The event features Battle of Britain memorial flights and aircraft from the RAF and USAF, among others, and enjoys a long relationship with the Red Arrows display team.

[7] In 2008, there was particular controversy when EBC decided to introduce a £5 event admission fee, to a part of Eastbourne seafront set aside as a special viewing area, which had previously been accessible to the public for free.

[11] At the time, Leader of Eastbourne Borough Council David Tutt, said: "We will be investigating what went right, what went wrong and looking very seriously at ways of ensuring the event for future years.

Exceptional risks to bystanders from crashed planes are minimised in the design of Airbourne, in part through the performance of stunts over the English Channel, rather than over populated land.

Nonetheless, despite all normal safety precautions, on Friday 18 August 2000 former Red Arrows pilot Ted Girdler crashed into the Channel and died, while performing a stunt for Airbourne crowds.

[13] Girdler was killed when his Aero L-29 Delfín jet failed to pull up from a diving roll and fell into the sea, watched by a crowd of more than 40,000 people.

A large number of the smaller planes taking part in Airbourne continue to use Shoreham Airport, as a base to perform over Eastbourne.

In response, on behalf of Airbourne, Eastbourne Borough Council issued a public statement saying: "we are confident of being able to introduce any additional safety measures required by the review.