24 August 2005
The Red Arrows were forced to stage a very curtailed display after a considerable delay at the annual Yorkshire Air Show at Elvington following a series of airspace infringements. A microlight, a glider and a large flock of birds all strayed into the restricted airspace in addition to one other, as yet, unspecified infringement. The team were forced to stand-off four miles from the airfield marking the only break in a very entertaining day.
This is the second display disrupted by infringements this year following one at Cottesmore. Over the past three years the Red Arrows’ protected airspace was infringed on 14 occasions. This not only posed real danger to all the aircraft involved but also, in some cases, denied thousands of members of the public the chance to see the team perform.
Typically, Temporary Restricted Airspace for the Red Arrows will be a column of airspace extending up to 8,000’ above the display site out to a radius of six miles and this will be active for around 35 to 40 minutes. John Hills, Head of the CAA’s General Aviation Department, said: “The infringements of the Red Arrows’ airspace is just one example of the numerous hazardous incidents that occur throughout the UK every year. In many cases the pilots simply haven’t briefed themselves properly before taking off. In our view ignorance can be no excuse.”
There are several ways to obtain pre-flight briefing information. One of the easiest ways to check on temporary restricted airspace (such as Red Arrows displays) is by calling the dedicated Aeronautical Information Services (AIS) freephone information line on 0500 354 802
