tsp.esta.org
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (n.d.). General Duty Clause. OSH Act Section 5(a)(1). U.S. Department of Labor.
Entertainment Services and Technology Association. (2019). ANSI E1.6-1-2019: Entertainment technology: Powered hoist systems. ESTA.
Entertainment Technician Certification Program. (n.d.). ETCP rigging certification. https://etcp.esta.org