Safety Comes First

Safety Comes First

Box 461, Lovell WY 82431; E-mail: [email protected]

I often receive input regarding flying-field rules used across the country, and sometimes I am asked to review and provide comment. Recently I received a request for field rules as they pertain to Electrics, gliders, and Slope Soarers, and I thought it would be worthwhile to share a general set of field rules with you.

My predecessor John Preston originated the set I’ve used for years, and it was provided to AMA in 1979 or 1980 for distribution. The following is a variation of that set.

When developing safety regulations for a new field or redesigning an old set, default to the current AMA Safety Code. You can find a copy on the AMA Web site (www.modelaircraft.org) or in materials mailed to you each year when you renew your membership. If you’d like an electronic version, drop me an E-mail and I’ll be happy to forward a copy to you.

Ground Rules:

1. Flying is restricted to club members and their guests, provided that the latter have AMA memberships.
2. Cars must be parked in designated areas only.
3. Flight boxes and models being prepared for flight shall be restricted to the pit area.
4. On arrival at the field, all transmitters shall be placed in the impound area with the antenna collapsed.
5. No transmitters shall be removed from the impound area unless the appropriate pin (clip) is attached to the antenna.
6. All transmitters must display a frequency flag color coded to the frequency in use.
7. Possession of the pin shall be limited to 12 minutes. (You determine the amount of time if members are waiting.)
8. When engines are run up to full throttle in the pits, keep bystanders out of the propeller arc.
9. Extended running of engines for break-in purposes in the pits is not allowed.
10. Do not aim propwash at other modelers or their models.
11. Spectators are welcome but must remain in the designated area.

Model Requirements:

1. All models must comply with the AMA safety requirements.
2. All new models (or models repaired after major damage) shall be inspected for structural integrity by the club safety officer before flight.
3. Any radio newly installed in a model or having been in a model during a crash shall be range checked before flight.
4. All internal-combustion engines over (usually) .051 and .10 cubic inch in displacement shall be equipped with a muffler.
5. No nylon propellers (unless reinforced by glass fibers) are permitted on engines over (usually) .40 cubic inch in displacement.

Flight Rules:

1. Taxiing a model through the pit area is prohibited.
2. Takeoffs and landings must be made only on the active runway in a general direction into the wind.
3. Hand launching is permitted only from a designated area. Positively no hand launching from the pits is allowed.
4. If a model must be carried out onto the runway for a takeoff, the intention must be previously announced to any other pilots. Members pursuing this practice must promptly clear the runway when the model is released.
5. Pilots must stand only in the marked pilot’s box. Only pilots, instructors, and spotters are permitted to stand in the pilot’s box.
6. No person shall stand on the edge of the runway.
7. All takeoff and landing attempts shall be previously announced to other fliers.
8. A landing aircraft has the right of way over any aircraft taking off.
9. A dead-stick aircraft has the right of way over all others.
10. When an engine goes dead in flight, shout “dead-stick” loudly several times to warn others of the impending landing.
11. In any case of model malfunction in the air (radio or mechanical), promptly announce the problem to the others at the field in a loud voice.
12. Any person wishing to retrieve a model from the runway shall previously announce the intention to other fliers.
13. No engine restarts shall be made on the runway.
14. There shall be no flying over the pits, spectator area, or a parking lot (or any other area where people are permitted to congregate). Note: At some fields this rule may state, “All flying must take place in the front of the line formed by the edge of the runway extended to infinity in both directions.”
15. There shall be no flying over houses, ball fields, roads, or any other designated areas.
16. Low fly-pasts are not permitted closer to the pilot’s box than ___ (insert 50 feet, the center of the runway, the far edge of the runway, etc.).
17. No models shall be flown higher than an altitude of 400 feet.
18. No more than ___ (usually 4-6) models are permitted in the air at a time.
19. There shall be no flying between ___ a.m. and ___ p.m.
20. There shall be no flying during runway mowing operations.

Other Rules (not necessarily related to safety):

1. Fliers shall not consume alcoholic beverages or drugs at the flying field.
2. Anything you bring to the field will be removed when you leave.
3. Pets shall be confined to the spectator area.
4. Members must display club identification pennants (or badges) on their transmitter antennae (or jackets).
5. No person shall attempt to fly a model without being accompanied by an instructor unless he or she has reached a minimum flight-proficiency level.
6. Gasoline-fueled models shall be confined to the no-smoking area while in the pits.
7. No person shall attempt to start an engine or fly a model while alone at the flying field.
8. To protect hearing, always consider wearing hearing protection.
9. Never play with or pick up poisonous insects or reptiles while at the field.

The list includes many of the essentials addressed throughout the years by clubs that didn’t have high-speed turbines, helicopters, or some of the giant stuff we see at fields today.

If you have any rules you’d like to share, please drop me an E-mail. I’d love to update the list as it relates to current technology.

Until then, have a fun-filled fall and keep the propellers spinning. Until next month!

Gary A. Shaw

November 2002

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