Author: Mark Johnston
Edition: Model Aviation - 2015/05
Page Numbers: 154

District VIII—Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas

Mark Johnston

The flying season is beginning for most of us, so I thought it was a good time to think about field safety. Associate Vice President (AVP) Jim Rice wrote the following for this month.

Field Safety (from AVP Jim Rice)

As the flying season gets into full swing, make sure your aircraft and skills are ready to have fun! Safety isn't the lack of accidents—that may well be just good luck. Safety is taking every precaution you know—inspecting, educating, and creating an environment that encourages good luck.

I have seen the safest of model pilots have accidents that hurt themselves or others, and I have seen the lamest of pilots get away without incident. I have to chalk both of these up to luck, some bad and some good.

Chi-Chi Rodríguez, pro golfer, overheard a spectator's comment that his perfectly executed hole-in-one was luck. His quiet response was that he practiced 8 hours a day, hitting tens of thousands of shots per week to make that luck possible. That same effort should go into our building, maintaining, and flying of models, taking every opportunity to reduce the potential for bad luck to win the day.

Routinely check batteries, fuel systems, wing and strut mounts, engine bolts, propellers and rotor blades, and anything else. Practice new maneuvers on a simulator, at altitude, or when few people are at the field until you have them mastered.

This is a good month for club safety officers and coordinators to conduct a thorough site safety inspection. Take one or two members with you and look at everything with a view toward safety.

Inspect the following:

  • Entry road for ruts and safety warning signs.
  • Concession stand for cleanliness, splinters, and electrical problems.
  • The site for loose boards, rebar sticking out of construction areas, dangerous tables or chairs, and deteriorating fencing.
  • Mown runways that may have developed ruts or whose borders have crept too close to pilot stations.
  • Protective barriers that are either worn or needed for flight stations.
  • Starting stations that might not restrain aircraft.
  • Overflight areas for changes in vegetation or new biking/walking paths or structures.
  • Spectator warning signs and AMA Safety Code signs to see if they need replacement.

Don't leave any area of the site without critical review!

Following the AMA Safety Code and all of its associated documents will keep you in step with FAA regulations and the current interpretation of public law. Our Safety Code is built on two main tenets: yield to full-scale aircraft and maintain visual line of sight with the model. Review all safety documents at www.modelaircraft.org/documents.aspx.

Air Fiesta Airshow (AVP Jim Marshall report)

The annual Air Fiesta Airshow, put on by the city of Brownsville, Texas, featuring a nice selection of warbirds from the Commemorative Air Force collection, was a tremendous success.

The Harlingen Smash RC Club had a booth at the event. Thousands of spectators attended, with many visiting the main hangar to see more than 40 beautiful model aircraft from the Smash RC Club. An array of micro quadcopters, helicopters, sport airplanes, warbirds, foamies, and control-line airplanes lined the tables. Interested kids and adults signed up to receive additional information about flying models and asked questions fielded by Smash RC club volunteers. The Smash RC club had two flight simulators busy full time with many taking turns at the sticks.

A special thank-you goes to club members Gale Downey and Joe Zapata for organizing and putting together the club's display. More than 15 other club members volunteered and worked the booth during the two-day event. A big thank-you was extended to those from other clubs in the region who volunteered their time to make the Smash RC booth a success. Everyone had a great time and said the full-scale airshow wasn't too bad either.

AVP Changes and Acknowledgments

Cecil Column, our AVP in Arkansas, has asked to be replaced. Cecil cannot travel too far from home because of health issues. If you are interested in being an AVP for Arkansas, please let me know.

I would also like to mention the rest of the AVPs. They do a great job for our district and for the clubs in the areas they support. When you see them, give them your thanks. If you want them to go to an event in your area, email them and let them know. If you are not sure who covers your area, contact me.

District VIII AVPs:

  • Brian Regan
  • Cliff Town
  • Bill Holland
  • Tony Breyen
  • Stewart Moore
  • Doug Staines
  • Ed Valls
  • Jim Marshall
  • Randy Ritch
  • Benny Behrens
  • Jerry Walters

District VIII has more than 18,000 members and approximately 240 clubs. We have a huge district in size and it is impossible for the district vice president (VP) to visit the entire district without the help of the AVPs. They are the VP's eyes and ears for what is happening in the local areas.

To add to that, Doug "Chief" Powell, our contest coordinator, and Jim Rice, our safety AVP, serve the district and put in many hours to help both District VIII and AMA. They all deserve a big thank you!

Hope to see you all at the field.

Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.