Fly crew
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A fly crew operates a fly rail during a theatrical production. The crews responsibilities are bringing battens in and out. They also are generally responsible for keeping the fly system in balance.
[edit] Safety
The job is often dangerous and carries a high risk because of the large amounts of weight expected to be moved quickly. A run-away line can be very dangerous, hurting the operator and anyone in the way of the moving equipment. When the Fly crew adds or removes counterweights, they are often working at heights of 6 stories or more in a fly loft. Because of this harnesses are sometimes used to protect fly crew member.
[edit] History
Historically, off-duty sailors were used as fly crews in theaters because they had a good understanding of knots and ropes from experience with sails. They communicated with high-pitched whistles. Because of this whistling was not allowed in theaters in case it was interpreted as a flyrail command. It is still considered 'bad luck' to whistle in a theater.
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