Frequency/Safety Enclosure
By Lonnie Goad
In order to comply with the provisions of our club's (The Electronic Flyers of Virginia) agreement for use of our flying site, it was necessary to provide an enclosure to accommodate a fire extinguisher and a first-aid kit.
Being fortunate to have this site provided by the Frederick County Parks and Recreation Department at no cost in fees, this was a condition to which we readily agreed. In return for use of the site, the club takes care of operational and maintenance activities (mowing, rolling, structure installation, etc.).
Inside a small shelter on the site was the logical place to mount the new enclosure. A 4 x 4 support post was added to accommodate the enclosure, which is constructed primarily of 2 x 6 and 2 x 4 treated lumber and 1/2-inch plywood. Basically, it is two frames (one of 2 x 6 and one of 2 x 4) with a plywood sheet on the back of one and the front of the other. The overall size is three feet square.
The front and back are hinged so that they close together, and are secured with a hasp and lock. Strips were installed on the door (made of the 2 x 4 frame) to cover the joints on the top and on both sides.
Drainage (or ventilation) holes were installed in the bottom of the 2 x 6 frame, and covered with window screening and 1/2-inch heavy wire mesh. Pieces of pine shelving were added to mount the fire extinguisher and first-aid kit, as well as to reinforce the corners where the enclosure is mounted with lag screws.
The door part of the box is secured by a screen-door hook when it is opened. A small shed-type roof was added to protect the enclosure from the weather.
Frequency control
A clothespin system is used for frequency control. The pins are marked with the channel numbers and frequency, and are attached to three 5/8-inch dowels mounted vertically in one section of the box. Holes were drilled in strips of shelving nailed to the top and bottom after inserting the dowels.
Mounted behind the dowels is poster board with channel numbers. A piggyback arrangement of plain clothespins can be used to replace the frequency pin when it is removed. A small craft-type clothespin is glued to the regular-size clothespin so that your AMA card, or other identification card, can be attached to it.
Contents and posted information
Other items included in the enclosure are:
- A copy of the club's operational and safety rules, including a procedure for assigning pilot classifications
- A listing of current club members and club officers
- Instructions for operation of the fire extinguisher, and the name, address, and telephone number of the supplier
- A map with directions to a nearby urgent care center and the nearest hospital
The official AMA Safety Code and Approved Frequency Use Plans are mounted on sheet aluminum and attached to the front and back of the box. When the enclosure is open, they can be read easily from inside the shelter.
Although not an elaborate enclosure, the one we have is adequate for our club's needs at the present time.
— Lonnie Goad 139 W. Queen St. Strasburg, VA 22657
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
