Accessibility/Disabled

RIAT is a very large event, set on an airfield around two miles in length. We have tried to minimise the need to walk long distances with our free showground shuttle buses and electric scooter/manual wheelchair hire, but please be aware that the event may not be suitable for everybody, especially those with restricted mobility.

Facilities & Parking

There is a large amount of hard standing along the showground where the static aircraft are parked, however there is also a grassed area from the hard standing to the runway. Please be aware that the grass length might be long because of the management of birds on the airfield. The grassed areas can be uneven in places and are therefore not always practical for electric scooters, wheelchairs or for those with restricted mobility.

What we offer:

  • Free of charge PA/carer ticket with a paying adult (conditions apply)
  • Designated accessible car parks
  • Electric scooter/manual wheelchair hire (through the Event Mobility Charitable Trust)

 

accessible Parking Permit / Designated accessible Car Parks

Visitors who require accessible parking, or have booked with Event Mobility, please complete the Accessibility Request Form link below:

Accessibility Request Form

There is no designated disabled car park in the Blue Car Parks and we recommend that visitors with mobility difficulties do not park here as they are all field car parks with uneven ground and are some distance from the Blue Customer Entry Point.

 

Disabled/Accessible Toilets and High Dependency Unit (HDU)

There are accessible toilets in each toilet block on the showground. In addition to these there is a high dependency unit (HDU) in the accessible viewing area.  

If you have not booked into the viewing area, but need to use the HDU at any time during your visit please speak to the staff in the accessible viewing area. Please note this facility is only available for use by people with a RADAR key.

 

Electric Scooter/Manual Wheelchair Hire

The Event Mobility Charitable Trust will be providing electric scooters and manual wheelchairs for use by disabled, elderly and mobility impaired visitors to RIAT.

Electric scooters and manual wheelchairs must be booked in advance. To book visit eventmobility.org.uk, email info@eventmobility.org.uk or contact the office on 01386 725391 to request an advance booking form.

Electric scooters: £30.00 per day to hire

Manual wheelchairs: £10.00 per day to hire

The pick-up/drop-off points will be in the Red and Green car parks close to the customer entry points and by the Yellow customer entry point.

If you hire an electric scooter or wheelchair from Event Mobility this automatically entitles you to a RIAT accessible parking permit for our designated accessible car parks - please complete the Accessibility Request Form. Please note you will be asked to quote your Event Mobility booking reference number on the form.

You are welcome to bring your own electric scooter with you to RIAT, but please ensure that the battery is fully charged on arrival as there are no charging facilities available at the show.

Tickets & Carers

Disabled customers with a full price adult ticket are entitled to one free ticket for their PA/carer (conditions apply).  A child (or children) with a disability must be accompanied by a paying adult.  

Please note there are no PA/carer concessions available for Park & View or for any of the public enclosures on the showground.

To apply for a PA/carer ticket in advance and to order a RIAT disabled parking permit, you should fill in our Accessibility Request Form here where you will be required to upload a copy of your DLA document.  The form, including your DLA document will be then kept on file.

In order to benefit from any of our early bird pricing offers, we advise buying your tickets in advance and apply for your PA/carer tickets retrospectively.  However, if you would prefer not to do this, then fill in our Accessibility Request Form before you purchase your own ticket.  

You will be asked to provide one or more of the following:

  • DLA/PIP or equivalent - DLA must be middle or higher rate for care and mobility
  • Medical professionals letter - reviewed case by case
  • Deaf or blind registration
  • Nimbus Access Card or equivalent
  • Valid blue badge

Please do not book PA/carer tickets on line as they cannot be changed at a later date.

Assistance Dogs

We welcome all registered guide dogs, hearing dogs and medical alert dogs at RIAT.

If you wish to bring an assistance dog with you for your visit, please ensure you have a valid identification document from Assistance Dogs (UK) and/or the assistance dog must wear a jacket/coat identifying it as such.

Assistance dogs must always be kept on a lead and must not be left unattended at any time.

We want to make it clear that due to the nature of our event, it is not a suitable environment for the majority of dogs, and they are therefore prohibited.

This decision was made after consulting with industry leaders within animal welfare, who cited several reasons why it could be potentially harmful to bring a dog with you.

Things to consider

  • The airshow is extremely loud for over nine hours a day, which can be distressing for animals.
  • The airfield can also become very hot and has limited shaded areas. In 2022, a temperature of over 40 degrees was recorded.
  • From a safety standpoint, the runway is in very close proximity to the showground and should a dog make its way onto the runway it could become a safety hazard for everyone in attendance.

The Royal International Air Tattoo is committed to being a fully inclusive event and because of this, we do recognise that some visitors will require a dog to accompany them for medical reasons.

In compliance with the Equality Act 2010, we will accommodate them in this situation via a case-by-case basis.

To proceed with an application, contact us via enquiries@rafcte.com.

Once you have done this, you will be sent a form which must be completed in order for us to collect the relevant information about you and your animal.

Following a successful application, you will be supplied with a reference number for your dog which will allow us to identify it.

Please note, we are entitled to and will turn dogs away upon entry if they have not complied with this process, or do not meet our assistance dog requirements.

Yes, all visitors with a Blue Badge, in receipt of Personal Independence Payment (PIP), middle or higher/enhanced rate of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for care and mobility, deaf or blind registration or a Nimbus access card or equivalent, attending on the public days of the show (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) are entitled to bring one PA/Carer free of charge.
The PA/Carer concessionary ticket must be requested using our Accessibility Request Form below.
Children (aged under 18 years) with a disability as with all child tickets for the venue must be accompanied by a paying adult, before an adult PA/Carer's ticket can be requested.
Please note our Personal Assistance Scheme is not available on our Park and View days.
Please do not book PA/carer tickets on line as they cannot be changed/refunded at a later date.

Accessibility Request Form

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There is an Accessible Viewing Area at the showground suitable for both wheelchair and mobility scooter users.  Please complete the Accessibility Request Form below, to request your tickets.

Accessibility Request Form

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Yes, there are two designated accessible car parks.  One is close to the Customer Entry Point in the Red Car Park and the other is close to the Customer Entry Point in the Green Car Park.

Visitors who hire an electric scooter/manual wheelchair from Event Mobility Charitable Trust, but do not have a Blue Badge or receive the higher/enhanced mobility component of DLA/PIP can apply for a RIAT Accessible Parking Permit, allowing them to park in the designated car parks.

To request an accessible parking permit, please complete the form below.

The closing date to apply for a RIAT Accessible Parking Permit is Friday 5 July 2024.

Accessibility Request Form

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Yes - but please ensure that the battery is fully charged before your arrival as there are no facilities available to recharge them should they go flat.

We also recommend that you bring a puncture repair kit/pump in case of a flat tyre.

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Yes, there are accessible toilets in each toilet block on the showground. There is also a High Dependency Unit (HDU) in the Accessible Viewing Area. If you haven't booked a place in this area but need to use HDU at any time during your visit to RIAT, please speak to the staff in the Accessible Viewing Area. If you have your own RADAR key please bring it with you.

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Yes, there is a High Dependency Unit (HDU) in the Accessible Viewing Area. If you haven't booked a place in the Area but need to use HDU at any time during your visit to RIAT, please speak to the staff in the Accessible Viewing Area. If you have your own RADAR key please bring it with you.

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There are plenty of hard standing walkways along the showground where the static aircraft are parked however there is also a grassed area from the hard standing to the crowdline, which can be uneven in places and not always practical for wheelchairs and mobility scooters.

There is an Accessible Viewing Area on the crowdline, which can be booked by completing the Accessibility request form below.

Accessibility Request Form

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Unfortunately, pet dogs and any other animals are not permitted entry to the showground, Park & View areas or official RIAT car parks. This is not only for health and safety reasons, but the vast majority of aircraft at RIAT are extremely noisy and very likely to cause distress to any animal. 

RIAT is committed to being a fully inclusive event and because of this, we do recognise that some visitors will require a dog to accompany them for medical reasons.

In compliance with the Equality Act 2010, we will accommodate them in this situation via a case-by-case basis.

To proceed with an application, contact us via enquiries@rafcte.com.

Once you have done this, you will be sent a form which must be completed in order for us to collect the relevant information about you and your animal.

Following a successful application, you will be supplied with a reference number for your dog which will allow us to identify it.

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Electric scooters and manual wheelchairs must be booked in advance.  To book visit www.eventmobility.org.uk, email: info@eventmobility.org.uk or contact the office on 01386 725 391 to request an advance booking form.

The pick-up/drop-off points will be close to the customer entry points in the Red Car Park on Friday and both Red and Green Car Parks Saturday & Sunday and by the Yellow Customer Entry Point for those coming by bus/coach.

If you hire an electric scooter or wheelchair from Event Mobility this entitles you to a RIAT Accessible Parking Permit for our designated car parks - please complete our Accessibility Request Form below.  When completing the form please quote your Event Mobility booking reference.

You are welcome to bring your own electric scooter with you to RIAT, but please ensure hat the battery is fully charged on arrival as there are no charging facilities available at the show.

Accessibility Request Form

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