CLUB RULES

INTRODUCTION

The following rules have been formulated with a view to maintaining a unified and safe operating environment.

It must be remembered that safety is of paramount importance at all times.

These rules are supplementary to the code of practice laid down by the British Model Flying association, and are intended to cater for the particular requirements of the club flying site.

1. GENERAL

1a.) The law of the land and/or local bye-laws shall take precedence over these rules

1b.) There must be compliance at all times with the AIR NAVIGATION ORDER and with the code of practice of the DEPARTMENT of THE ENVIRONMENT in respect of noise pollution.

1c.)As a BMFA affiliated club the codes of practice of this association must be followed wherever appropriate/practice.

1d.) It must be remembered that as holders of a lease from the Ministry of Defence that they are our landlords and their wishes must be conformed to.

1e.) It is a requirement of the club and in order to satisfy the CHILD PROTECTION ACT 1989 that all children up to the age of SEVENTEEN YEARS are to be accompanied by a parent or guardian, VULNERABLE ADULTS to be accompanied by a guardian/carer/responsible adult, whilst at the flying site.

Club members shall not be regarded as guardians, carers or responsible adults as described in Clause 1e above. The only exception being club members who have children/vulnerable adults in their care.

1f.) Contravention of these rules will be dealt with as laid out in the constitution clause 28

2. FLYING SITE

2a.) FLYING TIMES flying times at the Templeton site are as follows;

Sunrise to sunset daily – excluding Christmas day and New year’s day – subject to any restriction imposed by the Commanding Officer at Panally Camp. The secretary will be notified by the MOD OC’s office listing dates when training will be taking place. Members may be allowed to fly when the site is being used by the MOD subject to permission from the CO on site at Templeton on the day.

2b.) The only airspace used for the flying of model aircraft shall be as designated in the map affixed to the outside wall of the site cabin. Also see map in these rules.

2c.) ARRIVAL ON SITE. The first member/members to arrive on site will ensure the following;

2c.1) That the PEGBOARD is activated for use.

2c.2) The windsock is raised on the pole affixed to the site cabin.

2c.3) MOBILE TELEPHONE Mobile phones must not be taken on to the flying site, but should be left in the members car.

2c.4) On arrival on site members MUST check the pegboard for frequencies being used before removing their equipment from their car prior to setting up.

3. RADIO EQUIPMENT

3a.) Only the use of legal 35 meg. Htz. Equipment will be permitted on site.

3b.) All radio equipment must be “type approved”.

3c.) All transmitters shall be tested on a frequency scanner at least once per year, (a record of all such tests will be kept). Transmitters not tested at these intervals, or which prove to be below standard of variation allowed on test, will not be used until they have been tested/re-tested and reach the approved standard.

4. AIRFILD DISCIPLINE

4a.1) The pit area will be positioned dependent on wind direction at the commencement of each flying session. It will commence at a point level with the DOWNWIND EDGE of the PILOT BOX and extend down wind from that point. It should be noted that re-positioning of the pits may be necessary should there be a marked change of wind direction during a flying session. This change should not take place until all aircraft are safely on the ground.

4a.2) The pit area is solely for the purpose of parking and preparing aircraft for flight checks. It is not to be used as a pilot seating area.

4a.3) Prolonged operation of engines for the purpose of running in etc. will not be permitted in the pits. Pilots wishing to carry out extended engine runs should move their aircraft to a point as far down wind of the pits (50yds minimum) as possible. No aircraft being operated in such fashion shall be left unattended.

4b.) VEHICLES. Vehicles shall not be permitted to enter the pits area except for the purpose of unloading or loading. Immediately either of those operations are complete vehicles must be removed to the designated parking area.

5. FREQUENCY CONTROL.

5A.) THE PEG BOARD. Must be used for the duration of all flying sessions.

5b.) TRANSMITTERS. No pilot (or helper) will switch on a transmitter until that person is in the possession of the correct peg for their frequency to be used.

5b.1) All transmitters shall have affixed to the aerial a pennant bearing the appropriate frequency number, it should also have the frequency peg attached to the carrying handle or aerial. The pennant must be of a standard size (the dimensions are stated in the BMFA handbook). It must also conform to the standard of white lettering on an orange background.

5b.2) Frequency pegs must be returned to the peg board on completion of a flight.

5c.) No pilot/helper will not remove more than one peg from the board. The practice of removing the peg each side of a frequency to be used is not permitted.

5d.) ADJACENT FREQUENCIES. If the frequency adjacent to the frequency to be used is in use DO NOT REMOVE THE PEG, identify the pilot using the adjacent frequency and carry out an adjacent frequency check in accordance with the method laid down in the BMFA handbook.

The simultaneous use of adjacent frequencies will be by mutual agreement of pilots concerned.

6.FLYING

6.1.) The “duty runway” or helicopter pad will be decided upon the start of any flying session and will be dependant on wind direction.

6.2.) Should a change of wind direction accur during the flying session a change of runway and pit position may be required for safety. See rule 4a.

6.3.) The duty runway shall be considered to start from the upwind extremity of the pilot box and extend to the downwind extremity of the flying field

6.4.) Immediately after take off all pilots must enter the pilot box and control the remainder of the flight from this position.

6.5.) Helicopters will be flown from the appropriate pad (down wind) of the pilot box at an agreed location.

6.6.) No flying is permitted above or behind the pits area. All flying must take place in the designated airspace

6.7.) In the event of an in flight engine failure the pilot will call out DEAD STICK as a warning to other pilots.

6.8.) All landings must be prefixed by a call of LANDING or LANDING DEAD STICK.

6.9.) Pilots/helpers will not enter the active runway until they have ensured that it is safe to do so

6.10.) In the event of a person wandering into the path of an aircraft taking off or landing the pilot of that aircraft will take immediate avoiding action, even at the risk of damage to his aircraft, to avoid injury to persons or property.

6.11.) Aircraft on final approach shall take precedence over aircraft on the ground, and aircraft on dead stick approach shall have precedence over all other approaches.

6.12.) Aircraft will not be taxied back into the pits area. Engines will be cut and the aircraft carried or towed into the pits area.

7.HEALTH AND SAFETY

7.1.) No one below the age of FOURTEEN (irrespective of experience or qualification) will start an engine, or carry an aircraft (with the engine running) to the take off point unless supervised by a responsible adult. This is a requirement under the CHILD PROTECTION ACT.

7.2.) Ground movements of vehicles are potential hazards. As they enter or leave the site, pilots not flying must keep a watch for such movement. They should confirm with pilots in the flying box that is safe for a vehicle to enter or leave the site before calling on any such vehicle.

7.3.) In the event of an accident involving a visit to a hospital an accident report must be completed on the relevant form in the site cabin.

7.4.) Do not leave litter behind when leaving the site. All litter must be removed and disposed of in the correct manner.

7.5.) Language should at all times be moderate. It must be remembered that there will be young persons and members of the opposite sex present and only the appropriate language should be used.

7.6) In the event of the approach of a full size EMERGENCY MILITARY AIRCRAFT all models will land immediately and remain grounded until the emergency aircraft has cleared our area. If any such aircraft lands, pilots of models will remain grounded until it, (the emergency aircraft) has taken off and cleared the area.

7.7.) No dogs are permitted on the flying site. Sheep and cattle graze on the airfield.