Shoreham, Restrictions on vintage jets announced

[zeeuwric]

Significant restrictions on vintage jets in air displays have been imposed after the Shoreham Airshow crash, the UK's aviation regulator has announced.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said vintage jets would be "limited to flypasts" and "high-energy aerobatics" would not be permitted.

At least 11 people died after a Hawker Hunter jet crashed on to the A27 in West Sussex on Saturday.

The death toll is expected to rise as parts of the wreckage are removed.

source BBC (breaking) news

[Agfaritsrats]

That would be swift.
You can read this on BBC-site:
Aviation regulator the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has said it is considering whether safety requirements should change.
All else would be premature and to hastily.

but : First an investigation will be done by the AAIB,
And as there where deads involved, perhaps / possibly / likely along with a criminal investigation into any (wilful) wrong doing, neglect and establishing responsibility etc. etc.

[Stratofreighter]

http://www.caa.co.uk/application.aspx?c ... l&nid=2479

CAA announces restrictions on UK airshows
Date: 24 August 2015

- Our thoughts remain with all of those affected by this tragedy
- CAA review of air shows already commenced
- New restrictions now in place for future air shows
- Temporary measures introduced to give authorities time for thorough review

The thoughts of everyone at the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) remain with all of those affected by the tragic accident at the Shoreham Air Show on Saturday 22 August.

Following the accident we immediately began an urgent review and have, today, announced a series of immediate restrictions and changes to UK civil air displays.

The CAA has announced the following:

• As a precaution, on Saturday 22 August we took steps to ensure no further flights were made by Hawker Hunter aircraft - this temporary restriction remains in place.

• Flying displays over land by vintage jet aircraft will be significantly restricted until further notice.
They will be limited to flypasts, which means ‘high energy’ aerobatics will not be permitted.

• The CAA will conduct additional risk assessments on all forthcoming civil air displays to establish if additional measures should be introduced.

• We commenced a full review of civil air display safety yesterday and held an initial meeting this morning.

The safety standards that must be met by all major civil air displays in the UK are among the very highest in the world and are regularly reviewed.

All air display arrangements, including the pilots and aircraft, must meet rigorous safety requirements. Individual display pilots are only granted approval following a thorough test of their abilities.

The CAA will continue to offer every assistance to the Air Accidents Investigation Branch as it seeks to establish the cause of the accident.
The CAA will also act promptly in response to any emerging indications from the AAIB’s investigation.

Further details will be provided in the coming days and we will continue to work with the industry to ensure the most appropriate action is taken as a result of this review

[frank kramer]

Just a thought: the CAA's (temporary?) ban on flying Hawker Hunter aircraft might very well also extend to our two "Dutch" Hunters N-294 and N-321, as they are both operated under UK registrations (and therefore come under the legislation/jurisdiction of the CAA)...

[ehusmann]

I would assume not, unless the planes are flying at a UK airshow:

announced a series of immediate restrictions and changes to UK civil air displays.

Granted, you could read this both ways, either UK registered aircraft performing displays, or displays performed in the UK. However, the second sounds more likely to me, otherwise foreign registered civil aircraft could still perform normally in the UK, which is unlikely at this time.

Erwin

[frank kramer]

No, they have grounded UK-registered Hawker Hunters for the time being AND imposed restrictions on UK civil air displays. That is what this message says:

As a precaution, on Saturday 22 August we took steps to ensure no further flights were made by Hawker Hunter aircraft - this temporary restriction remains in place..

[Agfaritsrats]

Under these rules, I would be highly surprised if they would take off even one time, before the conclusions of the investigation are made public.

[Glidepath]

I understand de Hunter ban for now. (or the Gnat)

Every plane, big or small, jet or prop, slow or fast, when coming down, or rolling into spectators or by-standers they can cause havoc. *)
So, I Wonder why the ohter rule only affects 'vintage jets'.

*- Remember the fatal Oostende airshow disaster. (an Extra 300)

[D.R.]

The maintenance on these jets is under strict rules by the same CAA so they should know these jets are safe and some would probably be in better shape than some airliners and military jets flying around the UK. My issue is that 'vintage jet' is not defined. The Red Arrows fly in Hawks, the type was introduced in 1976 that makes it 40 years next year. Isn't that vintage?

[tally]

Great kneejerk reaction by the CAA.

[aviodromefriend]

The Red Arrows fly in Hawks, the type was introduced in 1976 that makes it 40 years next year. Isn't that vintage?

Difference is that the Reds are not a civil team, but they fall under the MAA, not the CAA. Also the Hawks have been grounded (including the Reds) quite a few times when the MAA or RAF thought it was the right thing to do (remember Jon Egging and Sean Cunningham), like the CAA now thinks it is the right thing to not have Hunters up in the air for the moment.

(P.S. Wasn't the Hawks 40th already "celebrated" one or two years ago at RIAT?)

[frank kramer]

(P.S. Wasn't the Hawks 40th already "celebrated" one or two years ago at RIAT?)

In 2013 they celebrated 40 years of Hawk from the flight of the first prototype, but they weren't introduced to the RAF and later the Reds till some years later. And in 2014 they celebrated 50 years of Red Arrows (including the Gnat period).

[Alpha Kilo One]

Still I think it was a reaction to false sentiment. Ever heard of banning flights with a certain type of civil plane? Yes I do mean the one disappeared in mysterious circumstances, still unsolved....

[Fogg]

Certainly. All 787s, Concordes and DC-10s were grounded after incidents/crashes, for example, which cost millions.

Hunters are flying only for fun, instead outsiders were killed. Of course you ground them until it's clear what happened. Rather than a knee-jerk reaction, it's a no-brainer.

[Glidepath]

Quoting the director of Classic Air Force on the decision of the CAA : "Admirable"
as he IS an insider 100% (and 30x over) and if he feels it is okay like that, why should WE think different?

the CAA doing nothing would be really bad.

The maintenance on these jets is under strict rules by the same CAA so they should know these jets are safe ................

That is not per sé the case. One faulty item, one mistake, by pilot or by maintenance, failing compliance to safety rules or maintenance schedules, or even deliberate action, or by distraction; anyone of these alone can contribute or cause an incident or accident.