Redruth And District
Model Flying Club
Rules and
Policies – March 2006
It
is a condition of club membership that all members abide by the club rules and
policies as laid out below. Failure to comply may result in the termination of
membership.
Rules
- Prospective
new members must be proposed and seconded by current Club members, and
their membership will be voted upon at the earliest opportunity. We reserve the right to refuse
membership. There will be a joining
fee for new members.
- Each member
or guest is to have his/her insurance documentation and proof of current
membership available on request, whenever using a Club site,
or flying may be refused. Members
and visitors wishing to fly must adhere to the club rules regarding the
safety of flying.
- The club
members will be in charge on the field. Transmitter checks may be called
for.
- A frequency
peg will be used at all times.
- No member
shall hold a frequency peg for more than 20 minutes.
- The members
will indicate the position to be used for a bungee launch.
- All fixed
wing A/C shall be fitted with a spinner or domed prop nut with a minimum
radius of 7.5mm.
- Cars using
the field must be parked in accordance with the member’s instructions, or
to the edges of the field away from upwind or downwind leg of the runway.
Cars and contents are left entirely at the owners’ risk.
- Club
members should be conversant with the club rules and safety codes.
- The members
will decide where Control line operation will take place, but will not be
upwind or downwind of the radio-controlled runway at any time.
- No radio
flyer will operate an A/C without frequency clearance. 27 MHz split
frequencies may be used at the discretion of the members.
- Only 35 MHz
will be used for displays. Pilots must hold a ‘B’ certificate or its equivalent.
- The
hovering of helicopters must not be carried out for long periods over the
main fixed wing runway. The members will designate an area where this may
take place. However, helicopter pilots may use the main runway for take
off and landings, if they are intending to fly circuits.
- Experienced
flyers should attempt to supervise novice flyers and other young people in
the pits and flying area.
- Any person
purchasing equipment in the clubs name for their own use, do so only on
the condition they inform the trader they are solely responsible for the
purchase price. The club will not be liable for anyone’s equipment so
purchased.
- All models
will comply with the D.O.E’s requirement that
engine noise does not exceed 82db at seven metres, noise checks may be
carried out.
- Club
officers will be elected at the club A.G.M. The term of office will be
twelve months, running from January 1st to December 31st. The chairman, secretary,
treasurer and one auditor are to be members of at least twelve months
standing. A quorum of five will be statutory. The clubs financial year is
to end on the 30th of November, with half-year audit on the 31st May. Club
accounts will be audited and reports given at the AGM. This is to be
supported by an appropriate bank statement. Proxy votes are permitted
- Subscriptions
are due immediately after the AGM which is held on the first Monday in December. One
month's grace will be given for payment, after which time membership will
be terminated. Any member who does
not renew his/her membership within one month of the AGM will have to pay
a £10 rejoining fee, if they subsequently apply to rejoin after this
period.
- All club members must be members of the BMFA by way of country membership, membership thru another club or thru the Redruth & District Model Flying Club.
- Any member
up to the age of 18, wishing to join the club will only pay the current
club insurance premium or recognized model insurance.
- Whilst the
club will seek to institute procedures to minimize the risk of radio
interference caused by bad radio discipline, it is a condition of
membership that the club will accept no responsibility for damage caused
to member’s models by radio interference and /or pilot error.
- Any person
under instruction is, in the event of an accident are liable for the
insurance claim and any excess due, unless training is done under the
buddy-box system.
- The
committee has the power to suspend or expel members, who after one casual,
one verbal warnings and one written warnings of
their repeated breeches of the BMFA safety guideline or club rules,
continue to ignore safety rules. The final decision will be made at a club
meeting. No refunds to be given for terminated memberships.
- Aircraft
should not be taxied from the pits to the take off area or flown from the
pits or flown in the no-fly zones between the car park, pits and patch.
- Flying
alone should be avoided if at all possible.
- No litter
or debris of any sort to be left at any flying site.
- Novice
flyers are not to fly solo on club sites unless authorized by an examiner
or passing the ‘A’ or it’s equivalent standard.
General
Guidelines
- Due to
issues relating to noise sensitivity, members are asked not to fly IC
powered models before 10am at any of the club sites.
Flight
Instruction Policy
The
club undertakes no commitment to provide for instruction/tuition and membership
does not provide any entitlement to such training.
Any
training or instruction is given freely at the goodwill of suitably qualified
members who volunteer to undertake such training. Members requesting training
accept that instructors may or may not be available at all times and that they
are responsible for arranging sessions with the instructor in advance or as
otherwise agreed.
At
certain times of the year specific training sessions may be organised at the
discretion of the members, at these times training outside such sessions may
not be available. Details of any sessions will be made available at club
meetings and on the club website.
No
responsibility is taken by the club or instructor on the quality of training
provided or for damage caused to the student’s model/equipment.
Flight
training may only be provided by members who hold a minimum of BMFA 'B'
certification, a recognised equivalent or written permission from the club committee.
The latter may be applied in situations where a member has a recognised
competency without formal qualification. There are not limitations on who may
provide 'ground training'.
All
students accept the responsibility to maintain their equipment in a suitable
condition and preparedness. Failure to do so may result in loss of training
time.
It
should be recognised that due to the varying abilities of students, there is no
assurance that training/instruction will result in the ability to achieve suitable
competency.
Child Welfare
Policy
Any
members under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian or by an
authorised member that the parent/guardian has authorised to act in loco parentis
at all times. Juniors of 16-17 are allowed unaccompanied access provided their
parent/guardian has given written permission.
Any
instructor teaching a Junior has to do so in
conjunction with the parent/guardian and explain the procedures to them
throughout. CRB checking is recommended for instructors who are willing to
instruct Juniors. Until such time that this becomes a
legal requirement, it shall be seen as a voluntary act. Flight instruction of
junior members shall only be undertaken with the use of a "buddy
lead" and the parent/guardian accepts that instructors may or may not be
CRB ratified.
It
is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to ensure the safety and safe
behaviour of those under their care at all times. They acknowledge that they
comprehend the dangers that exist on the flying site including but not limited
to the starting and running of model engines, frequency control, designated
flying areas and movement of vehicles.
No
junior member under the age of 14 years shall be permitted to start an engine
or carry a model with a running engine unless supervised by the
parent/guardian.