RIAT - Saturday cancelled

[gareth herts]

Probably worthy of a new thread so that no one misses it but it has been confirmed by people on-site that tomorrow is cancelled.

Sunday should go ahead as long it doesn't lash down in the meantime!

[orionsbelt]

see link

Royal Air Force Charitable Trust Enterprises (http://www.airtattoo.com/airtattoo/Newsroom/news/Newsroom/Air_Tattoo_cancelled_on_Saturday)


AIR TATTOO CANCELLED ON SATURDAY
Due to the unusually heavy rainfall during the past 72 hours, a decision has been made by the organisers of the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire to cancel the airshow on Saturday, July 12.

The cancellation of the airshow on Saturday follows a sustained period of heavy rainfall that has resulted in waterlogged conditions not only in the public car parks but also on the airfield itself. The decision was taken following consultation with the police and other safety services.

Air Tattoo Director Tim Prince said it was the first time the Air Tattoo had ever had to cancel one of its days in its 38-year history.

“It is with great regret that we had to take the decision to cancel the airshow on the Saturday but the safety of the public is paramount.

“When it became clear that we could not guarantee the safety of the many thousands of people who had bought tickets for Saturday, the decision to cancel was straightforward.

“We are aware of the inconvenience our decision will have on the many thousands of people who have bought tickets for the Saturday but the potential risk of there being significant difficulties on the roads, in our car parks on the airbase itself were too high.”

It is anticipated that the show will be held on Sunday but it will be only for holders of tickets valid for Sunday. A decision in respect of this will be announced by 4pm on Saturday.

Please note that Saturday tickets will not be valid for Sunday.

Refund details for tickets bought for Saturday, July 12, can be found on the Royal International Air Tattoo website at Royal Air Force Charitable Trust Enterprises (http://www.airtattoo.com) . For further enquiries contact [email protected]

[nivsy]

Having been at Fairford today I must say the temp' car parking areas that I saw allocated for Sat and Sun look saturated. On the airfield did not notice much standing water on hardstanding but again grassy areas not good.

Once again the UK summer spoils major events - such a shame.

Nivsy (looking forward to EZY jet back to Sunshine.)

[slack jawed yokel]

Total and utter stinking disgrace. Money grabbing organisers hold ticket buyers money for 2 months, tens of thousands in interest. Well done, another balls up brought to you by the health and safety, 'oh i might get muddy shoes' police....whats the problem, black top waterlogged??

Cracking way to celebrate the 90th for the people, lots of P*ssed off families, well done.

[Tyres O'Flaherty]

What about tickets valid for both days ?

Got those :confused:

[B Fraser]

You might just get away with it on Sunday as a ridge of high pressure extends in from the SW. There is a weak occlusion wobbling about on Saturday, hopefully it won't dump any more rain than we have had already.

I'm thinking about emigrating :*

[StopStart]

Total and utter stinking disgrace.

Riiiiiiight. The organisers didn't make this decision lightly and probably didn't fancy the reenactment of the mud of the First Battle of the Somme in the car parks and fields. I suspect they can't win and someone will complain whatever they do.

It was a ballsy move by the organisers - not I believe because of Health and Safety but because they and the police didn't fancy having to dig out 10,000-odd cars from the quagmire on saturday evening.

Still, it gives you something to complain about; if they hadn't scrubbed it you'd be on here on Sunday moaning about how you lost your car in the swamps of fairford.....:ugh:

[Rafair7643]

A lot of folks seem to have forgotten the chaos caused at the Grand Prix a few years back, when everyone got stuck in the car parks.

Just what are organisers supposed to do?

Maybe go ahead and make everyone responsible for getting their own car out? Yeah I can see that working!

Cheers

Stew

[Vulcan 903]

Refunds are subject to an insurance claim I expect, which will take a few weeks to get the cash out of the insurers. If the ticket sales money was held in ESCROW then yes payout would be quick but we don't do that sort of thing.
99% of cars would have got stuck in the fields tomorrow and not sure how the fields will far for Sunday either.

[staplefordheli]

Shame but thats the problem in the Uk. Atlantic fronts!
thousands of cars exiting (or not) sodden car parks and all the mud on the local roads would be a logistical and public safety nightmare (remember Waddo cancelled saturday last year)

Unless you have something like the NEC infrastructure with its hard car parks, you are never going to cope with 140,000 folks and their cars when it rains.
so its off to Birmingham airport next year then!

No seriously, I was going to go Sunday and pay the 45 quid as i couldnt guarantee that . my 8 yr old would not be sick on the weekend etc etc or some other crisis, or that it would not p!!1 down, to take the risk with advance ticket so I would get up at 04-00 and drive down and pay on the gate. Thats off now as its only advance tickets on sunday (if it gos ahead) but there is always Duxford legends this weekend

[staplefordheli]

ah
the Russian transiberian highway picture
Makes the A14 look great

[Faithless]

the show will be held on Sunday but it will be only for holders of tickets valid for Sunday. A decision in respect of this will be announced by 4pm on Saturday.

It's as if Gordon Brown and the Layabout party made the decision :sad:

[NURSE]

a victory for common sense. Unlucky thats what happens sometimes Waddington has had similar problems the last few years. But thats the problem of living in the UK its weather is so variable.
However I do see a bit of irony in that over the last few years the services have concentrated on RIAT IMHO at the expense of regional shows and now the sacred cow has let them down.

[ACARS]

No tickets available for Sunday on ticketmaster. I wonder if they are available on the gate?

I drove for 5hrs with my 5yr old to his first airshow. Found out on the M5 when it appeared on a motorway sign.

Looks like it will be Legoland today.

[Silent Witness]

The logic in the ticket scheme is rather bizarre. If you cant use your Saturday ticket for Sunday, but Sunday is ticket only that gives you a dilemma. Do you go buy your ticket in the high street today, then find out at 16:00 Sunday is off, then wait 8 weeks to get your £100 plus back (in my case, two adults) for two days because you couldnt use your Saturday ticket.

I'd rather give a simple cash donation to our wonderful ex-RAF personnel, and let Mr Prince put his fiasco of an event up his bottom.

[robin]

...Advance tickets only and there is still a chance it won't happen tomorrow

[phil9560]

Do we know if Sundays on or off yet ?

[uk02048]

:sad:Keeping checking out airtattoo.com website. 4PM decision apparantly. Been a bit of rain there today so I think 50/50.

[Grabbers]

Any news yet? Nothing on t'interweb site at 4.10pm

[Hangar_9]

Wheres this decision then :}

I am waiting to make other plans mr Prince :{

[green granite]

It does say on their web site that the decision will be made by 1600 today, it's 1618 and there is nowt on their site other than to say tomorrow is ticket only.

[plans123]

I live not far from FFD and we've only had 2 short light rain showers today, fingers crossed.

[gareth herts]

Can't decide whether no news is good news!!

[Alber Ratman]

Sunday is cancelled - on the BBC website NOW!:E

[andybsei]

I'm 200 miles away with tickets for tomorrow...so much for 4pm decision!
What am i supposed to do Mr Prince?????

[alfaman100]

BBC reporting its cancelled on Sunday too...

Humbug.

[andybsei]

OH C*CK!
:mad:

[BEagle]

Royal Air Force Charitable Trust Enterprises (http://www.airtattoo.com/airtattoo/Newsroom/news/Newsroom/AIR_TATTOO_CANCELLED_SUNDAY)


Th joys of the British summer......

[Alber Ratman]

Get a refund.

The website is showing the state of the parking areas and the airfield grassed areas. There is no way that they will safely take 100,000 people with their cars / trucks. It would be horrendous for the authorities to deal with the recoveries of vehicles. The organizers had not choice and if Joe Spotter complains cos he hasn't been able to see an aeroplane, unlucky, think of others..

The real shame is the damage to the RAFCTE coffers, but public safety does come first.

[Hangar_9]

Royal Air Force Charitable Trust Enterprises (http://www.airtattoo.com/airtattoo/Newsroom/news/Newsroom/AIR_TATTOO_CANCELLED_SUNDAY)

[Mercyman]

just seen on bbc news website sunday cancelled as well

[andybsei]

Cheers Alber Ratman for your concern.....what i actually meant was i would like to know one way or another if it is on or off so i can get on with my weekend!

[Stratofreighter]

Now that both showdays have been called off, is it still possible to attend departure day next Monday?? http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/images/smilies/confused.gif
No word on this in the press release...

[serf]

The 2009 RIAT is to be held at Leuchars, no need for car parks as the public can walk from the train station.

[andrewmcharlton]

Since when is next RIAT at Leuchars ?

Airtattoo website has a list of future dates for Fairford, no mention of Leuchars anywhere I can see.

[microlight AV8R]

:\Serf... I think that can be recorded as a bite :D

Seriously though, what a bloody shame for all concerned :sad:

[StopStart]

A real shame for the charities and all the 1000s of volunteers who've put so much effort into trying to make it all happen.

Top goonery from other posters though, well done.....

Today 16:16
Wheres this decision then

I am waiting to make other plans mr Prince


Can't believe the evil Mr Prince wasted 16 minutes of your valuable time, time that could otherwise have been devoted to curing cancer, discovering cold fusion and folding spacetime all in the comfort of your shed.

Today 16:25
I'm 200 miles away with tickets for tomorrow...so much for 4pm decision!
What am i supposed to do Mr Prince?????


25 mins late.....I can see your concern.
I think your best bet is to stay 200 miles away.
What exactly are you hoping Mr Prince will do? I suppose if you ask nicely he might come over and push you on the swings for a bit....:rolleyes:

Mental.