FRIAT Stand Location 2025

[Harlequin67]

The FRIAT Stand will be located at same distance from runway as viewing Grandstand!

2025 could be very poor.

One thought, the stand had safely been in place for 20 odd years or more, and is now unsafe?

Or if I was cynical in the way of corporate tents!

[Tommy]

Dear FRIAT Member,

We hope you are looking forward to joining us at this year’s Royal International Air Tattoo. It promises to be a spectacular show with aircraft from around the world and some real highlights planned to recognise our various themes. Now just please keep your fingers crossed for good weather! You should have received information regarding the 2024 event from our team. If you have not received it, please contact Wendy Toms using our FRIAT email address:friat@rafcte.com

We are contacting you today to inform you of some important changes that are being implemented to the FRIAT offering for RIAT25 and beyond. Regrettably, these changes are unavoidable. However, as sincerely valued customers we wanted to be open and honest with you, as we value your support and passion for our event.

As many of you will know, there are strict safety limits to how close obstructions of certain height can be placed next to runways and we also have conditions relating to the visibility of the runway and taxiway holding points from the Air Traffic Control tower; all of which we must either adhere to or seek exemptions and waivers from the relevant authorities. The process of obtaining such is becoming increasingly complicated and the increased operational tempo of RAF Fairford further complicates this process during the build phase. In addition, we have an overarching responsibility to be as compliant with relevant rules and regulations; this is something that we have proactively sought to achieve in the post-COVID era. Unfortunately, in achieving compliance with updated airfield safeguarding criteria at RAF Fairford, the current location for the FRIAT grandstand is no longer possible and will need to be relocated for RIAT25.

I attach a link to a plan which indicates the new location here:

Despite its new location, the FRIAT grandstand will continue to offer a complete view of the runway and whilst the structure has moved back from the crowd line, we will still be creating a crowd line section dedicated to FRIAT in front of the grandstand. By doing this, you will maintain the same footprint of exclusive FRIAT front row crowd line space as before, allowing you to move freely between your allocated seat, your designated crowd line space and your enclosure facilities.

Looking forward, it is our ambition to continually enhance the offer for aviation enthusiasts at RIAT. To do this, we have established a cross department working group, which will be working vigorously to further deliver a package to our most dedicated visitors. At this year’s show, various members of the RAFCTE permanent staff team, some of whom are part of this group, will be visiting the FRIAT enclosure to hear your thoughts on what you’d like to see us explore – this includes Dan Sewell, who I have recently appointed as Visitor Experience Director and I know he is looking forward to engaging with you to make your FRIAT experience the best it can be.

A key element of Dan’s role is to build on his experience and expertise in the event industry to explore ways to improve the overall customer experience; clearly FRIAT features large in this ambition. We shall be seeking ways of introducing a camping option for FRIAT as part of a new RIAT official campsite; we’re confident that this will launch in 2026 once we have fully developed solutions to the myriad operational, technical and contractual challenges involved in delivering this properly and to an appropriate standard. We are confident that our planned enhancements to the FRIAT package next year, and in future, will provide a unique and memorable experience year after year and ensure you get the best photographic opportunities of the amazing aircraft which we all love to see at RAF Fairford.

Best regards


Paul Atherton

Guess we’ll have to see.

[linco33]

I'm guessing then if you want to be as close as previous years you'll need to be parked up against the rope on the crowdline.

[WG655]

What a shame - particularly following on so closely from the confirmed removal of the dedicated access lane. Only positive is credit where credit is due to DBH for announcing it over 12 months in advance.

What else is left to take away from the package? "As the grandstand is now situated nearer to the taxiway, we regrettably can't open it for arrivals and departures due to FOD and jet efflux concerns..."

Interested to learn how the space is re-designated, and quite how this will 'enhance' the experience...

[Bodz156]

Probably another tick in the box for those who think they're trying to kill off FRIAT as a thing....it's 'death by a thousand cuts' really.

Wait & see, but that's not going to be popular I would say. And no alternative perks added to make up for it, yet....

[Gregson]

Dear FRIAT Member,

By doing this, you will maintain the same footprint of exclusive FRIAT front row crowd line space as before, allowing you to move freely between your allocated seat, your designated crowd line space and your enclosure facilities.

Best regards


Paul Atherton

Guess we’ll have to see.

Pretty simple:

1) FRIAT grandstand will be back from the crowdline
2) You have a choice a) view from the grandstand further back or b) use your designated spot on the crowdline where you will be on ground-level at the same height as everyone else around you. So tall people will benefit over the more vertically challenged.

[capercaillie]

I think its people not in FRIAT that may have to worry?

From the first read, everyone has a seat in the stand and a designated place on the crowdline they can move freely between? How much space do 2000 people take up on the crowdline? Or am I misreading that?

Or is it just a standard line length and there is going to be an enormous fight?

[linco33]

Or is it just a standard line length and there is going to be an enormous fight?

I'd imagine that everyone at the front benefits, and anyone else behind loses out, in terms of photography, certainly if you want to shoot stuff on the runway.

[Harlequin67]

Thank you Tommy for posting the email.

The plan means the stand and FRIAT enclosure move left Or west further from east end of runway.

Row A is no longer sort after....Row L will be soooo much closer to runway! Lol

[rockfordstone]

The FRIAT Stand will be located at same distance from runway as viewing Grandstand!

2025 could be very poor.

One thought, the stand had safely been in place for 20 odd years or more, and is now unsafe?

Or if I was cynical in the way of corporate tents!

i might be in the minority, but i think, whilst not ideal, moving the stand back is better than having no FRIAT.

lets be honest, with the lenses a lot of us use its not going to make that much difference photographically, and the real benefit of the stand is having it for arrivals on thursday and departures on monday which will remain

more annoyed about losing our entrance to be honest

[Jetnoise]

I fail to see how the new stand will offer a "complete view of the runway" as, from the somewhat basic diagram provided, the view to the 09 end will be obscured by the viewing village grandstand for a good number of people in the FRIAT stand and, if anything is put in the place of the existing FRIAT stand location, the view to the 27 end may also be obscured for a fair number of FRIATers. Will they also be moving display centre to match the new stand location?

[Berf]

A key element of Dan’s role is to build on his experience and expertise in the event industry to explore ways to improve the overall customer experience; clearly FRIAT features large in this ambition.

There is one clear element of the event industry - make more money off the punters. While sometimes that may mean more options - for example a RIAT campsite as suggested - it is all aimed at making more money. You can forget any benefits that are going too be free and any that already are will be squeezed.

[Jetnoise]

I think its people not in FRIAT that may have to worry?

From the first read, everyone has a seat in the stand and a designated place on the crowdline they can move freely between? How much space do 2000 people take up on the crowdline? Or am I misreading that?

Or is it just a standard line length and there is going to be an enormous fight?

The crowdline space for FRIAT, according to the diagram, will be the same size as the current, just disconnected from the stand and linked by a narrow access route. Thus either a disadvataged view from the stand or a scrum at the crowdline - no mention here of the space reserved for disabled FRIAT members.

[Berf]

Will they also be moving display centre to match the new stand location?

Nah, that's reserved now for the Centre Enclosure - a premium product for you and your guests so don't forget: 'Be at the Centre' in 2025.

[SussexWasp]

Looking for some positive/good news to come from FRIAT!!

[rockfordstone]

Will they also be moving display centre to match the new stand location?

Nah, that's reserved now for the Centre Enclosure - a premium product for you and your guests so don't forget: 'Be at the Centre' in 2025.

100% this is what is going to happen

[Tommy]

I’m actually ambivalent about the change. Whilst I’d prefer it not to be mucked around with all the time, it seems ok.

Certainly, it might result in all that ghastly construction works being out of the way of the shot.

But still. Seen in the round in the context of all the other things they’ve messed around with in recent years, I can see why some are rolling their eyes.

One wonders if it means poles and loudspeakers will be on the fenceline (just as it is for other parts of the crowd), which was another plus for FRIAT. Because, of course, with a set-back grandstand, the FRIATers on the fence or public in front of the stand but behind the FRIAT area will not be able to hear anything.

[Berf]

I think its people not in FRIAT that may have to worry?

From the first read, everyone has a seat in the stand and a designated place on the crowdline they can move freely between? How much space do 2000 people take up on the crowdline? Or am I misreading that?

Or is it just a standard line length and there is going to be an enormous fight?

The crowdline space for FRIAT, according to the diagram, will be the same size as the current, just disconnected from the stand and linked by a narrow access route. Thus either a disadvataged view from the stand or a scrum at the crowdline - no mention here of the space reserved for disabled FRIAT members.

I suspect the blue thin bit will be for disabled the green bit the 'your designated crowdline space' - which I guess will have to be policed to stop people crowding down the 'take-off end'

[linco33]

I can't see how much the village grandstand is for a day. If you book that for Fri/Sat/Sun, then say P&V for arrivals and departures, that is pretty much what FRIAT will offer anyway? From a cost point of view anyway.

I'll see how my FRIAT experience is this year and decide after the show.

[Sneezy24]

This year is my first FRIAT, always done P&V for arrivals/departures and viewing village garden (not grandstand) for show days.
If we still have stand access for arrivals/departures, might still be worth it (P&V is always a scrum!) - we will see.

[Wissam24]

Probably another tick in the box for those who think they're trying to kill off FRIAT as a thing....it's 'death by a thousand cuts' really.

Wait & see, but that's not going to be popular I would say. And no alternative perks added to make up for it, yet....

They're certainly doing literally nothing to suggest otherwise. Oh, they may offer camping for FRIATers...cool. Cause that's never been an option for people who want to camp before. And it's not like it'll be free...

[Wissam24]

One wonders if it means poles and loudspeakers will be on the fenceline (just as it is for other parts of the crowd), which was another plus for FRIAT. Because, of course, with a set-back grandstand, the FRIATers on the fence or public in front of the stand but behind the FRIAT area will not be able to hear anything.

And even if they're not, they will now be more prominent further down the line in photos with the grandstand being set further back.

[iainpeden]

My H78 seat could be in high demand, close to front but not too near the plebs in the viewing village. (Put that in for the elitist FRIAT knockers).

Camping interests me. You will be allocated a camp bed in one of the 8 man tents situated in the FRIAT enclosure for the whole six days thereby allowing you to be onsite all the time and overcoming the removal of the fast track. Armed guards will ensure you don’t leave the enclosure between 7pm and 8 am.

[Mortimus]

I can't see how much the village grandstand is for a day. If you book that for Fri/Sat/Sun, then say P&V for arrivals and departures, that is pretty much what FRIAT will offer anyway? From a cost point of view anyway.

I booked the Viewing Village grandstand for Saturday and Sunday back in August. Total price (including an extra tenner for the pre-ordered programme) was £229.75. Can't remember the costs for the other days but I'd imagine if you bought a grandstand ticket for Friday total cost would be close to the FRIAT price with one of the arrival/departure days taking you past that point.

[capercaillie]

As a compromise and to give something back, why don't they offer the entire space of the viewing village and the FRIAT stand for the Monday departures, especially with the two now sat next to one another, offers more high stand space and more standing crowd line all in one go.