BRAMHALL RADIO CONTROL M.A.C.CLUB RULES.
1 THE SITE. ( TO BE READ IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE SITE PLAN) As we share the usage of our flying field , any failure to follow the club rules could result in the loss of the field; the farmers cattle and property is to be a priority at all times. NO LITTER of any description to be left on or outside the field. Cattle will eat anything, your litter could kill! The gate to be kept shut at all times when cattle are in any adjacent field, or ours, to stop any that escape from wandering. Last person out of the field is to shut the gate. Anything incidents or conditions that are thought to put the cattle or farmers property at risk are to be reported to the farmer immediately.
2.PARKING . The field is situated in a farming area, so the roads and fields are used by milk lorries, tractors and other farm machinery. Wherever possible, cars should be parked in the field as shown on the plan. A maximum of approx 8 cars should be parked in the field at any one time. When this is not possible for instance, when there are cows in the field, or in the winter when you could get bogged down, park on the lane. Ensure you park safely on the lane, leaving enough room for any passing farm vehicles, cars, horses etc. Don’t obstruct the road, or the barn area, or access to the farmers fields.
3.CROSSING THE FARMERS FIELDS. Do not drive across the field. When parking in the field, keep as close as possible to the hedge. When leaving, try to keep to the route you used to come in. Keep to the cut path when going to and from the strip. If for any reason it is necessary to walk through a crop, then return along the same route.
4.FLYING AREA. Normal flying area. Keep the model in front of you at all times. Take off direction is determined by the wind direction. After take-off, your first turn should always be, AWAY from the road.
UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES ARE YOU TO FLY NEAR GOODIERS GREEN FARM, OR THE BARNS; ANY COMPLAINTS WOULD LEAVE US AT RISK OF LOSING THE FIELD!!
5. THE PITS. Due to the constrictions imposed on us by the size and location of our strip, SAFETY is paramount.
NO TAXIING OF AIRCRAFT IN THE PITS WILL BE ALLOWED.
Try and avoid running- up engines in the pits unless absolutely necessary; if you do need to do this, then try and be as brief as possible and ensure that a suitable restraint is used. This type of distraction could affect concentration. ALL aircraft should be pointing OUTWARDS when in the pits. When carrying an aircraft through the pits with an engine running, the utmost care should be used. A turning propeller can be extremely dangerous. If possible walk around the outside of your fellow flyers. In acordance with the latest BMFA guidlines Tx Aerials will not be extended in the pit area. Wait until your model is on the strip just prior to take off before extending your aerial.
6. PILOT AREAS. Pilots must stand within a group, at a safe distance from the edge of the strip, so as to be able to hear each others requests. This area should be used by pilots only, trainers and examiners when necessary.
7. FLYING TIMES. Club flying times are as follows: Winter (1st November until 31st March) Summer ( 1st April until 31st October) Monday no flying no flying Tuesday 10:00 until dusk 11:00 until 21:00 Wednesday 10:00 until dusk 11:00 until 21:00 Thursday 10:00 until dusk 11:00 until 21:00 Friday 10:00 until dusk 11:00 until 21:00 Saturday 10:00 until dusk 11:00 until 21:00 Sunday 10:00 until dusk 11:00 until 21:00
8.FLYING. (GENERAL RULES). ONLY PILOTS COVERED BY B.M.F.A. INSURANCE ARE PERMITTED TO FLY.
It is STRONGLY recommended that you do not fly alone. If there were to be an incident of any kind, there would not be anyone there to assist you. Members should carry their BMFA membership cards with them when at the field. Only flyers who hold a BMFA ‘A’ certificate, or above, may fly without supervision. Guests that live in the bounds of the North West Area of the BMFA, may only fly on 3 occasions within any 3 month period. All guests MUST have read and understood the club rules. They must show proof of BMFA insurance. Any flyer using the field must demonstrate, through their actions, a knowledge, understanding and observance of the site rules.
9. NOISE Noise is one of the greatest enemies of the flyer. (unless you are flying electric!). It must be kept to a minimum at all times. The usual steps can be taken to quieten an aircraft, such as a muffler, soft engine mounts etc. However, any model, which is thought by 2 or more members, to be above a reasonably acceptable noise level will be GROUNDED until the problem is rectified, for whatever reason. There will not be a rigorously enforced policy of noise testing all models, a comparison test will suffice. To avoid any argument, if you think your model is on the borderline, then please sort it out before it is next flown! UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES is your model to be flown near Goodier’s Green farm, the barns, or the farmhouse belonging to our farmer, John Wright, for obvious noise reasons!
10. FREQUENCY CONTROL. NO TRANSMITTER IS TO BE SWITCHED ON UNTIL YOU HAVE REACHED THE PEGBOARD ON THE FIELD, THIS INCLUDES THE CAR PARK/ROAD!! You must then check the pegboard. The pegboard is labelled for 35Mhz only. Your peg must have your name and the frequency you are using on it. Frequency control is operated by placing your peg onto the pegboard, on the frequency you wish to use, providing that the channel /space you need is empty .If there is already a peg on the space you need, then you must identify which of your fellow flyers has the frequency, and liase with him and possibly others to share the channel. If you suspect that someone has left a peg on from a previous flying session, you must be certain that there is no-one using it, by asking all your fellow flyers! Check that with your model on the ground that there is no interference on any of the control channels. Of particular importance, if someone else is using the very next channel, in order to avoid co-channel interference, be careful; and if in doubt, perform a check as per the guidance given in the BMFA manual. Frequency crystals will be checked from time to time by the club. Any crystal found to be outside its tolerance, will be destroyed IMMEDIATELY!
11. PRE-FLIGHT, AND CHECKS. When any new model is presented at the field for its first flight, it should be checked by another flyer before it is committed to the air. This is in the interests of safety, for fellow flyers, but of more use to the owner, as it is all to easy to miss an obvious fault or servo reversal ! Carry out your pre-flight checks :- Check model undercarriage / frame / wings and all moving surfaces for damage and mounting. Check propeller for damage and tightness. No bare nuts are allowed; spinner or domed nuts only. Batteries should be fully charged, connectors secure. Be S.M.A.R..T. ;- switch on, meter in the green, aerial fully extended (pilot area only) and secure, rates switches in correct positions and trims in correct positions. Once switched on, check control surfaces for correct direction of movement, free and full movement and that they are not binding; keepers secure. All engine/servo/carb installations should be capable of closing the barrel fully with throttle trim. Just before take-off, restrain the model (eg. Feet astride the tail plane); With the engine running at full throttle check that:- -Elevator stick pushed forward-elevator goes down -Elevator stick pulled back- elevator goes up -Rudder stick moved right- rudder goes to the right -Rudder stick moved left - rudder goes to the left -Aileron stick moved right-right aileron goes up, left one goes down -Aileron stick moved left- left aileron goes up, right aileron goes down Check that there is no spurious movement of any surfaces , caused by lose electrical connections.
DON’T UNDERESTIMATE THE VALUE OF THESE CHECKS!
12 CALLING-OUT INSTRUCTIONS.
These are for the benefit of everyone, but especially for pilots with aircraft in the air. All instructions / warnings should be called so as to be heard by pilots and all pilots should give an indication or acknowledgement that they have heard. When wanting to go onto the strip to take-off ; Is it ok to go out? When an engine goes sick or stops in mid-flight ; Deadstick. When wanting to do a low fly -by or pass; Low-pass. When wanting to land; Landing. When wanting to go out to retrieve your aircraft; Going out, on the field etc. When you do go out to retrieve your model, leave your transmitter in the pilot area, preferably with another flyer and not on the floor! Get back to the pits as quickly and safely as possible.
13. MOBILE PHONES .
Although not proven , there is a worry that mobile phones can affect some computer sets. As a necessary part of today’s living, it would be an idea to keep them at a safe distance from the flight line!
14. TAKING-OFF. At no time during this procedure, should your model be pointed towards the pits or pilot area. Check wind direction using the windsock; If this is not available your transmitter aerial MUST be fitted with an ORANGE pennant. Observe safe pits practice, and using the appropriate instructions, take your model to the strip. You MUST make sure no one is landing. Check with pilots that it is o.k. to take-off. You MUST ensure you have a positive response from ALL the pilots. Take-off, climb to a safe height, ensuring that your first turn is away from the road. Go to the pilot area as soon as it is safe to do so.
15. IN THE AIR PLEASE READ THIS SECTION IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE AEROBATICS SECTION. A maximum of 5 aircraft in the air at any one time. When there are 2 or 3 aircraft flying at the same time, it is prudent to fly in an orderly manner. When there are more than 3 aircraft in the air together, you must agree with other pilots which way around you will circuit. This the will depend on wind direction and agreement with the other pilots. Instructions must be called out clearly during all stages of the flight. Unless you are the only pilot, you MUST get the permission of the other pilots before doing low passes . If your engine cuts during flight, call out your DEADSTICK instruction, so that you will have priority to land.
16. LANDING. When you wish to land, firstly make a visual check of the strip and surrounding area, making sure it is clear. Call out your landing instruction, making sure there are no adverse comments. Make sure as you make your approach, that the surrounding area remains clear, landing if it still safe. You may taxi your model on the strip, as long as you do not point it towards the pits or pilot area. Cut your engine before retrieving your model, ensuring you call out your instructions clearly before going out onto the strip. When you go to retrieve your model, leave your transmitter in the pilot area, preferably with someone, so that when you get to your model, you can switch off the receiver, and signal to whoever has the transmitter to switch it off. (this is preferable to leaving it on the floor to get stood on .) This would also prevent your transmitter from ‘flooding’ any other flying aircraft’s receiver. Once you are off the strip, you can call out ‘CLEAR’, if you wish !
17. AEROBATICS. Aerobatic manoeuvres and flying should ideally be carried out only when a maximum of 2 or 3 aircraft are in the air at the same time. When the manoeuvres will involve prop-hanging, then any other flyers should be made aware of this fact, to avoid the possibility of an incident. When performing low-level aerobatics, ON NO ACCOUNT are they to be carried out in the vicinity of the pits. They should be carried out towards the end of the strip, to try and maintain safety in the case of any mechanical failures.
18. HELICOPTERS. Helicopters present a different type of danger. Due to the amount of energy there is in a spinning rotor and the possibility of mechanical or electrical malfunction they WILL NOT be run up in the pits and should only be done at a safe distance from any persons. Whilst starting and running in the pits the rotor head will be securely held at all times. When flown, they should not be flown in the immediate vicinity of the pits. Without setting priorities, whenever possible, please allow the helicopter flyers plenty of room.
19.SAFETY. Safety of all members, the public, livestock and property is paramount. In addition to the club rules, all members will, at ALL times observe the BMFA safety code, and rules, of the BMFA.
20. MEMBERSHIP. Application and acceptance to the club is subject to the decision of the committee. The committee have the right to discuss, warn, and if necessary ask any offender to leave the club, should there be any person breaking the rules ,and should the need arise. The club membership year shall run from 1st Jan, until 31st Dec each year. Any member joining after 30th June shall be entitled to join at half the yearly membership fee. A one-off joining fee will apply to seniors joining the club. ANY MEMBER NOT ENSURING HIS MEMBERSHIP FEES ARE WITH THE SECRETARY, BY THE 8th JANUARY, WILL BE REQUIRED TO RE-APPLY FOR MEMBERSHIP!!! A club AGM will be held each year; a quorum of members needed to make decisions will be one quarter of the total membership. Venue to be advised for AGM.
21.ENJOYMENT. The club rules are not meant to put a damper on anyone’s enjoyment. They are to try and assist and ensure the safety of all, and to try and ensure the success of the club. All member to enjoy themselves, and to try and assist fellow members whenever possible!
IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS OR PROBLEMS THEN DON’T HESITATE TO CONTACT A MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE
22. JUNIOR MEMBERS . All junior members are to be supervised at all times, by either the parent(s), or an adult member of the club, by agreement with the parent(s). The level of supervision can vary depending on age, experience and maturity, but must be commensurate with the well being of the child. A junior is defined as a person under the age of 16 years old.
BRCMAC club rules March 2002.
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