About The British Air Display Association

How it Started

In 2009 a meeting of a few airshow organisers was held at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford to discuss some of the problems faced by organisers and compare notes. Having recognised the benefits of the meeting an invitation was sent out to the wider airshow community, resulting in over 80 attending a meeting at the 2010 MoD-sponsored post-season symposium at RAF Northolt. It was the consensus of those attending that an organisation representing the air display industry as a whole in the UK was needed. A working group was appointed who set about looking at the format, articles of association, membership and administrative details required and in April 2011 a Launch event was held and the prospective membership voted to form BADA and appointed the board.  Coincident with that decision, the Air Displays Association (Europe) disbanded and its committee confirmed its support for the new Association, encouraging its membership to join BADA.

The Membership

Membership is open to all involved in the air display industry, whether as an individual or corporate body. The aim is to build a membership over time that encompasses all areas of the industry - display pilots, Flying Display Directors, Flying Control Committee members, air traffic controllers and air/ground operators, event organisers, dedicated enthusiasts and supporters, photographers and any others committed to the safe development of the air display community.

At the same time it is hoped to build relationships and affiliations with the UK CAA and MoD, the European Airshow Council and other national and international related associations with the aim of establishing BADA as the focal point for all UK air display-related business. 

 Code of Practice

The Association will produce a Code of Practice which will supplement national regulations and guidance by providing a single-source document of best practice, which members will be expected to comply with.