From BBC online news-
Air show threat to prosecute pilots
Four pilots could be prosecuted after the Red Arrows were forced to abort an air show display at the last minute over safety fears.
The world-famous RAF display team were on their final approach to the annual Yorkshire Air Show at Elvington, near York, when a series of airspace infringements made it too dangerous to fly.
A microlight aircraft, a glider and a large flock of birds all strayed into the restricted airspace in addition to one other, as yet, unspecified infringement.
The display team were forced to stand-off four miles from the airfield before cancelling their appearance altogether on safety grounds.
Rare occurrence
Furious air show organiser Ken Cothliff said the Civil Aviation Authority had been informed and the pilots of the rogue aircraft could expect to be prosecuted.
He added: “The Red Arrows can probably count on the fingers of one hand how often this has happened in the past.”
The Red Arrows were the top attraction at the two-day event which is expected to attract more than 30,000 people.
Aircraft taking part in the displays will include the Utterly Butterly Wingwalkers, DeHavilland Sea Vixen, B-25 Mitchell Bomber, North American T-6 Harvard, Blue Eagles and the SAR Sea King.
There are also trade stands, craft stalls, classic cars, military vehicles, a funfair, helicopter rides and a static aircraft park.
The Red Arrows are still due to perform at the show on Monday.
By: stringbag - 25th August 2003 at 22:44
I remember during a trade day at Farnborough 2000 we were due to get a flypast from a B-1B. We waited as Lasham and the airborne microlights/glider got a (un)pleasant surprise 😀
By: Markp451 - 25th August 2003 at 22:37
I can remember one year, someone displaying (and i think it was a USAF lol) at Ringways (Manchester Airport) instead of Woodford 5 miles down the road. Now that must have been FUN !!!!!!!
By: Moggy C - 25th August 2003 at 10:14
I was there.
The journey up was infested with microlights demonstrating classic examples of poor radio procedure.
” ‘umberside radar this is Golf XXXX”
” Golf XXXX Stand-by”
“Yes Golf XXXX is a blah blah, size of pilots underpants, blah blah, what he had for breakfast, blah blah, etc etc”
But, to offer the only possible word of mitigation for the pilots who disrupted the display (And who I think should be hung out to dry) there has been a recent change in the way Notams are promulgated over the web.
Previously the raw source data was available and a couple of very good independently produced programs (NOTAMPLOT etc) took the data and applied it to the route you intended to fly warning you of any notifications with a 20 mile area and displaying them graphically.
Then there was a big revise, the raw source data was withdrawn and the Notam site gained its own ‘narrow route planner’
Before the weekend I entered Knettishall > Wellesbourne > Knettishall > Elvington.
I can tell you a lot of what is going on in Cornwall. Kite flying for birds of prey in Shropshire. In all about six pages of tightly packed information 98% of which was totally irrelevant, and large numbers of locations given as Lat / Long map references only
I waded through it meticulously.
I can understand how discouraged others might become.
But no excuse.
Fine them lots of money, rip up their licence, make them burn their aircraft. 😡
Moggy
By: Manonthefence - 24th August 2003 at 22:40
Bradburger
I rememebr that, it was a Partenavia Oscar.
I’ll get me coat :p
By: Nighthawk - 24th August 2003 at 22:39
A similar thing happened at the Clophill village fete display in the early ninties an F-16 done a great display, unfortunatly over the wrong village but never mind.
By: Bradburger - 24th August 2003 at 22:37
There was also an Islander (I think it was anyway) that that flew overhead OW at about 1500ft during the last Militarty Pagent.
I remember last year I was listening to the goings on at the Goodwood Revival meeting on the Saturday and was amazed how many pilots didn’t realise there was a display going on!??
I thought that that was the whole idea of NOTAM’s? :confused:
Digby, I remember at Goodwood several years ago that two F15’s were halfway through their display when they realised they were over Tangmere!
Cheers
Paul
By: DIGBY - 24th August 2003 at 22:31
Similar thing at Duxford one year when a USAF F15 or the like did a lovely display over Cambridge airfield and when finished the Duxford ATC rplied “now can you do your display over here”
By: Yak 11 Fan - 24th August 2003 at 22:11
I wasn’t there, just heard about it by someone who was trying to land
By: Manonthefence - 24th August 2003 at 22:10
Yak old boy, do tell?
By: Yak 11 Fan - 24th August 2003 at 22:04
Originally posted by Manonthefence
Ive lost count of the idiots who try to fly into Duxford during a display.
Like those in non radio BAe 146’s?
By: Manonthefence - 24th August 2003 at 21:58
Is it me or is this becomming a more common occurance. At Kemble there were 2 aircraft that requested joining permission during the display because “we though we’d pop over for lunch”. Later on that afternoon a light twin flew over the airfield with no contcat with ATC, thankfully no flying going on at the time.
At Shuttleworth a few weeks back a glider was foating around the run in forcing the BBMF to divert around and cut out a flypast. and Ive lost count of the idiots who try to fly into Duxford during a display.
Dont these fools ever read NOTAMS?? The should throw the book at them.
By: David Burke - 24th August 2003 at 16:43
Sounds like time the leader had a gun pack fitted !
By: Kenneth - 24th August 2003 at 16:36
Who’s going to prosecute the flock of birds?
By: Bluebird Mike - 24th August 2003 at 16:02
Thought they were late one day-didn’t know about that though!
By: airshowsorguk - 24th August 2003 at 15:55
The Reds were forced to hold off for some time and could only perform half a show at Eastbourne in 2002 when some microlights appeared off to the north of Beachy Head.
By: Bluebird Mike - 24th August 2003 at 15:55
PS, there s a TV prog about the Reds on tonight if anyone is interested, 8pm on C5.
By: SE5AFAN - 24th August 2003 at 15:35
Stupid b******s:mad:
I remmember the same thing happening at the Fighter Meet once.
Can’t remmember exact year, memory going, must be the booze.
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August 24, 2003 at 3:27 pm