Safety Comes First
SAFETY LOGO: In the August 1987 issue of MA, I mentioned the reason for the disappearance of the safety logo from the head of this column and asked readers to submit suggestions for a new design. The response was good, but I haven't yet had a chance to visit AMA HQ to consult with the full-time magazine staff on which we should choose. So, for those who submitted designs for a new logo, I thank you and ask for your patience. Last month, a week of my time was consumed by an unscheduled business trip to San Francisco; I'm scheduled to take a week's vacation this month (August); and next month I'm scheduled to go to the Orient (Hong Kong, Beijing, and Bangkok) for a two-week business trip. Life is anything but dull!
Safety Comes First
EXPLODING BATTERIES. I'm sure that most of you are aware that when jump-starting a dead automobile battery there is a possibility that an explosion can occur. During the last month I received a letter from Mitch Poling with a column on safety that he had written for Model Builder magazine enclosed. Mitch's column illustrates that the lead/acid batteries that many of us use in pursuit of our hobby may also present the same hazard. Excerpts from Mitch's MB column ("Electric Power", February '87 issue) are as follows: "I read in John Onian's `Offshore' column in the November 1986 Model Airplane News about a very bad charging accident. Usually I don't mention safety other than `use fuses,' but this one deserves some extra attention. I am doing this because I have a strong feeling that `There, but for the grace of God, go I.'
Safety Comes First
MOST of you will be reading this column during the first weeks of April. However, as I write it on January 31, my backyard still has most of the two feet of snow that was dumped on the Washington, DC area just a week ago. Even if you have a ski-equipped model, a trip to the flying field would probably require the use of a four-wheel-drive vehicle. Let's just say it's good building weather! I have a filing cabinet in my office that contains all of the letters from readers of this column and other material that I've accumulated since I first started writing for MA back in January 1980. For the most part, my files are arranged by subject, and the fattest one of the bunch by far is titled "Chemical Hazards." Under this category goes all the material concerning the effect on our health that may occur from use of glues, paints, etc.
Safety Comes First
PROTECTING the RC pilot: The first topic of disucssion that appeared in the May 1987 Safety column resulted from a conversation with J. R. Griffith, a committee member of the Austin, TX RC club. J.R. described a change to his club's flying field facilities in which concrete pads had been installed to serve as pilot flight boxes. However, because these pads project about three inches above the surrounding ground, some out-of-control models had sustained damage by colliding with them. I asked for readers' opinions on the suggestion by several of J.R.'s modeling friends that dirt ramps could be added around the concrete pads to prevent damage to models. The problem was that the ramps could result in a model colliding with a pilot's legs and possibly causing an injury. I had an overwhelming response to this request for opinions.
Safety Comes First
PILOT PROTECTION. A couple of weeks ago I had an interesting telephone conversation with J.R. Griffith, down in Texas, who is an executive committee member of the Austin RC Club. J.R. called to seek my opionion concerning a controversial issue that has divided the club's members into two camps. I would like to ask readers if they agree with my response to J.R. Here's the story: The Austin club flies from a runway that is 300 feet long by 50 feet wide. The RC pilots are located some 60 feet from the edge of the runway. Recently, the club installed concrete pads for the pilots to stand on which project about three inches above the ground. Apparently these pads have caused some damage to out-of-control models when the models ran into them. Some club members want to surround the concrete pads with dirt ramps so that, instead of colliding with the edge of the pad, an out-of-control model will merely run up the ramp and across the pad.
