RIAT - Sunday cancelled.
Purveyor of Egg Liqueur to Lucifer
Royal International Air Tattoo
Another National Disgrace?
Put yourself on a pedestal and what do you expect.
I'm sure that last year there was loads of tarmac we we able to walk on and stands on which to sit. Must have gone green
Well, at least we havethe Olympics to look forward to and be proud of!
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Are some of you folks for real???????????
It's an outdoor event in the United Kingdom for gawds sake.
What do you expect????????
Oh yes, I see, you expect the entire might of the United States and Royal Air Forces, to drop everything they're doing, ship in tons of psp and the necessary personnel to lay it.
Just so you can enjoy an airshow?
Get a grip!
Edit: One more thing for all those talking about "disgrace" and RIAT F*ck-ups..................count yourselves lucky that RIAT has played the fair card and is willing to refund your money. They do not have to!
This from RIAT "terms and conditions";
"The Organisers reserve the right at any time to cancel or postpone RIAT 2008 or to cancel, postpone or vary any event comprising part of RIAT 2008"
"The Ticket Holder will not be entitled to a refund of any entrance fee paid if for any reason outside the Organisers control RIAT 2008 does not take place or is curtailed in any way or postponed or the Ticket Holder is prevented from attending RIAT 2008"
Stew
It's an outdoor event in the United Kingdom for gawds sake.
What do you expect????????
Oh yes, I see, you expect the entire might of the United States and Royal Air Forces, to drop everything they're doing, ship in tons of psp and the necessary personnel to lay it.
Just so you can enjoy an airshow?
Get a grip!
Edit: One more thing for all those talking about "disgrace" and RIAT F*ck-ups..................count yourselves lucky that RIAT has played the fair card and is willing to refund your money. They do not have to!
This from RIAT "terms and conditions";
"The Organisers reserve the right at any time to cancel or postpone RIAT 2008 or to cancel, postpone or vary any event comprising part of RIAT 2008"
"The Ticket Holder will not be entitled to a refund of any entrance fee paid if for any reason outside the Organisers control RIAT 2008 does not take place or is curtailed in any way or postponed or the Ticket Holder is prevented from attending RIAT 2008"
Stew
Last edited by Rafair7643; 12th Jul 2008 at 19:48.
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Rafair 7643 Well said.
Some of the comments here have just astounded me.
are you having a laugh, this is not a small village fete with parking for a few dozen vehicles.
It has never been cancelled before, why would they have a solution to a massive problem that has never occurred before.
What planet are some of you people on. If some of you are so called intelligent offices you embarrass the Royal Air Force.
Just feel sorry for all the people that have put their hearts and soles into trying to organise an event the size of this only to see it washed away by nature.
Some of the comments here have just astounded me.
Contingency car parks
having held this show for some 38 years, would have come up with a solution by now
What planet are some of you people on. If some of you are so called intelligent offices you embarrass the Royal Air Force.
Just feel sorry for all the people that have put their hearts and soles into trying to organise an event the size of this only to see it washed away by nature.
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My only hope is that the loss of income to the Service Charities doesn't curtail the excellent service that they provide.
I better buy some more Raffle Tickets I suppose.
I better buy some more Raffle Tickets I suppose.
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Also from RAFAIR .
So, PSP was in the contingency plan!
Because sh*t happens
Apparently (according to radio) they tried PSP, but the vehicles carrying it could not get into the fields, due to the conditions.
why would they have a solution to a massive problem that has never occurred before
Last edited by goudie; 12th Jul 2008 at 21:27.
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I just feel so sorry for all the Organisers, Participants, Volunteers etc, all their hard work for nothing and THEN to have to put up with all the hassle that is being hurled their way. The only guilty party is the British Weather!!!
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Having looked at the long range forecast for next week,it looks like it is going to be reasonably fine and dry in the south!. Sods law then that the bigger and more important of the two shows had to suffer so badly!. Having been a long term Riat attendee i,ve got used to being "cooked to a cinder" on previous occassions and yet somehow always expected rain at Farnborough,especially when it used to be in Sept. Perhaps now having the two shows planned for consecutive weeks is not the best idea!
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So, PSP was in the contingency plan!
Cheers
Stew
SRENNAPS
Contingency car parks are not that far fetched. How about using hardstandings in the area and having shuttle buses. Knowing far well how bad the UK Met is (Bocastle/Glasto/Floods) you would have thought that there may have been a plan 'c'?? Such a shame that so much effort will result in a huge loss of money for all invloved. I suppose u could call this RIAT's ' Black Swan' event??
Contingency car parks are not that far fetched. How about using hardstandings in the area and having shuttle buses. Knowing far well how bad the UK Met is (Bocastle/Glasto/Floods) you would have thought that there may have been a plan 'c'?? Such a shame that so much effort will result in a huge loss of money for all invloved. I suppose u could call this RIAT's ' Black Swan' event??
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Wet weather plan
At the risk of stating the bleeding obvious, isn't the whole point of contingency planning er, anticipating the worse happening? Were there measures in place and were they inadequate or were no measures in place at all? Taken in context, these arrangements and timely announcements (or, lack of them) and the handling of the decision not to allow tickets on Saturday will only increase the perception that the organisers have got lazy and are out of touch.
The campers and traders anticipate bad weather, and so too, will arrangements for the corporate bigwigs have catered for the possibility of rain. But if something as obvious as car parking for the masses was not even considered, or considered and catered for badly, then its a big shame. Kemble is 20 minutes away, could that not have been considered and a shuttle service used? And look at Silverstone - do organisers not watch the news?
The Fairford farmers get a great deal out this event, year after year. But if they're to continue making a decent turn, they need to be able to play their part too and offer psp or some similar contingency (which might present a cost implication). Dispersing car parking would prevent fouling as would using local hard standings. Its a pity that something as glittering as this fell foul to something as obvious as the British weather, but hey ho - roll on 2009.
The campers and traders anticipate bad weather, and so too, will arrangements for the corporate bigwigs have catered for the possibility of rain. But if something as obvious as car parking for the masses was not even considered, or considered and catered for badly, then its a big shame. Kemble is 20 minutes away, could that not have been considered and a shuttle service used? And look at Silverstone - do organisers not watch the news?
The Fairford farmers get a great deal out this event, year after year. But if they're to continue making a decent turn, they need to be able to play their part too and offer psp or some similar contingency (which might present a cost implication). Dispersing car parking would prevent fouling as would using local hard standings. Its a pity that something as glittering as this fell foul to something as obvious as the British weather, but hey ho - roll on 2009.
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1987 was a tad wet as well but that still went ahead. Flying display was curtailed IIRC but as I couldn't get out of the tent that our Sqn display was in due to the crush of people sheltering from the rain.....
But suppose that was when parking was allowed in site
But suppose that was when parking was allowed in site
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had travelled down from Manchester with a van load of stuff....has sold absolutely zilch and now getting ready to go home!!
Oh Al if only the RIAT organisers had listened to an ex rockape then all of this could have been avoided.
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The problem, as I said on another thread (I think) is that whether you PSP or not, you will still have mud being transferred onto the public road.
Not sure about English Law, but in Scotland that can lead to a charge under the Roads (Scotland) Act against the organisers (in the event of an accident).
Now I have never been down to Fairford, however from what I hear, the road infrastructure is pretty much swamped by RIAT crowds, even in good weather.
Many folks look at RIAT involving staff etc in or on the boundary of the venue. Unfortunately, Policing such an event extends some distance from the venue. With this years deluge (again whether using PSP or not) the delays in exiting from car parks would be compounded.
Such delays are, to the spectator, an embuggerance to say the least. From a Policing standpoint, it becomes a nightmare, and an expensive one. You've suddenly got officers on extended duty and the costs of that will eventually be bourne by the organisers, or if you like, the Charity.
Another point worth considering. At the moment the spectators roll up and park in fields, and I'm sure that they're are plenty of signs advising that they do so "at their own risk". However, the minute you PSP the entire field or part thereof, you can no longer dump the responsibility on the spectator. You (as an organiser) have provided a surface for them to drive/park on and you are liable for any damage which results from the surface you have provided.
Folks, I can understand the frustration you feel..............been there, seen it and bought the T Shirt. There is however, little point in lambasting RIAT or asking for hardstandings etc. Fairford is first and foremost an active base, the surrounding area is not built to cater for 100,000.......but by luck they somehow manage. You can have in place all contingency plans you can think of, and still be caught out.
As I said before, just be thankful that RIAT are not holding you all to the conditions of sale..............they're giving you all a refund, rather than sitting back and pointing at the small print.
Cheers
Stew
btw I'm not military - ex RAF/VR and as you might have guessed a retired cop, who spent a lot of time standing in the p*ssing rain at such events!
Not sure about English Law, but in Scotland that can lead to a charge under the Roads (Scotland) Act against the organisers (in the event of an accident).
Now I have never been down to Fairford, however from what I hear, the road infrastructure is pretty much swamped by RIAT crowds, even in good weather.
Many folks look at RIAT involving staff etc in or on the boundary of the venue. Unfortunately, Policing such an event extends some distance from the venue. With this years deluge (again whether using PSP or not) the delays in exiting from car parks would be compounded.
Such delays are, to the spectator, an embuggerance to say the least. From a Policing standpoint, it becomes a nightmare, and an expensive one. You've suddenly got officers on extended duty and the costs of that will eventually be bourne by the organisers, or if you like, the Charity.
Another point worth considering. At the moment the spectators roll up and park in fields, and I'm sure that they're are plenty of signs advising that they do so "at their own risk". However, the minute you PSP the entire field or part thereof, you can no longer dump the responsibility on the spectator. You (as an organiser) have provided a surface for them to drive/park on and you are liable for any damage which results from the surface you have provided.
Folks, I can understand the frustration you feel..............been there, seen it and bought the T Shirt. There is however, little point in lambasting RIAT or asking for hardstandings etc. Fairford is first and foremost an active base, the surrounding area is not built to cater for 100,000.......but by luck they somehow manage. You can have in place all contingency plans you can think of, and still be caught out.
As I said before, just be thankful that RIAT are not holding you all to the conditions of sale..............they're giving you all a refund, rather than sitting back and pointing at the small print.
Cheers
Stew
btw I'm not military - ex RAF/VR and as you might have guessed a retired cop, who spent a lot of time standing in the p*ssing rain at such events!