Last year, during the dragon boat festival at Fen Ditton on the River Cam, the locals, spectators and competitors were treated to a superb series of flypasts and steep turns by a MkI Spitfire. It was low over the crowd and looked great in such an idyllic setting. The assembled crowd were in thrall, and very appreciative.
But I wonder.. was this an ‘air display’, and was the pilot (I never found out who it was) ‘display flying’? Do CAA display rules apply to such an event?
Just wonderin… 😉
By: duxfordhawk - 10th February 2016 at 20:45
I have always seen an Airshow is where the primary entertainment is aircraft displaying and an aircraft is deemed as displaying if it performs a routine rather than a simple flypast. I would say a flypast of any sort is not an airshow at all as long as the aircraft did not perform more than one or two passes. I assume the latest CAA changes would not have an effect on situations where an aircraft performs a fly past possibly as a tribute event or events such as fetes, country shows Etc.
Many events are a bit of a cross over such as Wings and Wheels events then we have Goodwood Festival of Speed and Revival, have an air display element but are primarily a motor racing event, but in these cases the aircraft are performing a full routine, so that to me would count as an Air display and therefore an airshow of sorts.
Not sure if that makes the mud any clearer or answers your question.
By: Beermat - 10th February 2016 at 15:06
Ah, I see. It’s that kind of insight I come here for. 😉
The display I saw was not under airshow / display rules (flying at and then very low over the crowd, for example) and that prompted a train of thought about how organisers might in future choose to involve aircraft at events. I’m sure others have spotted what I was getting at. Interestingly, if it’s not an air display (airshow?) you can provide more spectacle for less money than if it is one.
I should have maybe said air display initially and not air show, to avoid the snipers! ..after all, a car show might attract a number of displaying aircraft, and the above might then apply?
By: Chitts - 10th February 2016 at 14:44
Aeroplanes. Hence ‘Boatshow’, ‘Carshow’, ‘Flowershow’ ……
By: TwinOtter23 - 10th February 2016 at 11:35
……BBMF do flypasts all the time and I am sure they are not classed as an airshow.
It is my understanding (reading the current NAM applications for BBMF flypasts at the Tribute to the V-Force & Cockpit-Fest events) that such flypasts are not affected by the new regulations.
That said, last year for the first time and indeed for the current flypast applications event organisers now have to complete a CAA Request for Airspace Coordination & Notification form (DAP1920F) – for each allocated flypast!
Just need to find the time to get the paperwork completed! 🙂
By: Trolly Aux - 10th February 2016 at 11:11
As of today I think it has changed, you used to be able I think to have three items and not classed as an airshow but you still needed CAA approval, over that 3 or whatever it was you them came in the next bracket.
We need some oldschool airshow/event organisers to pop there heads in.
Oh and I am sure around the 90s it was a cheque for 80 quid to the CAA for the approval of 1 to 3 aircraft/display.
BBMF do flypasts all the time and I am sure they are not classed as an airshow.
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February 10, 2016 at 10:48 am