How to improve AIR SHOW SAFETY

[bomarc]

in the wake of the blue angels and snowbird tragedies, how can we improve air show safety?

[old,not bold]

Why do we need to do anything? Both accidents were accidents. Crowd safety was not an issue in either, as far as I can see from Press reports, apart from the threat to safety that follows any aircraft accident, air-show related or not, in which an aircraft comes down somewhere, out of control.

The reasons, according to the reports I have read quickly, are unknown apart from speculation about an engine failure following a bird strike in the F18.

The rules about airshow flying are stringent, work well in terms of public safety, and seem to have done so in these cases.

[Fly380]

Do the same as the Germans. Ban formation aerobatics - but that would be boring.

[old,not bold]

Both accidents appear to have happened while they were flying in formation, but neither, it would seem from the reports so far, was because of that, ie no collison with another formation aircraft was mentioned in any report.

[barit1]

This post, if it proves valid, would indicate the Snowbirds formation flight was not a factor at Malmstrom.

But it's too early to judge.

[ChristiaanJ]

Could we have some statistics, please?
How many airshow spectators have been killed in, say, the last ten years due to the crash of an aircraft during the show?
And how many have been killed in road accidents driving to or from the show?

Flying as a pilot in an aerobatic team, or flying a warbird, always has meant accepting a certain amount of risk. Accidents happen.

Pontificating about "airshow safety" in a forum like this appears particularly futile. The pilots are not suicidal. The public knows the risk is not zero. The organisers do everything they know to make things as safe as possible.

Let it be, unless you REALLY believe you have something valuable to contribute.

[ayrprox]

Ban the planes from flying.
better not say that too loudly the lawyers might take the idea on board

[JW411]

Please God, I beseech you to save us from the tree-huggers and the health and safety fanatics.

[ChristiaanJ]

JW411..... Amen.....
We all remember John Derry... RIP.
We all remember Ramstein.
But maybe priorities lie elsewhere?
Like doing something more effective about DUI?
Or, if you like to stay within aviation subjects, like getting Cameroon to get that FDR analyzed?
Ok, I'll stop before I pass into rant mode....

[barit1]

Make them all fly low and slow!

[ChristiaanJ]

Originally Posted by barit1

Make them all fly low and slow!

Low and slow indeed....
Do I really have to remind you of Habsheim?
Too low... and too slow...

[kemblejet01]

Statistics

To my knowledge (and I stand by to be corrected) the number of members of the public killed at a UK airshow since 1952 = 0.

We had crowd overflight arrivals banned whilst I was in the Reds but I believe they are now allowing it back in (in a controlled manner).

The crowd line distances are sufficient for the debri-hemisphere of a crash to not affect the paying public.

Airshows are more than safe enough if you pay your money and stand behind the barrier.

KMB01