Fly Crew

A fly crew is a group of people who operate a fly system from its locking rail during a theatrical production. The responsibilities of a fly crew include bringing battens in and out, keeping the fly system linesets in balance, and ensuring that the fly system's rope locks are applied when the associated linesets are not moving. Each member of the crew is called a flyman. Large venues will often have several flymen on their fly crews, as well as a fly captain to manage the crew and plan cues for the fly system.

During a show, predefined cues may require flymen to operate the fly system at high speeds and with great precision. The scenery used in shows can weigh one ton or more and may be flown in at speeds approaching 30 miles per hour and stopped at stage level without hitting the deck. Consequently, the skills of a flyman may take years to master, and flying is often considered an art form in its own right. Loaders are flymen who work high above the stage in the grid, adding or removing counterweights from the fly system arbors.