Rally 2017 Multiple Landing Slots

[Gavin Bell]

Given the plea for people not to book multiple slots, it amazing to still see that some aircraft are attending the Rally so many times.

When you drag out those that are coming multiple times under different pilots it still leaves a lot of aircraft with multiple slots for the same pilot. Now there may well be some innocents who are genuinely coming on all 3 days and credit for being so enthusiastic. For the rest, just give some thought that your slots - and someone has 6 slots booked - may be preventing others from flying in........

Friday 11:52 G- NY Avtech Jabiru SP470 EGHP
Friday 17:31 G- NY Avtech Jabiru SP470 EGHP
Friday 12:43 G- WT Comco Ikarus C42 FB80 Ince Blundell, Liverpool
Friday 17:34 G- WT Comco Ikarus C42 FB80 Ince Blundell, Liverpool
Friday 11:19 G- EX Europa Fishburn, Durham
Saturday 11:06 G- EX Europa Fishburn, Durham
Sunday 11:05 G- EX Europa Fishburn, Durham
Saturday 08:58 G- NE Cessna F.172N EGSX
Sunday 09:54 G- NE Cessna F.172N EGSX
Sunday 09:56 G- NE Cessna F.172N EGSX
Saturday 08:37 G- WH Denney Kitfox 4 Croft Farm, Defford, Worcs
Saturday 10:33 G- WH Denney Kitfox 4 Croft Farm, Defford, Worcs



I think the prize has to go to Ben with no fewer than 6 landing slots across all 3 days

Friday 09:49 G-BVVP Europa Ben Fawkes Hadfold Farm, Adversane, Sussex
Friday 11:50 G-BVVP Europa BEN FAWKES Hadfold Farm, Adversane, Sussex
Saturday 09:51 G-BVVP Europa Ben Fawkes Hadfold Farm, Adversane, Sussex
Saturday 11:40 G-BVVP Europa Ben Fawkes Hadfold Farm, Adversane, Sussex
Sunday 09:58 G-BVVP Europa Ben Fawkes Hadfold Farm, Adversane, Sussex
Sunday 11:27 G-BVVP Europa Ben Fawkes Hadfold Farm, Adversane, Sussex

Another special award to see if he can get 2 circuits done within his booked slots...was the 2nd slot in case of weather
Friday 17:53 G-IKON Vans RV-4 N Spooner Great Oakley, Essex
Friday 17:54 G-IKON Vans RV-4 N Spooner Great Oakley, Essex


Busy day from Bodmin...
Friday 14:29 G- OR Aeronca 11AC Chief EGLA
Friday 17:44 G- OR Aeronca 11AC Chief EGLA

[Alan Kilbride]

Hmm.
Food for thought. Good shout Gav.

[John Price]

I think Ben needs to find a more reliable alarm clock!

John.

[Paul Lowry]

Having received the reminder email from the LAA yesterday I reconsidered attending the rally. I have been most years and I wasn't sure if I was going to this year or not. I tried to book a slot both on Friday and Saturday and found it was fully booked and obvious to me that several pilots had booked multiple slots which I can understand with our weather. I also noticed the weather excuse could not apply in some cases as detailed in this thread.
I won't bother again - if we can't do something to change this broken system then we certainly have no chance of returning to the days when 2000 aircraft attended. A colleague commented to me earlier this week that there are record numbers of aircraft on the LAA register but far lower numbers attending the rally than in the past. Given this CAA restriction on our annual event can anyone suggest a way of "allowing" more aircraft to attend and avoiding this ridiculous booking system as it restricts the numbers?

[JJennings]

You could always divide aeroplanes into 3 groups.
Homebuilts
Permit
Factory built
Then give priority in that order

[mike newall]

Join at the holding area, find a gap, follow the aeroplane in front and smile when you land.....

Slot..... what slot ? Aren't you signed up to Strasser here - I need a cup of tea, couldn't get one at Leicester and I'm gagging

[Gavin Bell]

If there's no dedicated RV parking area I'm not going anymore ....so there!

[mike newall]

One is going to Fife, four a spot of luncheon..........

[dmcnicholl]

Have to agree with Paul Lowry's post. Particularly for those who fly slower, VFR machines from the more distant parts of the country and requiring multiple fuel stops to get there, the slot booking requirement is one of the biggest disincentives to visit the Rally.

[Brian Hope]

I'm afraid the slot system is here for the foreseeable future, it is insisted on by CAA and neither we, nor Sywell have any option. I do not however believe it should be a disincentive to attend the Rally, Sywell are flexible in helpful in the way they manage the system, you aim to arrive at the allotted time but there is a good degree of latitude if you have suffered wx or tech delays.
When we did the analysis of slot bookings, over 25% were double or more bookings. Whilst some are genuine in that a different group member would be flying the aircraft in or the owner would be coming and going each day, the large majority are people booking extra slots in case of wx problems. We asked for cooperation this year and I hope when we do the analysis for this year we will find that pilots have been reasonable. If the problem persists we will have to think of an alternative strategy, maybe charging the landing fee for second and subsequent bookings in advance. This will undoubtedly inconvenience the genuine return visitors, but it simply is not fair to take bookings that won't be used and deny other members the opportunity of getting a slot time near to when they wish to arrive, or even a slot at all.
I hope those of you who make it to Sywell have a great trip and a good time at the show. Wx is good and we are ready to welcome you.
Rgds, Brian

[mikeblyth]

2015 weather issue in morning went to Fenland had lunch, phoned Sywell and where granted an afternoon slot, no problem.

[P5151]

Why do people have to make an issue out of something that is not an issue?

I usually book a slot each day of the rally, and usually fly in every day, WX permitting. Having said that I don't think I have ever come within 10 minutes of my slot time, but have never had a problem with traffic getting in. If there are several aircraft about you can get into the reservoir circuit, if not play follow the leader and make your approach.

There is absolutely no need to book two slots, this just messes up someone else's chances of getting into the system.