Flying Site Assistance
Wes De Cou | [email protected]
My usual email and telephone contacts involve modelers who have just lost or who are in the process of losing their flying sites. On occasion, I receive the good news that our work has paid off and a field has been saved.
Last month I received a rare but gratifying letter from a modeler whose flying site worries might be over. Andy Wilson wrote from Rio Rancho, New Mexico, describing the Rio Rancho Radio Control Club’s (RRRCC) efforts to keep flying.
As with many clubs chartered with the AMA, RRRCC has been plagued by urban sprawl. Today’s rural flying site is in the suburbs and within a few years becomes urban as peripheral growth continues. Located in the high desert near Albuquerque, Rio Rancho is experiencing typical urban growth. The RRRCC fliers have come to regard their too-frequent relocations as “moving from sandbox to sandbox.” The club’s most recent relocation occurred in 2006, when it was forced to vacate property used as overflow parking for the annual Albuquerque Balloon Festival.
Fortunately, a club member who is also a real estate developer and builder had a piece of property he was willing to let the club use. Garry Wallen not only let the club use the property, but he also had a paved runway and parking facilities installed.
It was tremendous good fortune for the club members, but it gets better. At the club’s annual holiday party held at Garry’s home, he presented the club officers with papers transferring complete ownership of the facility to the club!
Garry joins a select group of dedicated fliers, including Richard and Debbie Harding of Olathe, Colorado, who have donated land for flying sites to their respective clubs.
I’ve received several calls regarding the issues surrounding model aviation on a full-scale airport. The practice is quite common around the country.
I provide two documents to members who ask these questions. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Advisory Circular (AC 91-57) discusses practical steps to be taken by a club wishing to fly at or near a full-scale airport. The other document is a list of flying sites on or near full-scale airports taken from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) Directory of Airports.
I’ve included a copy of the FAA document in this article. The AOPA list is too long for this column, but I will email it to any interested modeler.
AC 91-57
Date: June 9, 1981
ADVISORY CIRCULAR
Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration Washington, D.C. Subject: Model Aircraft Operating Standards
- Purpose. This advisory circular outlines, and encourages voluntary compliance with, safety standards for model aircraft operators.
- Background. Modelers, generally, are concerned about safety and do exercise good judgment when flying model aircraft. However, model aircraft can at times pose a hazard to full-scale aircraft in flight and to persons and property on the surface. Compliance with the following standards will help reduce the potential for that hazard and create a good neighbor environment with affected communities and airspace users.
- Operating Standards:
- a. Select an operating site that is a sufficient distance from populated areas. The selected site should be away from noise-sensitive areas such as parks, schools, hospitals, churches, etc.
- b. Do not operate model aircraft in the presence of spectators until the aircraft is successfully flight-tested and proven airworthy.
- c. Do not fly model aircraft higher than 400 feet above the surface. When flying aircraft within 3 miles of an airport, notify the airport operator, or when an air traffic facility is located at the airport, notify the control tower or flight service station.
- d. Give right of way to, and avoid flying in the proximity of, full-scale aircraft. Use observers to help if possible.
- e. Do not hesitate to ask for assistance from any airport traffic control tower or flight service station concerning compliance with these standards.
R.J. VAN VUREN Director, Air Traffic Service Initiated by: AAT-220
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
