Safety costs put air show at risk say organisers

Organisers have warned that ticket prices may have to rise if new proposals from the Civil Aviation Authority are to go ahead.

Following the tragedy at Shoreham airshow last summer the CAA reviewed the safety requirements and charging structures for all UK air displays.

Show organiser David Polie MBE says that although the proposals do not require the Little Gransden team to implement any changes to their existing safety processes the new charges threaten to make the show financially unviable for the volunteer team.

The charges for the 2015 show were around £1,500, the proposed charges for the 2016 show on August 28 are around £7,000.

Mr Poile said that without increasing ticket costs it would adversely affect the final donation to BBC Children in Need, the show’s main supported charity, and as a fixed cost it may be too big a financial gamble for the volunteer team to take, as along with public liability insurance most of the payment is due prior to the show.

Last year more than £60,000 was donated to Children in Need.

The team has joined with other show organisers and airshow enthusiasts in signing a petition against the costs that to date has over 12,000 signatures. Details of the proposals and the petition can be found at www.littlegransdenshow.co.uk

Tickets for this year’s show are available on the website from April 1.

Eleven men were killed when a Hawker Hunter jet crashed on the A27 at the Shoreham Air show on August 22.