Mereside Model Club Rules
Mereside 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.
3. On matters of field safety needing an immediate decision, the responsibility lies with Safety Officers, Instructors, or 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.
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 the area where pilots are flying.
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.
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.
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, 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. 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 fully conversant with the Club Rules. Proof of current BMFA insurance must be provided to the Committee member.
26. Members who knowingly encourage anyone to fly without meeting these conditions will forfeit their Club membership.
27. 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 on a one-off occasion; this is covered by the BMFA insurance scheme, unless the prospective member has proof of BMFA Membership.
28. 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.
29. 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.
30. Members flying jet aircraft must have a suitable fire extinguisher in the pits.
31. Flying is permitted strictly between the following hours: 9.00am-6.00pm.
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 necessarily a Club member), to look out for hazards such as horses, etc. Problems such as personal accidents while unaccompanied, need also to be taken into account.
34. 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.
35. 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.
36. Models weighing between 7kg and 20kg are allowed, subject to the following conditions.
37. 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.
NOTE:
All members will be expected to observe these rules in conjunction with particular rules applied to the MMFC flying sites and the appropriate B.M.F.A. regulations. MMFC 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!