RIAT sunday night gate closure

[kc101nivek]

Hi

enjoyed Sundays show, however I do have 1 minor gripe.

Flying roughly finished just after 6.00pm, yet they wanted to close the airfield at 7.30, well for them that went for one day and sitting on the fence line all day doesn't give them much chance to visit the static, I appreciate its a long day for everyone but in my opinion 7.30 is a little early, also as for traffic, isn't it even better for there to be a later airfield closure leaving more time for people to leave?
We left the car park at 7.30 and the A417 to the air ballon was solid for a few miles.

I don't want to moan as the show was really well organised as usual, but was disappointed in the above.

cheers

KC

[Nighthawke]

I take your point from the view of a member of the paying public. However just put yourself in the shoes of the organisers and helpers i.e. the ones who, once those gates close, then have to clear up. If you've ever been in that position you'll know what I mean - if not then take it from someone who has that you really don't want to be litter picking etc etc until 10-11 pm.

[Richard B]

3 hours to get every one in and 1hour & half to get all out.
stupid thinking, years ago you could walk the static past 8pm.
just need a fresh lot of litter pickers to start at 6 end at 10 a 4 hour shift.

[seven]

It was never a problem up until a few years ago. Suddenly the Balloon launches no longer happened, the concert ceased, the music wars between the Dutch, Belgians, US and Brazilians faded into the history books.. This year i must admit was the least punter-friendly RIAT i have been to. However i still wouldn't call it a bad one.

7

[DanO1978]

One of the great things about RIAT, pre-2008, was the way they actively encouraged you to take your time, going so far as to put on the excellent concerts and the aforementioned balloon releases.

Have the balloons been back post-show since Foot and Mouth, which I believe was the original reason they stopped? The concert died around 2009/10 I think.

People need an incentive to stick around, otherwise that stampede for the car parks means trouble.

And yes, the A417 to the Air Balloon pub was bedlam last night - it was the merge to a single lane at the Birdlip roundabout, which so many poor drivers seemed unable to manage.

Dare one say that too many of the volunteers wanted a quick clearance of the showground to get themselves across to the hangar party...

[Mike]

This one floated past Kempsford on the Saturday evening in 2007, I've been wearing Sloggi underwear ever since.

Dan, the last foot & mouth outbreak in the UK was in August 2007, so your theory could be correct.

[RJ79]

From the volunteer side, 7.30pm is plenty enough! On a serious note on the trade and exhibition side we were up at 4am and on the field for 5am. Saturday we were on the field until 8.30pm and last night until 9.30 (having dismantled 2 spitfires and 1 hurricane!)

Although we're somewhat of an extreme in when we have to come in, you can only do so much in the day. Also if you shut the showground later then traders can't leave until later and you're not a million miles off working 24 hour days (for nothing!)

I thought the 7.30 worked pretty well. There seemed to be plenty of people milling around and gradually drifting off and the photography opportunities seemed to be pretty good still. There is also a good two and a half hours before the show too and whilst the place is filling up there are plenty of opportunities then too.

Glad you enjoyed the show and thought it went well, it was one of the smoother ones from our side too!

[bizfreeq]

Whilst I agree it does make a long day for traders etc, I have to disagree to a point. In previous years I have been on the 'show ground' until 8.30 before being asked politely to leave and most of the traders have packed up, not remained open, by 7pm. I like to watch and photograph the display from the crowd line without heads in the way so get there early and grab a space, if I did as suggested and did the static in the 2 1/2 hours from gates open until flying display starts I would be miles away from the crowd line. I think it is quite shortsighted to put this restriction in place and even more so having hoardes of squaddies going around harrying people to leave, some of which were quite rude and abrupt. We are civilians not military personnel and some of them could have done well to bear that in mind.
This apart I have to say it was one of the most enjoyable RIATs I have done and I would like to congratulate all at DBH and their volunteers for all their hard work. Please though rethink the curfew.

[POL]

Is it worth point out out that a lot of the stalls, stands and displays were still being taken apart yesterday afternoon..?

[sjnovis]

With the show ground opening at 7:30 and flying starting at 10:00, there's a couple of hours for walking the static park, and one and a half hours after the flying for more walking about, seems adequate to me.

There are also police and other services in the surrounding countryside that are essential to RIAT, who I am sure would not like to be trying to direct traffic after dark.

[Andy_99]

I was in the queue to get in on Sunday at 07:00 took 2 a bit hours wandering the static's & managed a place on the crowd line.

Left the crowdline as the last act took off & watched it whilst walking back to the Car, Left the Car-Park at about 6:50 & no major issues with traffic.
7:30pm close I think is plenty late enough, don't forget some of the static aircraft will need to have been moved ready for departure, can't do that with the public in the place & not easy in the dark with all of the stands etc in the way.

Maybe next year they could have a later opening on Saturday for those that want to stay on to photograph the static line.

[bizfreeq]

I forgot to point out in my post that I was there on Saturday, not Sunday, and the closure time was the same.

[acw367]

Two things have changed on the volunteer side, as was explained to me. Both regulatory and outwith RIAT control. The first is the council ban on showground movement of vehicles in the public crowds unless escorted by a walking cordon. So until you leave the traders can't move. Health and safety and insurance concerns sighted as the reason by the council. The second is European working time directive which gives that RIAT staff including the volunteers need 11 hours from leaving work to starting again. Hence leaving at 1930 for an 0700 next morning gives that 11 hours flex now required under European law.

[napalm42]

I should have guessed -- `ealth n safety Bollocks ruin something else
I am sick to death of H&S being given as an excuse for everything.
Drop a bomb on the lot of them,and lets get back to `How it was`

P.S --- I know that will never happen !!

[peasus911]

Well said last post....
would it then not be an idea to have different staff operating on Saturday than on Sunday. That way the ones who are in on Sat can get their break in and be ok for the Monday shift. don't know what the numbers of volunteers are but would guess that there are plenty who would make themselves available. if not, RIAT could canvas help earlier in the year. Seems a bit lame to hide behind the "H&S" banner. Thought we filled out the questions and answers sheets to make the next years show better by learning from the last one.....

[RJ79]

Unfortunately they are fairly accurate with the H&S these days. Some poor woman was inadvertently run over and killed by her husband whilst breaking site on the Sunday evening a few years back and ever since then the local council have been breathing all over RIAT. Re the working time directive it only applies to full time staff and not volunteers, however it was a wish that it applied to everyone (but it didnt happen for us on the showground)


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[TomG]

One of the great things about RIAT, pre-2008, was the way they actively encouraged you to take your time, going so far as to put on the excellent concerts and the aforementioned balloon releases.

Have the balloons been back post-show since Foot and Mouth, which I believe was the original reason they stopped? The concert died around 2009/10 I think.

People need an incentive to stick around, otherwise that stampede for the car parks means trouble.

And yes, the A417 to the Air Balloon pub was bedlam last night - it was the merge to a single lane at the Birdlip roundabout, which so many poor drivers seemed unable to manage.

Dare one say that too many of the volunteers wanted a quick clearance of the showground to get themselves across to the hangar party...

Balloons - we tethered balloons last year and this was the first occasion for some time where we managed to get balloons inflated. These proved to be an attraction for those entering at the east (Red) end. There are different wind limits for balloon operators with different limits applicable for private and commercial operators which has been the restricting factor not F&M. Additionally there has been an increasing level of difficulty each year in getting balloon owners/operators to come along and also locating a suitable place that allows for safe gas replenishment, tethering and also allowing for safe launch conditions should conditions and timings allow. This year it proved to be one step too far and we didn't put the balloon operation in place.

As for the hangar party, I think that after a long week (more for some) is it really too much to ask that some are allowed that 'luxury'? Despite that there are still a great many who don't see the party or turn up just in time to grab a quick beer and a bite to eat. There's a hell of a lot to prep to get ready for Monday departures ....

[Northolt Nobbler]

As for the hangar party, I think that after a long week (more for some) is it really too much to ask that some are allowed that 'luxury'? Despite that there are still a great many who don't see the party or turn up just in time to grab a quick beer and a bite to eat. There's a hell of a lot to prep to get ready for Monday departures ....

A smart answer in reply to a Conference-level "journalist"...