Air Display: "Full safeguards are in place"

Wednesday 26 August 2015

The Jersey International Air Display can be “called off in seconds” if safety officials on the ground think there’s any danger to pilots or the public, according to organiser Mike Higgins.

“We have a system in place known as ‘red carding’ so if at any point we are concerned about safety all we have to do is radio the pilot ‘Stop! Stop! Stop!’ and we call them off instantly,” Deputy Higgins explained.

The decision is made by a Flying Control Committee (FCC) which was set up to make the show as safe as possible.

Deputy Higgins’ comments follow the events at Shoreham air show on Saturday that saw 11 people killed after a 1950’s Hawker jet crash into traffic on the A27 motorway.

Deputy Higgins explained that the FCC committee have never yet had to issue a “red card” but came close when poor weather and visibility affected a Red Arrows display several years ago.

Deputy Higgins added: “Such committees are not required for civil air shows like ours and are usually found in place at Military bases.”

The committee comprises air traffic controller Darren Duprée and former RAF pilots Les Garside-Beattie, who flew Harriers and was team manager of the Red Arrows, and Mike Stanway who has extensive experience as a fast jet pilot.

The committee also includes air ambulance pilot Neil Airey who has over 14,000 hours flight experience.

Deputy Higgins said: “The FCC help us from the start by looking at every plane we have coming over here, checking they are in top mechanical shape and that the pilots have the appropriate licences and permits to fly.

“We hold extensive meetings with the Island’s emergency services to discuss safety, any foreseeable problems and scenarios including the response plans for if a plane comes down in the sea of further inland. Everyone is thoroughly and completely prepared.

“We even have a team of divers who wait in St Aubin’s bay, ready to deal with an incident should one arise.

“Safety is paramount for everybody involved in the display. I would never put on a display that I believed to be dangerous.”

The crash on Saturday has led to Hawker aircraft being grounded and restrictions being made by the Civil Aviation Authority on fast jets performing “highly dynamic” manoeuvres over land.

The incident has also sparked a review of safety guidelines for air shows, and a preliminary report by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch is expected to be published within weeks.