Hastings Model Flying Club Ltd.

General Code & Club Rules

Revised June 2012

All new members joining the Hastings Model Flying Club Ltd (HMFC) and renewing their BMFA subscription are issued with a copy of the BMFA Members’ Handbook and ‘Up and Away’ book.

The HMFC General Code and Club Rules set out below do not replace the BMFA Rules and Guidelines, but enhance them to take account of the particular circumstances that exist at the Middle Bridge Flying Site.

Flying Safety and Etiquette of every pilot will be practiced at all times as specified in your BMFA Handbook.

An exceptional number of crashes will attract the attention of the Committee and corrective action may be put in place. The Club operates to a high standard of procedure and safety and expects the same of its members. Crashes on the SAA field or in the river will be investigated by the Committee.

Members are required to respect the Club and the Club’s property at all times.

Accessing the flying field

The access lane from the A259 to the field is not clearly visible, therefore signal in good time and be aware of following traffic, especially if approaching from the East. You may park in the field in the designated area when conditions allow otherwise park on the hard-standing between the drive and the picket fence at the bottom of the field. Look for and comply with any notice posted at the gate. If you are the only one at the field it is recommended that you close the gate and replace the padlock for security.

There is a 5 MPH speed limit in the field, please observe it.

At times the field is used for grazing sheep and for a hay crop. Be sure to close the gate behind you when the sheep are in the field! Keep to the tracks and paths provided. Do not trample over the hay.

Dogs are only permitted onto the field on the strict understanding that they remain on a lead and are properly supervised at all times. The owners shall remove any dog mess. At no time will dogs be permitted into the pit area, flight line or within the flying zone.

There are no facilities for disposing of rubbish at the field. Please take your litter home with you.

Juniors

Junior members must be accompanied by a parent/guardian at all times, who shall be responsible for their safety, welfare and behaviour. That parent/guardian will be responsible for supervising engine starting and model restraint, through flying and return to the pits. That parent/guardian will be responsible for the proper use of radio equipment and frequency control by the junior member with respect to the Club Rules and BMFA Guidelines.

During overnight events at the club field, junior members will be closely supervised by a parent/guardian. No junior members will be allowed to occupy a tent without a parent/guardian being present at all times. If a parent has given consent for a guardian to take charge of a junior member whilst on HMFC Ltd property, then prior notice must be in given in writing to the Club Secretary.

First aid and accidents

All accidents in which you may be involved or that you witness must be recorded and reported to a member of the committee.

All members should have a first aid kit of their own because we are unable to keep a kit in the box as it is not secure.

Flying and safety code

Flying tuition

If flying tuition is required, the Membership Secretary will arrange for one-to-one tuition with one of the Club Instructors. Your instructor will do his utmost to protect your model but neither he nor the Club will accept responsibility for damage to or loss of the model under any circumstance - whoever is flying at the time.

The frequency control system

All radio frequencies on the 35MHz, 2.4GHz and solid colours on the 27MHz bands are permitted.

35MHz band users

The Club employs a peg-board system. Each member is required to provide themselves with a suitable clothes peg which is marked with their name and Club number. Before flying you must place your peg on the peg-board over the channel number (55 to 90) of your frequency, unless there is already a peg over your channel number. This indicates that you have the use of the channel and can proceed to switch on.

There may only be one peg on the board per channel number. Do not attempt to make space for two pegs on one channel number! Contact the person already on that number and arrange to alternate. Speak to other pilots that share your frequency to ensure that they know that it is shared. Agree with them to take turns. Don’t hog the peg! Limit your flight times to 20 minutes or less.

When you land you must remove your peg from the peg-board as soon as your model is made safe, thus relinquishing the channel number.

2.4GHz band users

Users of 2.4GHz are not required to use the peg-board system at all.

27MHz band users

If you intend using the 27MHz band, please let the Membership Secretary know and you will be given an appropriate marker.

The flight controller

There may be a Flight Controller or a Duty Pilot present. He is one of a panel of Safety Officers appointed by the Committee and is empowered to ground unsafe models, and is also responsible for ensuring that the Club Safety Rules are observed.

Electric powered models

The power batteries of electric powered models must only be connected to the model in a start-up box.

After your flight, you must return to the start-up box and disconnect the power battery before leaving the start-up box.

Always assume that an armed electric powered model might start up under full power at any time.

FPV

First person view radio control (FPV) is not approved by HMFC Ltd.

Helicopters

Helicopter pilots should consider flying as a slot rather than clashing with other flying styles.

When flying circuits, helicopters must be flown in accordance with the rules covering fixed wing models insofar as they are applicable.

Jet turbines

Jet turbines may only be flown at Middle Bridge with the prior approval of the Committee, and may be the subject of supervision by an experienced jet pilot. All jet turbine powered models may only be flown on the Club Field by holders of a ‘B’ certificate. There are no exceptions to this rule.

3-D

All 3-D manoeuvres will be performed over the second field, not over the runway, the Waller’s Haven River, or adjacent SAA land. The danger and distraction associated with this style of flying should be considered before taking off.

3-D pilots should consider flying as a slot rather than clashing with other flying.

Models weighing more than 7Kg

Powered models weighing more than 7Kg may only be flown on the Club Field by holders of a ‘B’ certificate. There are no exceptions to this rule.

New models

Before the first flight, have an experienced member check it over. This could save you money and much grief! Please allow a member with a new, unflown model to take the opportunity to fly a slot on his/her own in order to concentrate on trimming and proving the model without the distraction of other models in the airspace. If you wish to take advantage of this facility you may first contact a Committee Member who will arrange and supervise the session.

If you fly a new model for another club member, please remember that the pilot is responsible for ensuring that the model is airworthy and must carry out the checks as per the BMFA Handbook. Pilots must not take the word of the owner who may suggest the model has been checked out and is ready to fly.

Pre-flight

The pilot is responsible for ensuring that the model is airworthy and must carry out the checks as per the BMFA Handbook.

The pilot should check the model before every flight.

The pilot must secure the use of a channel on the peg-board in the manner described above, before flying (this does not apply to 2.4GHz band users).

Starting the engine

Engines must be started only within one of the start-up boxes. The power batteries of electric powered models must only be connected to the model in a start-up box.

Models should be properly restrained while in the start-up box.

Observe any notices next to the start-up boxes.

The transmitter aerial must be retracted whilst in the start-up boxes (does not apply to 2.4GHz band users).

Only pilot and one helper per pilot (if required) are permitted in the start-up box, and only one person is permitted in front of the propeller while the engine is being started or running.

Dead air

There is a hypothetical wall along the near edge of the main runway which extends all the way out and all the way up. Pilots will not fly pits-side of this wall at any distance or height with the exception of take-off and landing on the second runway (as stated below). If you are not perfectly clear on this, you should consult a Committee Member before flying.

Taxiing

There must be no unrestrained taxiing between the start-up boxes and the runway. If you need to taxi, a helper must manually restrain the model.

Take-off

A maximum of six models may be operated at any one time.

Obtain permission from those pilots already flying, before pilot, model or helper goes onto the runway.

Immediately prior to take-off, check the controls for correct sense and at full throttle.

If the engine stops or the model needs attention you must return to the start-up box. You must not re-start or make adjustments on the runway.

Take-off may be along the strip in either direction according to the wind direction, although in circumstances described below (relating to anglers on the Waller’s Haven River, and to prevailing wind and sunlight conditions), the second runway may be used.

Take off must never be toward the A259 main road!

The first turn must always be away from the road.

Pilots

Pilots will take a position in the pilot box either before take-off, or as soon as practicable following take-off.

Each pilot may have one helper, if required. No other personnel should be in or near the pilot boxes.

Flying

All pilots have a legal obligation to fly safely and within the capabilities of the model. All pilots must make themselves aware of all legal issues regarding model flying as highlighted their BMFA Handbook.

Waller’s Haven

The flying zone is set out in accordance with the BMFA guidelines. Notwithstanding this, the Waller’s Haven River, located at the south end of the runway, cuts through the HMFC Ltd flying zone and is used by angling members of the Southdown Angling Association (SAA). The HMFC Ltd has an agreement with the SAA that fishing will not occur at the end of our runway other than on SAA Match Days. This allows the minimum safe guideline distance of 30m to be maintained between model and angler during take-off and landing over the river.

During Match Days, pilots will only use the second runway, in which case a tight turn will be required at the north-east end so as to avoid approaching the lane or the A259 main road, and will not over-fly the river. Dates of the SAA Match Days will be notified to HMFC Ltd members as and when advised by the SAA.

Notwithstanding the above, every pilot must satisfy himself/herself that anglers are not occupying the end of the runway prior to flying. If anglers are occupying the end of the runway, you must maintain the abovementioned safe distance, and notify other pilots of the anglers’ presence.

Pilots will avoid flying over the Waller’s Haven River and adjacent SAA land at a height of less than 50m (30m when taking off or landing).

There must be no aerobatics performed over the Waller’s Haven River and adjacent SAA land.

The second runway

The second runway may also be used when prevailing wind and sunlight conditions dictate, in which case a tight turn will be required at the north-east end so as to avoid approaching the lane or the A259 main road.

Landing

a. Check that the runway is clear.

b. Shout “landing” so other pilots are aware of your intentions.

c. If the model lands on or near to the runway with the engine stopped, collapse the transmitter aerial (if applicable) and agree with the other pilots to quickly retrieve the model after having switched off the receiver. Then switch off the TX.

d. If the model lands away from the runway or the engine is still running, hand the transmitter to a helper, keeping it switched on and the aerial extended (if applicable), agree with the other pilots to retrieve the model after stopping the engine, switch off the receiver, and signal for the TX to be switched off.

e. After your flight, you must return to the start-up box and disconnect the battery before leaving the start-up box (applies to electric powered models only).

f. Remove your peg from the peg-board peg as soon as your model is made safe, thus relinquishing the channel number (does not apply to 2.4GHz band users).

g. Check the model over by following the post-flight checklist as specified in the BMFA Handbook.

h. Remove all equipment including the restraining device from the start-up box.

Complaints procedure

[Section 3 of the Articles of Association states: “The Committee has the right to expel any member. It will not hesitate to do so for continued flagrant breaches of its flying field safety rules and regulations.”]

Only complaints concerning contravention of HMFC Ltd. Club and safety rules will be formally considered by the Committee as legitimate.

Any complaint must be made in writing and sent to the Club Secretary. This must contain the date and time of the incident, the person’s name, what exactly occurred (a good description of the events) and the names of any witnesses.

The Club Secretary (or other Club Official if unavailable) will send a written acknowledgement to the complainant within seven days of receipt.

The Club Secretary (or other Club Official if unavailable) will also send a letter (within seven days of complaint) to the person named by the complainant, requesting their version of the incident. This will have a transcript of the complaint in it but will exclude details of the complainant at this time. This will carry a seven-day written response clause.

If a response is received, a further acknowledgement letter will be issued by the Club Secretary (or other Club Official if unavailable) acknowledging their reply and stating that the Committee will consider all the evidence and notify them of the outcome.

If no response is received, a further letter will be issued by the Club Secretary (or other Club Official if unavailable) stating that no reply has been received and that the Committee will consider all the available evidence and notify them of the outcome.

The Committee, if it feels it necessary, can request that all parties meet to discuss the incident in more depth. Any new evidence will be collated and agreed by all parties. A decision by the committee will be taken at that meeting to decide the complaint.

Disciplinary options available to the Committee will include:-

a. Temporary removal of solo flying status.

b. Removal of BMFA Achievement Scheme ratings.

c. Written warning and/or signed undertaking of conformity

d. Imposed training requirement.

e. Dismissal from the Club.

Upheld complaints will be lodged with the Club Secretary and may be the subject of further consideration of any subsequent complaints against that club member.

HMFC Ltd.

Revised June 2012 - BB - Sections ‘Electric powered models’ and ‘FPV’ added. Layout changed to increase clarity and readability with no significant other change of meaning.