I HAVE attended many airshows over the past 30 years but none quite so appalling and poorly organised as RIAT 2002.
Delays and disruptions on the scale experienced by many local residents and visitors alike last weekend are quite unacceptable.
After spending two hours on Saturday "parked" on the A419 I reached the official car park at 10am, queued for a further 90 minutes to clear security, entered the airfield at 11.30am to the sound of an aircraft hitting the runway.
Fortunately no-one was hurt but the decision to continue with the show given the effect on those who witnessed the incident and the impact on the subsequent flying display, reflects badly on the organisers.
As the "flying display" closed a mass exodus ensued and even those who sought sanctuary at the concert found it, too, plagued by problems.
Later that evening music of a different kind filled the air as I entered the car park to a fanfare of hundreds of car horns heralding yet more traffic chaos. Escape was futile. I eventually arrived home at 1am.
It can't go on like this. Instead of "reviewing transport arrangements," RIAT needs to face up to its responsibilities and find a new home for the air tattoo located at an active airfield close to a major road network.
In the meantime RIAT has uncomfortable questions to answer, not least how many will bother returning next year to endure more of the same?
P TAYLOR
Horsham,West Sussex
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