PFA Rallies of old
 

I have a great affection for the ‘Old’ PFA Rallies, there again I can see how they grew financially to an overwhelming cost / liability for the PFA /LAA. This was also before we became so aware of liability issues and the ambulance chasers. Perhaps it’s better to allow an organisation that operates an airfield full time, as well as putting on other events, to run the rally and for the LAA to add their name to the event.

One of the early rallies I attended at Cranfield as a volunteer I just showed up by air on the Tuesday before the rally and offered my services to anyone needing unskilled labour. I didn't realise you were supposed to register / book with the organising committee, but I was allocated to the team putting up fencing and spent a pleasant few days with like minded folks. We camped on the field and when the work was finished took any kids (can’t remember who they were) who were also helping in the rig-up flying until dark. Just before the rally on the following year I received a letter saying that as I had worked as a volunteer previously, I was not required this year. I guess places in the rally crew were much sought after.

I seem to recall that the largest number of aircraft arrivals over the weekend was just shy of two thousand. As mentioned above, that probably needed a very specialist form of ATC, rather than a FISO / Follow the AIC approach. I vaguely remember being about fifth in line when on short final, with no doubt more following and an equal string of aircraft in parallel for the grass runway. Also being invited to “WK land long…….......... OK, that will do. Thanks” to help spacing behind.

The rumour about the demise of the ‘Old’ rally was that after a particularly financially disastrous event at Kemble there was a feeling that the rally could bring the whole organisation down. One story was that the external security firm hired for the event had one of their pick up trucks stolen and billed the PFA for it. If this was true, it could well have been the metaphorical last straw.

Hope to see lots of folks at the Rally this year.

I've been to a few of the Rallies over the years but since it moved to Sywell it does seem to have lost something.

Lots of aircraft and very busy, but it's beginning to feel a bit inward-looking.

Personally I prefer the buzz of AeroExpo, so I won't be doing the Rally as well - doing the Pitsford Reservoir join is a once a year job for me....!

I hope the PFA told them to get lost, if it was a security firm surely they are responsible for ensuring things like that do not happen!

Surely it would have been insured to cover theft........??

Perhaps worth remembering that an airfield is not a public road and so brings all sorts of additional liabilities not covered by 'ordinary' motor insurance. By itself this can be a significant extra cost if only because you are now in the territory well out of the mainstream market.

Yes I loved the old Cranfield events, Wroughton was not nice and Kemble was OK. Sywell I can take or leave. It is good to see there still is a rally but it really should not represent a threat to the organisation. But equally the LAA have curtailed a number of things which were a real 'feed stock' on the basis of risk aversion- anyone remember Young Eagles?

Love flying to this event every year.

I think one of the problems is the event is held later in the year than the old PFA rally,s and therefore is more affected by weather.

Yes the Slot system can be a bit of a pain.
Currently set at 2 aircraft a minute i think they could increase this to 3 a minute..Without any real impacts.

Some pilots seem to get to worried about missing their slots, as the website says if your running late don,t worry it just means you may need to spend extra time in the Pitsford Hold.

if your running late don,t worry it just means you may need to spend extra time in the Pitsford Hold.

If only people would hold at Pitsford.:) Every year we get LAA Rally aircraft going straight in with no regard for the published procedure. They just don't seem to realise how selfish they are

Andy H

Totally agree Andy,
Last year arrived late on Saturday due wx.
Went round Pitsford and saw not a single aircraft, then on base lag they all appeared - straight in approach over Northampton.
Also didn`t help that aircraft going for the grass were doing 90kts on final (I can only do 65kts).
Perhaps a speed suggestion of 60kts or below for grass, faster aircraft take tarmac.


J.J.

MM, I agree about the speed suggestion. Couple of years ago I was on final for the grass at my usual 55mph when I was undertaken by a VANS. Scary:rolleyes:

Went into the Sywell rally only once. Had to go round twice because of blatant poor airmanship by joiners who hadn't read the NOTAM or the Pitsford joining procedure.
Never again.

Yes, there are a few numpties who either don't read the AIC, or who do, and choose to ignore it.

However, I'd say that the majority do stick to it reasonably well, and as a system goes, it's not complicated and it seems to work pretty well.

If the CAA's GA unit can find time to measure registration marks at Cranfield shirley they could be on hand for coffee no biscuit chats with said poor airmanship airmen.

I say airmen deliberately as I've never come across women pilots flying other than exemplarily.

SGC