For what it is worth, this is from the GA Inspector's Handbook, Chapter 50.
Here is the link to the whole document for those who want something to read
at bed time:

http://www.faa.gov/avr/afs/faa/8700/

A. Surveillance Policy. Airshows, fly-ins, and

other gatherings of general aviation aircraft and airmen

are opportunities for the Federal Aviation Administration

(FAA) to present a positive image to the aviation

community with whom we work and the general

public. Many of the aircraft operators attending these

aviation events are regular users of our air traffic and

flight service facilities, but their contact with Flight

Standards personnel may have been rare. Most of the

people who fly their airplanes to fly-in events and

airshows are aviation enthusiasts and hobbyists and are

not employed in the aviation industry as pilots.

(1) The FAA would like this important segment

of airspace users to have a very positive image of

inspectors and the safety activities inspectors perform.

Therefore, the FAA encourages inspectors to establish

early contact with sponsors and organizers of aviation

events so that informational and Aviation Safety

Program activities can be planned to serve attendees.

(2) Under no circumstances should these gatherings

be targeted for a blanket sweep inspection of

spectator airmen and aircraft.



"Andy Durbin" wrote in message
om...
One year at Hobbs, New Mexico, every contestant's parachute was
checked for currency by an FAA inspector. The infamous "ramp check".
Don't know how many he found but he probably had a nice day away from
the office.

NSF, the organizer of contests at Hobbs, now has a rigger available
before most (all?) contests and he does a lot of business.


Andy (GY)