I reckon this could be a mistake, but when you go to the Offical Alton Towers Page, a Pop Up Window come up for a chance to win Tickets to the Launch Day of AIR's First Day of the 2002 season, and when you go to Register, it says that AIR will open March 15th 2002, and not March 16th as orginally thought.
This information could be true, but its very Odd that Alton would open up on a Friday as they always open up on Saturdays normally. I guess this is one we will have to check nearer the time.
Also, if you would like to enter the draw to be One of the First ever People to Ride AIR, all you do is go to the Alton Towers Offical Page which is http://www.alton-towers.co.uk and when the pop up window appears, just click on the register button, fill in your details, and thats it. OH and you obviosuly need to live in England to enter this draw :p