Royal International Air Tattoo » Aircraft at the Tattoo » FAQ's
FAQ's
Policy on Release of Aircraft Information
Discovering which new aircraft have been added to the Air Tattoo participation list is all part of the exciting build-up to the world's greatest airshow!
Each Thursday at midday, the official Aircraft Participation List will be updated. There will be occasions when confirmation of certain aircraft may have to be released on a day other than Thursday, however, we will try to keep these to a minimum.
In addition we will be trialling a new 'traffic light' feature to support the official list. This will name every country that has been invited to the Air Tattoo. When we enter into further discussions about possible participation - an amber light will appear alongside. When we receive written confirmation from a country's air arm or civilian operator that they plan to attend RIAT 2012, a green light will appear alongside.
Countries with green lights will go to the top of the list followed by those with amber lights. Countries that have declined their invitation will be listed below under a red button.
Green lights can be hyperlinked to information relating to the aircraft, air arm/civilian operator and whether it is flying, static or a visitor. Alongside the 'traffic light' feature will run a dedicated blog providing brief details behind each country's light status.
Frequently asked questions
What is the policy for inviting countries and their air arms?
We work with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) to agree the list of countries we wish to invite – and it's a long one! We then write to the Chief of each air arm, inviting him/her and his aircraft to RIAT. We also send a copy of the invitation to their attachés at their Embassies in London. Finally, we follow up with letters to individual squadrons and tasking offices in each country.
How often is the aircraft participation list updated?
The participation list will be updated weekly, on a Thursday at midday. There is more about the release of aircraft information in the policy above.
How is it decided if an aircraft is to be invited to fly or be presented in the static park?
We request specific aircraft types for both the flying and static displays and if we get a favourable response, the operator generally decides whether they will fly or be part of the static display. As you would expect we work pretty hard, to entice the 'very special' aircraft to fly, but cannot always guarantee success.
How do air arms determine if they will attend RIAT?
The general rule is that Operations and Training come first - if there are flying hours and a budget available, then they may choose to use them for air shows. Most air forces will have a tasking office that collates all requests and then allocate aircraft to the shows that offer most value/benefit to them. These decisions are usually made between January and April, which is why some aircraft are confirmed later than others. And although it may be tempting, it is counterproductive for any individual to try and circumvent this system – these offices do not take kindly to it, so please be patient.
When is the running order for the flying display put together?
The flying display running order planning starts in May but will change weekly due to the additions, cancellations and the changing requirements of participants. It is not properly finalised until the week of the show and even then it can change, for technical, weather and/or pilot health reasons.
What is the policy on rescheduling flying acts in the event of disruption to the planned flying schedule?
Our policy is not to reschedule. If the weather or an incident affects any part of the flying display programme, then unfortunately, those scheduled to fly during the period in question will lose their slots. We believe this is the fairest policy to all the crews who have generously travelled from all around the world to take part in the Air Tattoo.
Why do aircraft not use flares in their display at RIAT?
Sadly, given the configuration of RAF Fairford during RIAT, we have not been able to identify any location for parking armed aircraft that will satisfy the stringent MOD regulations covering explosive materials. And this is not for the lack of trying!
Why do aircraft on the participation list sometimes cancel?
There are numerous reasons why aircraft cancel, but operational commitments, higher priority tasking, technical issues and budget restrictions are the most frequent. When we receive notification of a cancellation we always go back to the operator to see if there is anything we can do to reverse the decision. Please be assured that we don't just take no for an answer!
What does TBA on the participation list mean?
That the aircraft is confirmed but we are waiting to hear which squadron it will come from.
If an aircraft cancels, does this free up money for another aircraft to be brought in?
Generally no, as the majority of military participants attend at their own expense, knowing the charitable purpose of our parent – the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust. However, in exceptional circumstances where we are contributing financially, then we do look to source a replacement. Of course, the closer to the show it is, the more difficult this becomes, but we never stop trying and in the past, deals have been struck with only two days to go – for both military and civilian aircraft!
