Flying Site Assistance - 2012/07

Hi, everyone!
As summer
approaches, flying
season will be in
full swing. I hope
you are enjoying
the weather and
the flying!
During the past year or so, I have
been in contact with modelers who
enjoy flying small, park flyer-type
models. Many have been flying at local
school yards and city parks. Small,
lightweight, electric models can safely
operate at city parks.
However, I have also had contact
with a few modelers who have found
out that their city has an ordinance
banning the flying of models at all city
parks, and they have contacted me for
help.
Often, these ordinances are in place
due to safety concerns, and are not
there because of a history of problems.
It may not be a difficult task to work
toward having the ordinance modified
to allow model aircraft to fly at the city
park.
In Florida, such an ordinance was
changed. In this case, I found that a
city councilman had purchased a RC
park flyer-type model airplane and
wanted to fly it at a city park near his
home. When he learned about the
ordinance, he brought it up to the
council and showed council members
the model, which lead to the ordinance
being modified. He now flies his model
at the park. This councilman was not
an AMA member and had no previous
contact with AMA until this issue
arose.
In another community, a group
of AMA members were flying park
models at a local city park and
someone contacted the city manager
to complain about safety concerns.
The complaint was unfounded, but
it brought to light the issue of fliers
using the site without permission. As a
result, the group lost access to the site
for some time.
After contacting me and discussing
the problem, the group formed a club
and created a proposal that would
allow the new club to fly at the site.
This resulted in the group obtaining
written permission to fly, and a specific
location to operate at was designated.
The city is now aware of the club’s
operation and club members can work
together to keep the site open for all
to use.
The best way to obtain a longterm
flying site is to create a positive
relationship with your site owner.
In the case of city or county parks,
these places exist to give residents a
place to relax and enjoy the outdoors.
Obtaining permission to use this type
of facility should not be a difficult task,
if done correctly.
Take the time to plan out what you
want to do. Create a flying site layout
showing dimensions of your site and
where and how you fly. Make sure
everyone is an AMA member and
show that you can obtain the needed
insurance certificate from AMA to
protect the site owner from liability
concerns. Show the models you want
to fly and demonstrate their operation.
After you remove the safety concerns
from the equation, the rest should fall
into place.
The result is a new flying space that
is protected from loss. Being a good
steward of the site will ensure a good
relationship with the site owner. Such
a relationship is valuable!
If you are facing a problem with a
city or county park, or want to work
to obtain access to one, give me a call
or send me an email. I will be glad to
help!