FRIAT 2024

[Nnthusiast]

And all this could be sorted quickly by just allowing FRIATmembers to go through bag check first (well that would clear 50% of the problem i suppose) but thats bound to be the tent with thhe scanners in...... then comes the rest.....

so.... Stand in a long queue possibly in the rain, then shuffle to the security area,( which wont open early so more rain,), and get 1 mins rain respite, then enter the open to the elements waiting area for 90 mins, possibly in the rain, then walk to FRIAT to try and dry out along with your fellow steaming, soaked tent to try and warm up, and get steam in your lenses.

now, this is a slightly over the top post from me, but............
Why oh why can they not, even at this late hour, help us all in Blue? (selfish? yeah, but i do pay for the luxury of that(well i did before they took it away without asking))

If the top geyser seems to think any of this is satisfactory for both FRIAT (his most devoted customers) and general customers , it is not. All the glad handing , sycophantic back slapping wont help an easily sorted 'FUBAR', so instead of sitting down doing a pod cast, how about sitting down and fixing whats broken and quickly.

Oh and Peter, will you be storing your camera gear on site every night in a container when FRIAT is open? Bet you wont!

[Supra]

Cor blimey! Being a FRIAT Member sure is a work-up these days?
Hopefully the new Caterers will have ample supplies of Chill-pills.... or the medics are gonna be knackered pretty quickly.

[eagle driver]

I have been reading some of this thread with something of a degree of alarm .
Firstly I would not pay out for a Friat Membership and then be subjected to these draconian restriction s
Surely this is why you pay the extra to gain a advantage over the general public .
And as for Leaving your equipment in the hands of Boy scouts and volunteer s they can poke that idea where the sun does not shine.
Thankfully I only attend on departure day ,seems a far easier way of doing things
Let the aircraft come to you no traipsing around a soggy field or hours of sitting in the rain .
Everyone enjoys Riat but the way it is now shaping up they just seem to want to make it harder every year
Or maybe that's the plan use Riat as a test to see just how far they can push a large body of people

Hope it all goes well for everyone , but somewhere along the line we will all have to think is it really worth it

[rafaleuk]

Nature simply abhors a vacuum.

Nothing lasts forever and things change over the years (I remember Photobuses and parking alongside the runway!), but the more than the change itself, what is most galling for many, including me, is the lack of explicit communication on the matter and the apparent lack of consistency between RIAT and other locations across the UK and Europe, where Friends/Spotter tickets usually confer some degree of special access arrangements.

In the case of FRIAT, many subscribers have been going for years (my best mate and I have been members since 2003, with my sons joining us when they were old enough) and the amount of up front revenue generated early in the RIAT cycle I'm sure is invaluable to DBH. For that, it has been a long standing fringe benefit, advertised by DBH itself in the FRIAT marketing, to have the fast lanes/separate gate on Blue to grant us access in advance of everyone else. For many in the FRIAT community, this is one of the biggest perks of the membership to ensure early access to the showground and FRIAT enclosure on the main show days.

As we've counted down to what should be a fantastic show, with the updates we've seen week after week, the silence on the advance access has been deafening which means we all end up developing our own theories as to why FRIAT are being treated in this way.

As with most things in life, most problems can be solved, or at least mitigated, by clear and unambiguous dialogue.

What irks more than anything, even though you could see it coming, is being told on the eve of the show, when you've paid your cash months ago that one of the advertised benefits is no more.

[norm3392]

I don't normally comment on this part of the forum but having spent over 40 years in security and policing I find this current situation a joke. To be aware of all current threats is no bad thing but there's also no need to forget about that little thing called common sense. There could, quite easily, be a dedicated FRIAT lane which includes an 100% bag search. In previous years this has varied from 100% to virtually nothing, so let's go with 100% for everyone. Then instead of standing around like cattle waiting for a medic to arrive for those that can't stand for that long just let people in as normal. Assuming I then want to eat, very unlikely, have I lost my place in the hoards and arguments will ensue when you try to reclaim it? I don't believe DBH have "fought our corner" and FRIAT appears to have little or no standing in my opinion. As for leaving my kit overnight to avoid bag searches I can only say "not a chance". Who on earth ever thought that was a viable option? Maybe someone from DBH should go to a European spotters day and see how it's dealt with elsewhere. Rant over and roll on departure day.

[KevinJ]

If this show was in Europe you'd be able to wander freely whilst aircraft arrive around you, it's a UK disease slowly getting worse because of the fear of litigation and insurance rules. I remember walking along at a Alconbury show when a Rhein Main MC-130E arrived and taxied over our heads, base personnel just waved people to the side. Just like travelling through airports now the rules and regs are strangling any pleasure you get from attending. I guess if you're the new generation of enthusiasts you accept it because you don't know any different.

[Supra]

Well? The only way to truly voice your displeasure is not to renew your FRIAT Membership ever again! If sufficient 'Friends' do similarly that sends a clear signal to those in control that the 'cash cow' has run dry!

Since when did the local Civilian Police Authority have overall security control of who & how persons access an event? I can't claim to be up to speed on anti-terrorism law & protocols primarily as that subject is partly an evolving topic & partly a knee-jerk reaction to their latest failings!

Naturally RIAT presents a 'Target-rich Environment' where every cup-cake anti-war, envronmental activist & potential lone-wolf terrorist would aspire to make their deluded views apparent. Security should be tight, thorough checks should be done on each & every person & their necessarily copious baggage, but they're missing the point in their approach to this!

1) All FRIAT members are known to DBH in terms of personal details, BUT why not include Passport type ID. into the application process & direct the applicant to provide a passport style digital image at the same time ? Then have their photo's on the Pass so the person/photo/applicant matches & can be scanned in only 10 seconds!

2) Up toTen points of access for each coloured entry point, ONLY two X-ray scanners? Everybody has a bag if you're out for the day? Everything from water & sunscreen to heated gloves & a wet-suit for the UK! What if one scanner fails after being bounced down to Fairford?

3) Where are the Behavioural Profilers when you need them? Let's stop this 'personal prejudice' paranoia! "If it looks like a Duck & walks like a Duck, it IS a DUCK!" Don't go to Fairford dressed like a 'Matrix' extra, or have blue & orange hair with paint aerosols for breasts if you want avoid attention!

4) Where are the Sniffer Dogs? Put 10 person's bags in a group on the floor beyond the physical search tables & let the dogs check them out! One for PE & one for drugs!
5) Educate the Security Staff to only check the contents of containers that present a credible threat. You cannot need 20 spectacle cases for one day...Alarm!! Oh here's an Ear-pod case, best just open that in the event of it containing 24 Grammes of Cemtex?

6) Brief the Security Staff in minimal pleasantries, a simple "Hello, we need to check your bags". They don't care how well you're feeling, how the latest Grandchild is doing, what the prospects are for a LTR? God's teeth...just do what you have to do & let’s go!

7) Possibly the most obvious & unlikely solution to getting people into the show in time for the first Flying Display is to open earlier! Yes, you heard right! If the Police dictate that the onerous security checks are necessary for Public Safety (& for once they're probably ahead of the curve) then who's gonna argue after the Hillsborough & Manchester tragedies they're disinclined to repeat.

8) So, back to you RIAT. More trained & invested Security Staff at more security tables with more scanners & the provisions noted above...or watch your core Clientale 'walk away!'

This Access statement is provided by the Common Sense Party free of charge. Only Flakes , the Guilty & the overtly sensitive were harmed during its production…Oh dear, how sad, nevermind!

[Seacat192]

Thread tidied and unlocked again.

Totally understand this is an emotive subject, being imposed at such a late stage, but please don’t get in to spats with each other.

Anything similar occurring again may well see you taking a short holiday from the forum!

Far more important things in life to get worked up about!

[Seacat192]

Thread tidied yet again - less than three hours after the previous tidy.

[Harkins]

FRIATers are obviously disappointed at the loss of the separate entry queue and the justification for it does not sound at all convincing and some of the suggested mitigations like the leave all your stuff there overnight and turn up completely empty handed every day are completely illogical and impractical. And I do not believe anyone can be criticised for showing their displease.

What has surprised me a little is how many non FRIAT ticket holders have joined the online pile on of schadenfreude and accusations labelling all FRIAT ticket holders as filthy rich and grossly entitled. A lot of this has come across as sounding maybe a bit jealous more than anything. I know I’m not filthy rich and I don’t like to think I’m entitled, but I do work hard for my money, I spend it sensibly and selectively and my family are very understanding of my yearly pilgrimage.

[Nnthusiast]

Fairford is the only airshow i attend, and having saved for the best part of a year....... Mach3 ticket, fuel to the event and home (110 miles each way plus ), lodgings for 6 days, food for 6 days, it's an expensive but mostly rewarding experience, that having a Mach3 gives me.

Now, over the years, little by little our package has been chipped away at, and this years entry through blue has become a victim of this.

Carrying in camera equipment, plus our own food / drink etc, plus waterproofs (just in case, it is the UK in summer, remember) , it has always been a boon to have a dedicated entry, where we could go through, and be checked in / security etc, quickly and efficiently, not getting into anyones way, dragging our gear with us.

Now this part of our deal with RIAT has been taken away, and left us still doing the dragging, but now standing around for a not inconsiderable time, possibly in the rain, as i cannot see that many people being in a big tent waiting for an hour or 90 minutes before we get let into the showground (this silly rule is for famiies too, not just FRIAT members, so is all gone T.U. really, and putting the FRIAT boys and girls aside for a minute, do they really thing they have enough facilities there for the thousands that will be lined up around the car park, waiting in security, etc etc, to go to the loo, or sit down and rest (thinking older persons or those infirm or wobbly on their legs)?

No, when you look at it non emotively, this is a big problem that will not go away, but will bite them in the glutimas maximus if they have got this wrong. After all, where are, say 10,000+ people going to stand / sit/ fall down etc while waiting for security and pre security, and the wait from security to be actually let in?

It has the making of a huge cluster F. or Fubar, and surely taking 1500 people out of the equation, while still a nominal sum, would help both Blue Friat'ers, and maybe those more infirm etc?

Lordy, i hope for RIAT's sake they havn't messed this up, as goodwill only stretches so far, and usually only lasts until a 70 year old man or woman cannot stand any longer in a queue and falls over!

[James Cutting]

Adding salt to the wounds, the grandstand will be further back to inline with the Viewing Village one in 2025.

Dear FRIAT Member,

We hope you are looking forward to joining us at this year’s Royal International Air Tattoo. It promises to be a spectacular show with aircraft from around the world and some real highlights planned to recognise our various themes. Now just please keep your fingers crossed for good weather! You should have received information regarding the 2024 event from our team. If you have not received it, please contact Wendy Toms using our FRIAT email address:friat@rafcte.com


We are contacting you today to inform you of some important changes that are being implemented to the FRIAT offering for RIAT25 and beyond. Regrettably, these changes are unavoidable. However, as sincerely valued customers we wanted to be open and honest with you, as we value your support and passion for our event.


As many of you will know, there are strict safety limits to how close obstructions of certain height can be placed next to runways and we also have conditions relating to the visibility of the runway and taxiway holding points from the Air Traffic Control tower; all of which we must either adhere to or seek exemptions and waivers from the relevant authorities. The process of obtaining such is becoming increasingly complicated and the increased operational tempo of RAF Fairford further complicates this process during the build phase. In addition, we have an overarching responsibility to be as compliant with relevant rules and regulations; this is something that we have proactively sought to achieve in the post-COVID era. Unfortunately, in achieving compliance with updated airfield safeguarding criteria at RAF Fairford, the current location for the FRIAT grandstand is no longer possible and will need to be relocated for RIAT25.


I attach a link to a plan which indicates the new location here: https://www.airtattoo.com/media/ccmgcyo ... 7K2,J7AC,1


Despite its new location, the FRIAT grandstand will continue to offer a complete view of the runway and whilst the structure has moved back from the crowd line, we will still be creating a crowd line section dedicated to FRIAT in front of the grandstand. By doing this, you will maintain the same footprint of exclusive FRIAT front row crowd line space as before, allowing you to move freely between your allocated seat, your designated crowd line space and your enclosure facilities.




Looking forward, it is our ambition to continually enhance the offer for aviation enthusiasts at RIAT. To do this, we have established a cross department working group, which will be working vigorously to further deliver a package to our most dedicated visitors. At this year’s show, various members of the RAFCTE permanent staff team, some of whom are part of this group, will be visiting the FRIAT enclosure to hear your thoughts on what you’d like to see us explore – this includes Dan Sewell, who I have recently appointed as Visitor Experience Director and I know he is looking forward to engaging with you to make your FRIAT experience the best it can be.


A key element of Dan’s role is to build on his experience and expertise in the event industry to explore ways to improve the overall customer experience; clearly FRIAT features large in this ambition. We shall be seeking ways of introducing a camping option for FRIAT as part of a new RIAT official campsite; we’re confident that this will launch in 2026 once we have fully developed solutions to the myriad operational, technical and contractual challenges involved in delivering this properly and to an appropriate standard. We are confident that our planned enhancements to the FRIAT package next year, and in future, will provide a unique and memorable experience year after year and ensure you get the best photographic opportunities of the amazing aircraft which we all love to see at RAF Fairford.

Best regards


Paul Atherton

Chief Executive Officer
ROYAL AIR FORCE Charitable Trust Enterprises

[Harkins]

Oh dear, yet more downgrading of the experience. Going back and to the left of centre.

So what goes where FRIAT 2024 was? Why couldn't the FRIAT crowd line section be where 2024 was? The fight to get to the fence line will be brutal. And I suspect that the front couple of rows (maybe more) at that distance will have a very head obscured view of anything on the runway, or will at least have people in the foreground of their photos.

I think that this is the end for me and FRIAT. I expect it will cost more than this year, and we won't get our entry gate back and we are now much further back and off display centre. I think I'll maybe just do Wed & Thurs P&V and Friday general entry. Sod the Sat and Sun and I'm not doing Monday to shoot photos of jet pipes through heat and jet haze at East P&V or undersides at 2000 feet at West P&V. Having said that, the FRIAT stand is now in year three of the building site background for Monday.

[KevinJ]

In one sentence they say "it is our ambition to continually enhance the offer for aviation enthusiasts at RIAT" whilst the truth is it's "continually" getting worse. Red tape and rules are slowly strangling the experience.

[C24]

. It must be a British trait.

I’m watching the swearing ( appropriate choice of word?) in of MPs. One long line of members. Time consuming but possibly no chance of changing an ancient ceremony.
RIAT, the same thought process, why not have many more lines initially, then opening out to even more for ticket checking and still more for baggage security checks allowing bag less people to swiftly more past?

Phew!

[Wyvern]

Are things any easier on the Friday or do you still have to get the flight line early to get a space?

[Gary]

Oh dear, yet more downgrading of the experience. Going back and to the left of centre.

So what goes where FRIAT 2024 was? Why couldn't the FRIAT crowd line section be where 2024 was? The fight to get to the fence line will be brutal. And I suspect that the front couple of rows (maybe more) at that distance will have a very head obscured view of anything on the runway, or will at least have people in the foreground of their photos.

I think that this is the end for me and FRIAT. I expect it will cost more than this year, and we won't get our entry gate back and we are now much further back and off display centre. I think I'll maybe just do Wed & Thurs P&V and Friday general entry. Sod the Sat and Sun and I'm not doing Monday to shoot photos of jet pipes through heat and jet haze at East P&V or undersides at 2000 feet at West P&V. Having said that, the FRIAT stand is now in year three of the building site background for Monday.

If you move it back where it is, the view from part of the grandstand will be more blocked by Airshow FM and the corporate enclosures than moving it to the left. I hope its not a ploy to introduce yet another highly expensive enclosure for VIPs

I'll reserve judgement until next year when I've been in the new location. Then make a decision on my future in FRIAT. Gotta feel sorry for the FRIAT staff. The amount of moaning that's coning their way when the enclosure opens on Thursday

[Harkins]

That's true. I won't moan at them as it's not their doing, but these back to back pieces of not good news haven't exactly heightened my excitement about this years show. The queue/security/holding area thing really doesn't sound good at all, even if you don't factor in the loss of the dedicated FRIAT entry. Add on what looks to be a continuation of the coldest dullest dampest summer I can remember and that damned never ending construction site (HS2 will be finished before that hangar!!), I'm not feeling it this year, and this is always the highlight of my year (more or less).

I suppose that the one advantage of moving the stand to the west will maybe help get less cluttered side on shots of departing aircraft. Will it be far enough to the left to be completely past the building site?

As an aside, I wonder why when you look at the USAFE bases around Europe, the UK bases still have control towers that give little advantage to standing on a milk crate, whereas on the continent they have very tall towers offering both unobstructed and much elevated views of the airfields?

[thevulcan]

The new grandstand location will be perfect for departures most aircraft bank and begin there wing wave at the viewing village grandstand as they often mistake it for FRIAT.

[James Cutting]

Impressive you can mistake a larger, more packed grandstand for an empty one.