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.

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

• Aircraft should be fully checked after arrival for a flying session.

•  A frequency peg should be inserted before doing anything else

• You should make absolutely sure no one is flying on your frequency before switching on.

• If a transmitter with a module is to be used, ensure the correct aerial is fitted.

• Models should be restrained while starting engines.

• No taxiing anywhere other than on the strip.

• Pilots should stand together in the pilots box so they can hear each other and to minimise interference.

• Transmitters should not be taken on to the flying area.

• “Taking off”, “Landing” and “On the strip” should be called as necessary.

• Low passes should be called.

• Landing takes priority over other manoeuvres.

• Dead-stick landings should be called and these take priority over anything.

• Aircraft should be sacrificed if necessary to avoid collision with people animals or property.

Flying Area

• No flying behind the Pits or Flight-line where ever they are set up

• No flying over the woods at any time

• Agreed I/C pits are marked

• 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.

• If an alternative flight-line and pit area is used then this has to be by majority agreement. All flight-line rules still apply:

  • One flight-line.

  • All pilots fly in front of the flight-line.

  • No flying behind or around Flight-line or Pits.

  • No flying outside boundaries