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RULES
1)
A minimum of an ‘A’ certificate is required to fly solo
(without an instructor) and trainees may only be instructed by a
recognised club instructor.
2)
Anyone under the age of 18
MUST be accompanied at all times by a Parent or recognised Guardian.
3) Frequency control.
For 35Mhz, a frequency peg with the pilots name clearly displayed must
be placed in the appropriate area and an orange transmitter pennant must
be clearly displayed either on the transmitter or harness .
2.4 GHz pilots must also use a peg with 2.4 and the pilots name
displayed, placed in the appropriate area.
4)
Flying by yourself: (Means when only one flyer is at the field).
A. You
must wear a fluorescent vest at all times.
B. Lone
fliers should not fly large, heavy or fast models (max size 40)
C. Extra
care and visual scans must be taken before taking off.
D. No
low - passes, prop hanging, 3d flying or inappropriate aerobatics.
E. Landings
must be within the immediate field of view of the pilot. This means the
landing should be completed and the model stopped before the model
passes the pilot.
5)
Safety marshals.
If 2 or more flyers are present at the field, a safety marshal must be
in place wearing fluorescent vest.
6) Incident reporting.
(Also see rule 17)
A. Any
incident at all outside the field must be reported to a committee member
within 24hours.
B. Any
incident inside the field involving or near persons, animals or property
must be reported to a committee member within 24hours.
C. A
and B give us time to notify the Council. Failure to do so will result
in disciplinary action being taken.
D. If
a complaint is made before the club reports an incident, it will have a
detrimental effect on the club and its flying rules.
E. Notification
should be by telephone or by entering details on the GMAC website from
any pilots involved, the acting safety marshal and at least one other
witness if available.
F. The
safety officer will keep a record of all such incidents.
G. Incidents
that require an insurance claim must follow BMFA guidelines in addition
to the above.
7)
I/C Flying times.
Permit holders may only fly I/C powered aircraft during the agreed
hours.
8)
Permit holders must carry BMFA insurance.
The Metropolitan Borough of Walsall will not be liable in respect of any
accident, damage or injury caused to or suffered by a permit holder in
the exercising of his or her permit, nor in respect of any accident,
damage or injury caused by a permit holder to persons or property of any
other person.
9) Permit holders are
NOT
permitted to fly the following:
A) Aircraft weighing in excess of 7
kilograms (take off weight including fuel )
B) Aircraft with engines in
excess of:
Radio controlled
2 stroke 30 cc.
4
stroke 30 cc.
Multi-engine set up
10 c.c. Maximum per engine
(30c.c Maximum Total)
Free flight with engines in
excess of 1.3 cc.
C) High revving high speed
aerobatic aircraft.
D) Aircraft
not complying with Department of Environment code of practice regarding
permissible noise levels. (i.e.) 83db.
E) Control
Line or Helicopters (Currently)
0)
32cc.
Members with a “B”
certificate may fly models with 32 cc. Petrol engines but the take off
weight must not exceed 7kg and the models must have a weight
certificate.
11)
Free flight.
All classes of free flight models are permitted. Those with I/C engines
have a maximum engine size of 1.3 cc.
12)
Glider Towing.
A heavily silenced plane may be used during silent flight sessions for
the sole use of Glider Tug Towing.
13) Weighing models.
All planes with 20 cc Petrol or 120 I/C engine and above or combinations
that equal this size, or electric planes using batteries of 40v x 2300Ah
or greater have to be weighed and certified by two Committee members
prior to being flown at GMAC.
NB all I/C planes must be weighed with full fuel tanks (or a direct
substitute). If any significant changes or repairs are made
to a certified plane, it must be reweighed.
Spot checks may be undertaken should a plane be suspected of changes.
Anyone flying over weight planes, giving false or misleading information
or disobeying this rule will be disciplined and may have their flying
permit removed.
Weighing certificates must be produced on request. i.e. you should have
the planes certificate with you if you are flying a large plane.
14) No flying to be undertaken outside the perimeters of the field
(see
next column) i.e. roads, garage, car park or flying over the
woods. During the football season, under no circumstances will it be
tolerated for flying to take place over the pitches. Glider pilots of a
‘B’ certificate or equivalent may extend their flying perimeter if above
500 feet, however common sense prevails.
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15)
New pilots to the club
with a BMFA certificate will be asked to fly an inaugural flight with a
recognised club instructor. This is to ensure that they fully understand
our club rules and field requirement
If the pilot does not perform to the instructor’s satisfaction then the
pilot might be asked NOT to fly until they re-sit their BMFA test with a
GMAC Examiner or undergo
further instruction. If they still do not perform or disregard the rules
they will be asked to leave the club and their field permit be
withdrawn.
16)
Flying permits
must be produced when required, to any authorised steward, patrolman or
officer of the Council and / or Greenacres Model Aero Club Member.
17)
Incident reporting.
Under rule 6 of this members handbook, if a member does not report an
uncontrolled downed model outside of the flying boundaries or an
incident that involves or is near persons or property (Animals included)
inside or outside the boundaries the following actions
will
be taken.
Stage
1
An incident not reported within 24 hours will result in a verbal
warning.
Stage
2
Any further incidents not reported within 24 hours for a second time
will result in a written warning being given under rule 12 of the clubs
constitution.
Stage
3
Any further incidents not reported within 24hours for a third time will
result in the member being asked to meet with the Committee where
disciplinary action will be taken which may lead to membership removal.
In
all cases of the above stages the Committee will report all major
incidents to the responsible body Walsall Council.
18) Keeping petrol.
Petrol fuel for model aircraft must be in a British Standard container
designed for petrol.
Flying protocols
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Aircraft should be fully checked after arrival for a flying session.
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A
frequency peg should be inserted before doing anything else
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You
should make absolutely sure no one is flying on your frequency
before switching on.
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If a transmitter with a module is to be used, ensure the correct
aerial is fitted.
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Models should be restrained while starting engines.
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No taxiing anywhere other than on the strip.
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Pilots should stand together in the pilots box so they can hear each
other and to minimise interference.
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Transmitters should not be taken on to the flying area.
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“Taking off”, “Landing” and “On the strip” should be called as
necessary.
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Low passes should be called.
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Landing takes priority over other manoeuvres.
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Dead-stick landings should be called and these take priority over
anything.
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Aircraft should be sacrificed if necessary to avoid collision with
people animals or property.
Flying Area

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No flying behind the Pits or Flight-line where ever they are set up
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No flying over the woods at any time
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Agreed I/C pits are marked
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Silent/Quiet flight should use the I/C pits area. But an alternative
pit area can be used if the planes being flown (e.g. gliders)
require a change of location due to prevailing wind direction.
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If an alternative flight-line and pit area is used then this has to
be by majority agreement. All flight-line rules still apply:
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One flight-line.
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All pilots fly in front of the flight-line.
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No flying behind or around Flight-line or Pits.
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No flying outside boundaries
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