MDFC CLUB RULES

Model fliers have a number of legal obligations set out in CAA publication CAP658 and the guidance contained within the BMFA Members' Handbook is generally designed to ensure that if followed, members will comply with current requirements.

Mansfield & District R/C Model Club is affiliated to the BMFA and therefore requires our members to adhere to both the BMFA guidelines and these Club specified rules:-

1. All members must observe field discipline and comply with the Air Navigation Order, all relevant BMFA safety codes as contained within the BMFA Members’ Handbook and Civil Aviation publication (CAP) 658.

2. Definition: - An “engine” will include I.C./Petrol/ Electric Motor/Turbine

3. On matters of field safety needing an immediate decision, the responsibility lies with Safety Officers, Instructors, a member of the Committee in that order. Any instructions must be accepted without dissent. However, should a member believe the instructions to be wrong, then he should bring this to the attention of the Committee through Article 15 of the Constitution.

4. Any pilot not holding their solo qualification for the type of aircraft they are flying must not fly without the supervision of an instructor or any member holding the MINIMUM BMFA certificate for that type of aircraft. It is recommended that members with limited experience should not provide this supervision

5. Due consideration must be given at all times to trainee or novice pilots in the circuit. In the event that the pleasure or concentration of a pilot is affected by the flying style of another, precedence will be given to the pilot who was airborne first. Intimidating flying of any sort is not permitted

6. No more than 5 aircraft shall be airborne at any one time.

7. All flying is to be done in the designated areas only as identified on the peg board

8. All fliers must observe the established flight line and stand in the designated area whilst flying. Any variation to suit daily conditions may be made by the Club’s safety officers. Any spectators must remain in a safe area whilst flying is in progress

8a. A model must not be placed on the grass within 5 metres of pilots on the flight line, and then preferably up wind

  • Aircraft taking off must be to the safe side of area where pilots are flying i.e. must not take off in front of these pilots
  • Pilots who are flying should position themselves together in relation to wind direction i.e. towards the downwind area of the landing
  • When an aircraft has landed it must not to be taxied back to the area where pilots who are flying are standing but may be taxied back to the edge of the strip pit buffer zone marked by a large orange cone and not across in front of pilots who are flying

9. Any person wishing to enter or cross the runway area must seek clearance from any pilots flying at the time before doing so.

10. All vehicles must be parked in the designated area only.

11. Should an aircraft go out of control, the first priority must be the safety of persons with the second being avoidance of damage to property. A warning is to be shouted by the pilot which is to be taken up by other members.

12. Before starting an engine the model must be suitably restrained either by a tether or by an assistant.

13. In the interest of safety, assistance should be sought when running up engines and taking models to the runway for take-off.

14. Appropriate use should be made of all available pit area, and under no circumstances should engines be set up in the immediate vicinity of the pilots who are flying at that time. Where practical, models should face outward from the pit area.

15. Under no circumstances must an engine be run unless all persons are behind the line of the propeller with the exception of the person starting the engine. When carrying out power checks all persons including the pilot are to be behind the line of the propeller.

16. Engines running on the ground must not be left unattended.

17. It is recommended all new or repaired models should be checked out by a competent club member before flying. All models are subject to random safety spot checks which will be carried out by a competent club member. If in their opinion a model is unsafe to fly or does not conform to Club rules, it will be grounded until rectified.

18. All operational fail-safe’s in use on powered models operated from our Club site must set the throttle to tick-over, not hold, (stopped in the case of electric power) regardless of the other control operations governed by the failsafe. Particular care must be taken when operating on Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) or when swapping from normal modulation (PPM) to PCM to ensure that the failsafe is correctly programmed. Fail-safe’s are to be checked prior to flight by switching the transmitter off whilst the model is restrained with the engine/motor running.

19. Smoking is not permitted in the vicinity of flammable fuels and materials.

20. Children must be closely supervised at all times and must not be allowed to run around the pit area or runways.

21. No dogs are allowed at the flying field unless kept on a lead or tethered.

22. Any accident involving a third party or another member must be reported to the BMFA within 24 hours as per BMFA handbook:- Incident Reporting Procedure They must then inform the Club Secretary as soon as possible

23. Club members with BMFA membership from another Club or as a Country member may not re-join or fly without providing proof of BMFA membership to the Club secretary

24. BMFA membership cards are required to be available for inspection by any other Club member at all times when flying on the field.

25. The gate must be locked and the number scrambled on entry and exit to the field. Do not leave the gate open for another member following shortly!

26. Guests may fly at the discretion of the Committee. Permission must be obtained from one Committee member before flying. The Club member is solely responsible for the guest & must ensure that they are is fully conversant with the Club Rules. Proof of current BMFA insurance must be provided to the Committee member.

27. Members who knowingly encourage anyone to fly without meeting these conditions will forfeit their Club membership.

28. Prospective members with the permission of a Committee member and at the discretion of the Senior Training Officer, may be given 3 (THREE) trial flights as a one off occasion; this is covered by the BMFA insurance scheme, unless the prospective member has proof of BMFA Country Membership.

29. The flying field is primarily for the use of R/C fixed wing models. Other types of model may be flown, provided that they meet the Club flying rules, including safety and noise, and do not interfere with the normal activities of the majority of members.

30. In order to avoid local community problems jet pilots are recommended to fly a pattern minimising their noise footprint. All aircraft must avoid the no fly zone

31. Members flying jet aircraft must have a suitable fire extinguisher in the pits.

32. Flying is permitted between the following hours: 9.00am-9.00pm.

33. Members who have achieved the “A” certificate should be aware of the dangers of flying alone, and should always try to have a companion (not necessary a Club member) to lookout for hazards such as horses, etc. Problems such as personal accidents while unaccompanied need also to be taken into account.

34. When taking off and landing priority must be given to horse riders and public at the field periphery.

35. Where a single frequency transmitter is used the Secretary will allocate a single frequency. Each member will be allocated ONE frequency only. Anyone wishing to change frequencies must obtain permission from the Secretary. Synthesised transmitters or receivers may be used, but the member must not use more than the one frequency allocated.

36. Members who are competing in aerobatics competitions may be required to use a frequency other than their normal one for this competition. In this case the competitor may use the competition frequency in the week before the event.

37. If a member has not renewed membership of the Club by March 1st then the secretary may allocate the members channel to someone else. Should the member wish to rejoin the Club at a later date then the secretary will allocate a new channel.

38. The frequency allocation system in use is the PEG ON system 35 MHz, 27Mhz. No allocation or ‘Peg’ is required for 2.4 GHz transmitters

39. Transmitter frequencies must not be changed at the field.

40. Transmitters (35 MHz) must be checked annually in December. Members who have not had their transmitters checked must not fly until the check has been carried out.

41. All transmitters (35 MHz) will be checked annually and the results recorded in the Frequency Control Officers log. Any transmitters found to be outside the required limits must not be used until repaired and retested.

42. The frequency pegboard must be used at all times for 27 and 35 MHz. If using 27 or 35 MHz, each member must have an identity disc, which exhibits at the front, the full name of the member and the channel number (35 MHz) allocated to that member. In addition the member’s transmitter aerial must display a pennant coloured orange, which shows their allocated channel number.

If a 2.4 GHz transmitter is being used, the member is not required to place a peg on the board nor to use a pennant on the transmitter, however, they may do so if they wish. It is strongly recommended that members using 2.4 GHz transmitters have a ‘Contact Details Card’ in their transmitter box giving information about their name and emergency contact phone number as a minimum. They may wish to include other details such as home address, photograph, blood group etc. and ensure these details can be quickly be found and used in unforeseen circumstances.

43. Frequency allocation to be a maximum of 30 minutes where allocated channel duplication exists, and as a courtesy to others the frequency disc should be removed after each flight.

44. A member about to land has priority over a member about to take off. FOR THEIR OWN SAFETY, members walking onto the field, for any reason, must at all times give way to models approaching, for take-off, landing, low pass etc.

45. Models weighing between 7kg and 20kg are allowed, subject to the following conditions.

  1. The member takes into account the CAA and BMFA recommendations.
  2. The person flying the model holds a BMFA “B” certificate.

46. Models weighing more than 20kg are allowed subject to the following conditions

  1. The member holds a valid CAA exemption certificate, which must be shown before flying.
  2. The conditions of the exemption certificate are complied with.
  3. The person flying the model holds a BMFA “B” certificate.

47. Mobile phones are not allowed within 6 metres of the ‘Flight Line’. Mobile phones may be taken onto the rear of the ‘pits area’ but only if they are set to silent and vibrate mode. Voice calls may not be made or received anywhere on the flying field but may be completed from the car park. It is a requirement that you do not place a powered on mobile phone in close proximity (closer than 1 metre) to any RC transmitter (active or not) whilst on the flying field. At all times, you must consider your fellow club member and act with appropriate social etiquette.

48. All models must be effectively silenced and conform to the noise limit set down in the BMFA code of practice Noise control officers, who will be elected annually, may check any model, which they think, does not meet the requirement. Members are encouraged to have their models noise tested at periodic intervals

49. Members may ask other members to fly their aircraft, for any reason, such as, testing or training purposes. However, the member owning the aircraft must agree that the member providing the assistance will not be responsible should any damage result to the aircraft. This rule does not affect the position with regard to third party damage, as covered by the pilots insurance.

50. Members using petrol or diesel powered generators to charge batteries should place their generators well away from other members who are set up in the pits area. It is suggested they use either far end of the pits area for this activity. Generators (or car engines being run as generators) should not be used in the car parking area directly behind the central pits area but should be positioned at either far end of the car park.

NOTE:

All members will be expected to observe these rules in conjunction with particular rules applied to the MDFC flying sites and the appropriate B.M.F.A. regulations. MDFC flying field regulations may be adjusted should circumstances demand this. Any changes in these regulations will be notified to all members through the Newsletter. All members should have been issued with a copy of the B.M.F.A. Members Handbook and the recommendations contained therein form the basis for our Insurance cover. Remember: SAFE FLYING IS NO ACCIDENT!


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