Red Arrows @ Fowey Royal Regatta cancelled over safety fears

[Esseesse]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-3582...

Article said:

The annual Red Arrows show at Fowey Royal Regatta has been scrapped after an audit found there was not enough space to perform above the town's river.

The Military Aviation Authority audit raised concerns over the width of the "safety corridor" below the display.

Well that's sad. There used to be enough room for them to fly when I was a child 15/20 years ago. I can remember my Grandfather saying that they used to fly much much lower before than then even.

Edit:



http://www.cornishguardian.co.uk/Fowey-Regatta-Red...

Edited by Esseesse on Friday 18th March 12:05

[Vocal Minority]

What crap.

I remember watching it from the hillside, seeing at at (more a less) eye level was something else

[ruttboy]

Gutted, this was one of the best displays by the Reds I've ever seen as they were at eye level or below and you could see everything!

I will sorely miss this one.

[Chrisgr31]

I see the article state that it is not thought to be related to the Shoreham accident. I would assume it is directly related to the Shoreham accident and they have checked and discovered there is not a hope in hell of keeping the display within a box over the river. In fact the Red Arrows got a specific mention in the Shoreham report referring to the Bournemouth accident.

As regards the height of the Red Arrows I assume they are bound by national rules, but they did have an incident in Brighton where they had an aircraft ditch after it hit the mast of a yacht. It would appear relatively lucky it didn't crash in to Palace Pier!

[ecsrobin]

Chrisgr31 said:

I see the article state that it is not thought to be related to the Shoreham accident. I would assume it is directly related to the Shoreham accident and they have checked and discovered there is not a hope in hell of keeping the display within a box over the river. In fact the Red Arrows got a specific mention in the Shoreham report referring to the Bournemouth accident.

As regards the height of the Red Arrows I assume they are bound by national rules, but they did have an incident in Brighton where they had an aircraft ditch after it hit the mast of a yacht. It would appear relatively lucky it didn't crash in to Palace Pier!

I doubt it is related the reds have been under scrutiny by the MAA for a while now I'm led to believe.

[Esseesse]

ecsrobin said:

I doubt it is related the reds have been under scrutiny by the MAA for a while now I'm led to believe.

Has something become more dangerous, or have acceptable risk levels been reduced?

[ecsrobin]

Esseesse said:

ecsrobin said:

I doubt it is related the reds have been under scrutiny by the MAA for a while now I'm led to believe.

Has something become more dangerous, or have acceptable risk levels been reduced?

No change in the rules as far as I'm aware, just implementing the rules.

[Chrisgr31]

ecsrobin said:

No change in the rules as far as I'm aware, just implementing the rules.

The relevant paragraph from Shoreham appears to be

"A sample of flights by other aircraft at the 2015 Shoreham display and elsewhere showed
that infringements of this nature were not confined to one aircraft, pilot or venue. A similar
issue was previously identified by the Ministry of Defence Service Inquiry into the loss of
Hawk XX179 near Bournemouth on 20 August 20119
. It found that, during the flying display
prior to the accident, at least one aircraft of the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team had been
‘in contravention of extant Regulations governing flight over Congested Areas’. This was
not considered to be a deliberate breach of regulation but due to the pilot believing they
were cleared to do so by their display permission. However, they were not and the Service
Inquiry commented that ‘the societal risks associated with such manoeuvring had not been
fully considered.’ "

So yes the MAA would presumably have been looking at Red Arrows display anyway but Shoreham would give action further impetus.

[ecsrobin]

Just like the Reds run and break at an airfield, it has always been done but had never been cleared.

[Steve_D]

ecsrobin said:

Just like the Reds run and break at an airfield, it has always been done but had never been cleared.

My understanding is the 'run and break' has two purposes. One to give a small display for the field hosting their stopover and second a well planned and practised way of breaking up the formation into a landing pattern.

Steve

[astroarcadia]

Thats a shame.

Most of my childhood holidays were spent on the terrace of a house on the Esplanade watching the Reds during Regatta Week.

The Y in the estuary made it the perfect location for a display.

[ecsrobin]

Steve_D said:

ecsrobin said:

Just like the Reds run and break at an airfield, it has always been done but had never been cleared.

My understanding is the 'run and break' has two purposes. One to give a small display for the field hosting their stopover and second a well planned and practised way of breaking up the formation into a landing pattern.

Steve

Correct however no one had ever signed it off.

[21TonyK]

Wonder if it could impact on Dartmouth?