It is with a heavy heart that we announce the cancellation of the 2020 LAA Rally.

 

The LAA’s rally working group and Sywell aerodrome have been working hard to develop ways in which the Rally could continue and stay true to our traditions, while at the same time keeping our members, volunteers, exhibitors and other visitors safe. However the continuing risk of transmission of COVID at large social gatherings is likely to continue later in the summer and this made the 2020 Rally untenable.

“Planning for the event had begun at the beginning of the year and continued despite the constraints of lockdown in the hope that, with the resumption of recreational flying and the prospect of further easing of lockdown restrictions, it might have been possible to hold an event of some sort at the beginning of September at Sywell” said Eryl Smith, Chairman of the LAA Rally Working Group.

“Despite our ability to physically re-plan the event site to meet social distancing, many of the regular elements of the Rally would have needed to be scaled back or withdrawn. Also many of the regular volunteers who help set up and manage the Rally rightly had reservations about attending this year, so we have reluctantly made the decision to cancel the 2020 event.”

“It was a hard decision to make, so many people across the whole aviation community all so much wanted the Rally to happen, but the decision is the right one” says LAA CEO Steve Slater. “Instead, we should all make a note in our diaries for 3rd, 4th and 5th September 2021.The Rally will celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the formation of the LAA’s direct predecessor, the Ultra-Light Aircraft Association. It will both be a celebration and a welcome reunion for those who can’t get together this year. It will be one heck of a party!”

 

Regards

Steve Slater

CEO

Light Aircraft Association

26th June 2020