LEATHERHEAD MODEL FLYING CLUB
Flying
Site Rules
Rules are necessary to ensure the safety of Club members, their property and the public as well as the continued use of our Council approved site. They have therefore a positive objective although they carry the price of restricting our freedom.
They supplement, and therefore should be read in conjunction with, the comprehensive safety guidelines published in the BMFA handbook . Every club member who uses the Randalls Road Site should do so in the knowledge of these rules and agrees to observe them in the letter and in spirit.
Continued breach of any of these rules will lead to grounding of the person concerned. In cases of severe negligence the Committee reserves the right to dismiss the member from the Club.
The Club operates to a standard of 79dB at seven metres. If you are in doubt about the noise level of a new model/engine combination ask for the noise level to be checked on the club meter.
Any committee member can ask for your engine noise to be checked at any time.
Silencing to the required level will usually require add-on silencers - particularly on older engines. In judging the noisiness of an engine the opinion of Committee Members is final.
All frequencies in the 35 Mhz band may now be used.
Adjacent channel operation should be avoided at all times but is not enforced by the frequency control system.
The club operates a dual peg system - whereby you replace the "Orange Peg" with one bearing your own name - this makes it easy to tell who is using a particular frequency and who has taken a peg home. You may only switch-on once you have obtained the "Clubs Orange Peg" and must switch-off before replacing it.
When running engines at high revs always point them away from other people. A good practice is to point the model at the centre of the field. No one should be standing in the plane of rotation of the propeller when testing for top-end performance. The use of ground restraints is highly recommended.
Do not taxi aircraft in the Pits area.
Prior to walking onto the take-off strip check with other pilots for "All Clear". Check all controls for "full and free" before take-off. (Ensure all control surfaces move in the correct sense).
Pilots should stand near each other while flying. This avoids swamping and simplifies communication during flying.
The site is restrictive because of surrounding houses and activities.
When using the EAST -WEST runway.: Stand on the South side of the runway and face North. Do not fly behind your position when over the field as you will endanger the Pits and car park areas.
Never fly over the Football Club field or Riding Club field (S. of the Pits area). Avoid flying over, or close to, the SCC Refuse Tip.
Perform all aerobatics manoeuvres to the West i.e. over and beyond the River Mole.
(When using the NORTH-SOUTH runway (this runway must be used when football is being played on the adjacent field): Stand on the East of the runway and face West. Do not fly behind your position. Before approaching from, or taking-off towards the South first ensure that no onlookers are walking in the field South of the Rye Brook. Appoint a look -out if necessary.)
The club has a number of BMFA approved instructors and Club approved assistant trainers. Only these people can give tuition and "air time" to beginners. Instructors must take novices up for the initial training flights. Thereafter assistant trainers can give air time and practice. If you are an experienced flyer and would like to assist in training novices, please ask the training officer who will be pleased to discuss this with you.
Should an accident occur which involves a third party or their property immediately inform any present committee member and then the Secretary of the Club.
In any discussion with a member of the public - do not become aggressive or rude or defensive. Simply ask a Committee member to intervene. If one is not present give the third party your phone number and Mick Saxton's (01372 457949). Try to be helpful and sympathetic. Remember if you have an accident involving a third party, it will usually have been your fault.
The weight limit for model
aircraft on our site is 5Kg for normal flying.
Flying times vary throughout the year depending on the daylight times.
Watch out for changes in the newsletter.
Only three power models are allowed in the air at once.
There is no such restriction on gliders (without IC engines) or electric flight models.
Bungee or tow launching may not take place during a power flying session
Flying alone is not permitted. There must always be at least one other Club member present