CANCELLED Royal International Air Tattoo 2021 - General Discussion Thread

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I agree that 2021 has little chance of happening, the question now is whether the organisation can financially survive a second cancelled show to make a show possible ever again. The last annual report spoke about how work was done to save the company after the cancellation of the 2020 show so that a 2021 show would be possible. But, that involved a lot of good will and rolling over contracts for a year. I'm not sure the same 'survival steps' will be possible in 2021 like they were in 2020.

[Flightech]

I agree that 2021 has little chance of happening, the question now is whether the organisation can financially survive a second cancelled show to make a show possible ever again. The last annual report spoke about how work was done to save the company after the cancellation of the 2020 show so that a 2021 show would be possible. But, that involved a lot of good will and rolling over contracts for a year. I'm not sure the same 'survival steps' will be possible in 2021 like they were in 2020.

Why the hell is RIAT still selling tickets for July,
? I think they know it is very very unlikely to happen this year. Its going to be the same scenario as last year, processing refunds, which cost them money too. Wouldn't it make me sense did them to put a statement up and pause selling tickets? - people paying for this July must be crazy as everything is so uncertain and besides, like you guys were saying, this is the time when they should've submitted their bids for aircraft already or confirming aircraft. Now I'm even wondering will RIAT finances allow it to go ahead in 2022

[Headance99]

I hate to broach this but I do wonder who is paying all the fixed costs?

Furloughed staff will be paid by government but there must be costs coming out of what is surely the charitable funds ?

Much as i want things to return to normal and get back to normal it doesnt sit well if someone has perhaps donated money or left a will in good faith thinking those funds would go to THE CHARITY but find its paying the salary of say the head of press or publicity or admin staffers

There is no easy answer but the governors who look after those funds must owe a duty of care to ensure the monies go directly to the needy and not the airshow salaries, as unpalatable as that may sound.

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The organisation which organises RIAT isn't a charity, it's a regular company albeit one that donates some of its profit to several charities. Those donations were £1.13m in 2019/20 from a turnover of £11.5m, while staff costs for the 42 permanent and 8 temporary staff employed during that same period were £2.2m.

That company received £343,984 from the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme between April and September 2020 and a 6-year loan from the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme. I find it interesting that details of that loan aren't explicitly referred to in the annual report, although though there's no large values unaccounted for in the numbers.

[Stroudy]

I can see that there is a chance it will go ahead, and i know that is all DBH is working to at the moment.. with air arms being met and meetings already underway for planning. Circa 40% attendance and mostly local volunteers etc (to prevent bringing in people from far away for that particular element) will be a factor. 40% capacity will allow for 2m spacings in all free, grass and paid viewing areas and distancing when walking around the static park. Only time will tell however, as they say.

[MRTT]

Excellent, if correct.

Still struggling to see how the likes of FRIAT will function though?

[thevulcan]

I would imagine MRTT the FRIAT enclosure can be made longer as there will be less tents etc filling up the crowd line to allow for social distancing.

[James Cutting]

Interesting...But who do you choose between for a 40% attendance? Who do you allow, and from where, and don't allow? Cast a net X miles wide and anyone within 150 miles of FFD with a ticket can come?

As we can say time will tell and hopefully sooner rather than later we hear

[reaper493]

I've not kept up with all 7 pages so sorry if its already been discussed,

But what about the inevitable bunching at crowd centre and in front of particular aircraft in the static park, if there is one?

Spotters and photographers can be very selfish at times as well all know.

I'd think the 40% capacity will just be on a first come first served basis, with maybe a % of those available for people living closer - but that then opens up people re selling tickets on.


Mike

[James Cutting]

Yeah agreed there, can't see how they manage it. A queuing system to "view" the aircraft?!

Crowd bunching, no idea how you get round that...stick everyone in a pen?

Yeah probably re: the tickets...but a lot of people rolled over (myself included) so could be a tough one to get their heads around.

[raameagle]

Not to mention how to control the social distancing at the entry and exit points at the start and finish of each day. I'm firmly in the group who think that it will be cancelled, unfortunately.

[James Cutting]

Rather it just gets completely canned tbh, than a half show as it were

[red leader]

The 40% idea would mean 60% disappointed people.You would have to feel sorry for them.
However it is done it won't be anything like a usual RIAT.
The entry and exit points will ertainly be a challenge. Even with greatly reduced numbers you will still get a queue at the best of times.
What happens when they start doing the security checks and it involves emptying bags etc? Can security checks be done at a 2metre distance?

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RAFCTE's finance director resigned on January 5th, you can interpret that however you want.

Also, you need to have planned an event to then be able to claim on your cancellation insurance.......so yes, I'm sure they are currently planning a 2021 show for several reasons......

[red leader]

I wish them well whatever they decide to do. I have some great memories of past RIATS and is hate for them to go under.
Whatever they do will be tough. The financial hit over two years will be huge.
If it doesn't happen will they have the ability to come back in 2022?

[JHolden92]

The 40% idea would seem reasonable however not fair for people like myself who are travelling from Scotland and will be my first time at RIAT! But we can only wait and see what their plan is

[The Cat]

Probably better 40% than no show at all.

[Supra]

The 'magic' 40% can be nothing more than a figure that works for a theoretical appraisal of attendance within as yet unknown confines! No business can sustain the 'normal' overheads with a 60% reduction in attendance income. Okay, for instance there will be a few less bogs but the ones that are there for nearly 2 weeks have to be financed by less people making each unit more expensive. That features across the board. It must be a given that the Show itself would be 60% smaller too? Admission cost must be capped at previous levels....who on earth pays more for less!
Good luck with the 2 metre distancing as it's completely unachievable. One person every 2 metres on the inevitably reduced rope-length allocated for the proletariat...don't make me laugh! "Let's all stand here 10 persons deep with all that space available up-front." NOT gonna' happen! Before anybody draws comparisons with the successful Shuttleworth format I have to add that 'clientele' demographic for RIAT is somewhat different?? Tell me how they police the queues/security search / read thousands of negative Covid test results & still get 40% attendance through the gates before days-end? DBH need to go dormant from before now & conserve provisions for a triumphant return in 2022. Jitter Alert:- If DBH were to fail then I assume that roll-over ticket-holders would become unintended creditors?
Regarding insurance for this type of event (& probably all others) it's done separately & annually. Pretty much every type of insurance now has the Covid caveat, as you can't insure against a risk that is known / excluded / or very, very likely to happen prior to policy inception without a truly exhorbitant premium mirroring the potential claim value.
It is my opinion that we will not have sufficient persons vaccinated to provide herd immunity before late August 2021 earliest, assuming the vaccines perform as advertised. If anybody has a different view, that's fine. IMHO 'RIAT 21' can only happen with a substantial proportion of the attendees fully vaccinated....& who can guarantee that right now? Don't forget that a fully vaccinated person can still be carrier according to Boris's wisdom-givers!
I'm not being negative, just realistic & that has to be a positive!

[podge]

Just now announced Glastonbury is cancelled. Not sure when that usually takes place?

[city42]

Just now announced Glastonbury is cancelled. Not sure when that usually takes place?

23 rd of June