Old Sarum Centenary Airshow- 16th & 17th September

[MRTT]

Has now been confirmed to be returning, looking forward to it- was a decent show in '15!

[yoda-says]

An aviation event to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Old Sarum Airfield will take place on 16-17 September 2017. http://www.oldsarumairfield.co.uk/centenary-airshow/

[Alfie]

Is there any update on this years event. It all seems very quiet on the subject.

[yoda-says]

no it may not on

[Supra]

CANCELLED allegedly due to bereavement? Probably because the public are dead disinterested!

[Flightline UK]

It is with heavy heart that we must announce that Old Sarum Airfield will no longer be hosting an air show in September as was hoped. Slipstream, the company responsible for our very successful 2015 event, now believe it will be impossible to stage a similar event this year.

As a result of new regulations put in place following a number of major incidents at air shows throughout England in the past 2 years, we are sadly unable to comply with the extremely high and complex risk assessment needs that would allow Slipstream and ourselves to put on the show we would like to. Rigorous risk assessments have been undertaken and we are sadly the victims of our past popularity.

These regulations define anyone outside of the airfield but still taking up a vantage point within the display area “at risk”. The only way for us to ensure that no-one falls within this category would be to take control of any space within the display area, to cater for these viewers’ safety. However, this would include commanding control of the busy adjacent road network (A345 and Portway), our neighbours at Old Sarum Castle, and Bishopdown and it’s country park. Understandably, with these regulations in mind, we cannot plan for the safety of the people in these areas and therefore the show would not comply with these new conditions. Sadly, these are things outside of our control. We have looked at ways to co-ordinate control of these areas, but ultimately believe that it is impractical. Without such assurances, we simply cannot go ahead.

Whilst we were hoping that the proposed show would help us commemorate the centenary of the airfield, we will be sure to look for other ways top mark this milestone in our history.

http://www.oldsarumairfield.co.uk/old-s ... show-2017/

[Alfie]

That is a great shame, the 2015 event was one of my highlights of my airshow year. It looks if the freeloaders who can't be bothered to buy a ticket are one of the main reasons for the cancelation. I personally don't see why the organisers have to take the responsibility for the non-paying public, who do so at there own risk.

[Nighthawke]

Then you probably haven't kept up with the post-Shoreham changes in the rules. Most of the people in the named areas would be going about their normal activities and not trying to "freeload". The CAA have put the responsibility onto the organisers not the general public.

[Alfie]

Nighthawke wrote :-
Then you probably haven't kept up with the post-Shoreham changes in the rules. Most of the people in the named areas would be going about their normal activities and not trying to "freeload". The CAA have put the responsibility onto the organisers not the general public.

I disagree looking at the number of people that were assembled on the Old Sarum hillfort for both the 2015 show and the final Vulcan flypast, they were there for one reason alone to get a free view of the flying display.

[Alfie]

Just a question if somebody can answer. Looking at the entertainment at the Bristol Balloon Festival this weekend, they have quite an interesting small flying display including Rich Goodwin and the Bretling Wingwalkers. If they can get CCA approval being in such close proximity to a built up area and main roads why have they got a problem with Old Sarum

[Flightline UK]

Probably because they've been able to prove to the CAA they've been able to mitigate the risks within a defined display area. (Road closures, keeping areas sterile, additional Security etc.)

[Alfie]

Can't really see it about the Ashton Court Estate, as for security there are some many ways in and out they would have to build a steel wall as per Glastonbury festival as for road closures on one side you have the A369 linking out too the M5 services Gordano and the other side the A370 going to Weston-Super-Mare plus the close proximity to very built up areas. It looks to me if somebody is pulling strings somewhere along the line.

[andrewn]

And the number of viable display venues dwindles still further

[bizfreeq]

Can't really see it about the Ashton Court Estate, as for security there are some many ways in and out they would have to build a steel wall as per Glastonbury festival as for road closures on one side you have the A369 linking out too the M5 services Gordano and the other side the A370 going to Weston-Super-Mare plus the close proximity to very built up areas. It looks to me if somebody is pulling strings somewhere along the line.

That's one hell of an accusation to make in public with absolutely no evidence to back it up!
The event is free so there is no need for anyone to be watching from outside. The flying displays are within a very tight boundary and are usually at a considerably higher altitude than you would see at any airshow, owing to the show arena being in a natural bowl surrounded on all bar one side by rising ground and dense woods.
Also the regulations change according to the types of aircraft displaying, those covering a Pitts special or a Yak piston type for example are totally different from those covering a modern jet fighter.
I would imagine those are just a few of the mitigating circumstances that allow the display to be done under current regulations and not because someone in the CAA is being 'persuaded' to turn a blind eye as you seem to be suggesting.

[Alfie]

Although you say the event is free it now cost you an arm and leg if you arrive by car and want to park on sight. Premium £13-75 - £22-00, Main £11-00 - £16-50 and even disabled parking £11-00. I still don't see they can meet all the criteria that Old Sarum were refused on. As for Bigfreeze mentioning modern jet fighters at the 2015 Old Sarum event there were no jets The only jet that was coming was the Vulcan that went tech and didn't show and although that would have been the icing on the top of the cake it was a cracking show.

[Alfie]

I'm not accusing anyone of anything it's just my opinion of something that looks very odd to me.

[bizfreeq]

Well lets clear something else up, Old Sarum haven't been refused anything, they have looked at the requirements and have taken their own decision to cancel the event. Most of that will be down to costs involved with road closures, extra staff etc and also insurance and the practicality of compliance, policing, permits etc. At the end of the day though it is still their decision, not the CAA refusing it.

[Alfie]

As you say Old Sarum dicided to cancel, but I still don't see how the Bristol Balloon festival ticks all those boxes.