RIAT CAMP 2010

 

LETTER

THE ROYAL INTERNATIONAL AIR TATTOO 2010 – RAF FAIRFORD   1.         The Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) 2010 will be held at RAF Fairford over the weekend 17-18 Jul 10.  As usual, cadets and staff will be deployed at the Tattoo carrying out tasks in support of the RAF Charitable Trust Enterprises (RAFCTE) during the build-up phase, the Tattoo itself and the clear-down afterwards. The number of places at the Camp is determined by the tasking requirement and the 2010 provisional requirement is for approximately 720 cadets and staff to help with the Tattoo plus approximately 130 cadets and staff for the Air Cadet displays. The main Camp dates are Wed 14 - Tue 20 Jul 10 (inclusive) but some sqns will be requested to arrive on Tue 13 Jul and some on Thu 15 Jul to speed reception procedures. Cadets will also be required for the campsite build-up from Sat 10 Jul and for the campsite and area clearance until Fri 23 Jul. Tasking will start on Wed 14 Jul, build up to full tasking on the 2 days of the Tattoo and be followed by the airfield clearance on Mon 19 Jul to enable the display aircraft to return to their bases.   2.         The contribution made by the cadets to RIAT is valued very highly and they carry out a wide variety of tasks. Tasks are organised to ensure that staff and cadets have sufficient time to enjoy the Tattoo and also have a close up view of aircraft from many different countries. Cadets must, however, be physically fit in order that they can get the most enjoyment from the Camp.   3.         A tented camp for 750 ACO cadets and staff will be set up on the usual well-found site RAF Fairford. Cadets will be accommodated in 48x12 tents while staff will be accommodated in 12x12 tents, both types being equipped with electric power and lighting. A limited number of caravan spaces will be available   4.         The Air Cadet RIAT 2010 Camp, RAF Fairford will be co-ordinated centrally as a HQAC project under the control of COS, HQAC.  The RIAT Air Cadet Project Officer and Cadet Coordinator is Sqn Ldr J M Poulter who will operate from HQ Bristol & Glos Wg. As RIAT is a formal Summer Camp, staff will be on duty and pay will be authorised within normal allowances.  However, travel costs will have to be paid out of wg budgets or sqn funds.   5.         Participation.   Any sqn interested in taking part in the Air Cadet RIAT Camp 2010 should complete the attached proformae and return them to the RIAT Cadet Coordinator by Fri 29 Jan 10 through the appropriate Wg HQ. Please apply to take part in one or more of the 3 phases of the Camp. The phases are:               a.         Phase 1 - Camp Build-Up.                                          Sat 10 – Wed 14 Jul.               b.         Phase 2 – Main Camp.                           Tue 13, Wed 14 or Thu 15 Jul – Tue 20 Jul.   c.         Phase 3 – Camp Clear-Down/FOD Clearance.           Tue 20 – Fri 23 Jul   Bids should only be made by post or by secure (Bader) E-mail to: TGProjects2@aircadets.org. The contact details requested on the proformas at Annex A and the Appendix to Annex A should not be forwarded by normal insecure E-mail.   6.         Timescales.      The timescales and deadlines for the stages leading to RIAT 2010 are:               a.         Issue of Bidding letter            (thro’ Wg HQs)                                  -           11 Nov 09                   b.         Deadline for bids for places to Cadet Coord                                     -           29 Jan 10             c.         Issue of place-allocations to sqns (thro’ Wg HQs)                 -           By 12 Mar 10             d.         Deadline for Nominal Rolls to Cadet Coord                          -           7 May 10             e.         Issue of Joining Instructions(JIs) to sqns (thro’ Wg HQs)     -           By 28 May 10   The deadline for bids to reach the Cadet Coord is 29 Jan 10. Squadron bids will be acknowledged by E-mail in Jan and sqns should ensure that an E-mail contact address is given on the Bid Proforma.  Squadrons which do not receive an acknowledgement by 27 Jan should first contact their Wg HQ and, thereafter, the RIAT Cadet Coord to ensure that they have not been missed because of administrative or postal problems. Squadron bids received after 29 Jan, for whatever reason, will be returned and the sqn will not be allocated places.   7.         Staff Participation.      Provision of sufficient staff for such a large, busy camp is crucial to the safe and efficient running of the camp. Staff are therefore encouraged to apply as the number of staff available determines the number of cadets we can take and, therefore, whether we can fulfil our tasks. Staff should, however, be aware that this is very much a working camp and not just an air show visit.  Bids will be especially welcome from female members of staff to ensure care for the considerable number of female cadets who attend RIAT each year. However, bids cannot be accepted unless the Sqn provides adult staff in the staff:cadet ratio of 1:5. Furthermore, we cannot accept bids for less than the full period of the Camp. Staff must ensure that they can obtain the time off work before applying for RIAT and cadets should ensure that they can get the time off school. Selections will be made during Feb and notified to squadrons via Wg HQs. It would be  helpful if staff intending to attend are listed on the application proforma at Annex A.   8.         Build-Up and Clear-Down Phases.    The Camp build-up and clear-down and post-Tattoo area clearance are most important. The requirement will be for 70+ cadets plus staff for building and clearing the camp and for 50 cadets plus staff for the area clearance in order to complete the tasks on time. Cadets for these 2 phases should be at least 14½ yrs old. Older cadets should be encouraged to join the build-up/clear-down teams before/after their main sqn parties arrive/depart. Please indicate on the Application Proforma.   9.         SWAT Team.  Each year, the ATC forms a SWAT Team consisting of 30+ older, physically-fit cadets, lead by experienced staff, who assist the RIAT Site Services team as a “do anything, go anywhere” team.  The SWAT Team will be required this year from 6-23 Jul as follows:                a.         SWAT Early Team.                 -           10 cadets +2 staff       -           6 – 9 Jul.             b.         SWAT Main Team                  -           30 cadets + 6 staff      -           9 – 21 Jul.             c,         SWAT Clearance Team          -           10 cadets +2 staff       -           20 – 23 Jul   Cadets and staff may apply for any or all of the phases of the SWAT Team’s activities. The SWAT staff intend to contact applicants as soon as details are received so that they can be briefed on duties and requirements. Please, therefore, list any fit and able cadets aged 16 yrs and over and staff interested in joining the SWAT team along with their contact numbers on the proforma at App 1 to Annex A.   10.       Drop-Outs.      The drop-out rate from the places allocated to sqns at RIAT 2009 exceeded 22% for the main camp and 40% for the SWAT team. Drop-outs notified before sqn arrival dates were too high but there was also a very high no-show rate without any explanation. This makes planning exceptionally difficult, especially with a fixed task requirement and a maximum of 750 available campsite places. Furthermore, sqns which could have filled the places were denied those places. Squadrons are therefore urged to ensure that as far as possible at this stage, cadets and staff are certain that they will attend.