Rules and regulations

Before KMMFC can permit any aircraft to fly at the field, they must undertake two important tests: the noise level test and structural test.

Noise Level Test

KMMFC implement the BMFA's recommended maximum noise level of 82dBA. Before any aircraft can fly they have to pass the noise level test. The picture shows Bill taking a sound measurement from the aircraft's engine.

Structural Test

All aircraft have to be structurally approved by the safety officer (or by a committee member in his/her absence) before they can fly at the field. The structural test verifies that an aircraft is mechanically and electrically 'airworthy'.

Remember - It is mandatory that all aircraft pass the noise and structural test. This means that you must undertake advice given by the safety officer (or acting committee member) to correct problems.

Failure to do so excludes your aircraft from flying at the field. There are no exceptions!

The field and flying rules are documented below. These are available from the chairman in printed form, and are normally distributed to new members on joining the club.

Kirkby Moss Model Flying Club.

FIELD AND FLYING RULES

1) STRICTLY NO FLYING: -

•  Outside the flying area boundary .

•  Over the pits/car park area at any height.

•  In any zones that from time to time may be enforced.

•  No model must emit a noise greater than 82dBa as specified in the B.M.F.A. handbook. All models must have passed the club noise test and be entered in the Model logbook. A signed coloured mark will be issued by the noise officer and must be displayed on the aircraft to indicate a test pass. Also the model must have passed the club structural inspection*.

•  Site times:- 10.00 to 21.00hrs Engine powered models.

10.00 to dusk. Silent flight/electric power.

•  Members are not permitted to fly solo until they have passed the club flight test. (see exemption a)

•  Only club members are allowed to fly. (Exemptions see note b). All pilots must sign the club flight log to say they have read the current club rules.

•  No aerobatics in the low noise zone.

•  Use of full throttle in the low noise zone is strictly prohibited. When taking off from the cross runway commence your turn (right) when clear of the hill or reduce power if you need to enter the low noise zone before turning. You may climb again when you have left the zone (if your model needs full throttle to climb). Pilots should not use the zone for general flying but only as an entry/exit route for runways.

•  The maximum number of powered models in the air at any one time must not exceed five (5).

•  All members must be logged in the pilots' logbook, with their rating, before they are allowed to use the site.

•  All members must be insured through the B.M.F.A. The club can arrange this.

•  PULSE JETS ARE NOT ALLOWED. Pulse engines must not be run at the field.

•  Novices are not permitted to train on models exceeding 7kg in weight.

•  Members who bring children to the site must not let them roam around the field and runways. They are responsible for their safety

•  Only 35mhz-radio equipment may be used, on ODD NUMBERED channels only. 27mhz-radio equipment must not be used for model flight under any circumstance.

•  First flight of a new/rebuilt model cannot be done on 08

Transmitters MUST NOT be switched on until the appropriate frequency (channel) has been claimed with your personal peg. (You put your peg on the pegboard).

Rules of flight.

Remember that as the pilot you are responsible for the model, so do your preflight and range checks correctly (including fail-safe checks when fitted). If the model is not airworthy then do not fly. Also are you fit to fly and are your flying skills suitable for the current weather conditions.

IF IN DOUBT DO NOT FLY .

•  Pilots must obtain permission from the "pilots box" to go on the field, then obtain permission to use the runway. This may involve the use of the field buzzer. Do not go out on the field when models are flying without permission.

•  Models must not be taxied in the pit area, but must be wheeled or carried out

•  No flying over the pit/car park area or outside the flying boundary

•  Models in the air have right of way over models on the ground.

•  Model flight is allowed behind the pits for runway access only (runways 29/11 and 33) not general flying. And must be at circuit height and direction only. See circuit rules.

•  Flight boxes are not permitted outside the pit area. Small glow batteries may be used to restart engines on the runway but must not be left there.

•  All pilots must stand together at the flag in the designated pilot box when flying.

•  If the wind direction changes during flight, then all pilots must agree to a change of flag position, and must all move together. The flag position may then be altered. The circuit direction may change as well.

•  Pilots must inform other pilots of their intentions i.e. "taking off", "deadstick", "low pass", "landing", "go-round", "touch and go"(roll). Also if they are joining the circuit and the position they are joining.

•  Give way to models that are landing. Also give way to gliders

•  Pilots wishing to hand launch models must do so only from the duty runway as if they where taking off. Under no circumstances may models be launched direct from the pit area.

•  If a model lands off the field it must be recovered with the minimum damage to crops etc. i.e. only 1 person goes to recover.

•  If horses/riders are in the flying area great care must be taken not to fly over them, land if necessary.

•  If an accident occurs, which may result in an insurance claim, a committee member must be informed as soon as possible. THIS IS A LEGAL REQUIREMENT .

•  Remember that your model is ultimately expendable. If a choice is ever presented the model must be ditched.

The following section covers circuit regulations.

Circuit Rules: -

•  All runways have designated circuit patterns and pilots should conform to them

•  To activate the circuit a pilot must inform other pilots that he is "joining the circuit" or declares his intention to "land". Or low pass etc.

•  Models in the air have right of way. When the circuit is active pilots wishing to take off may only do so with permission from the pilots in the air.

•  Circuit height is 50 to 75 feet and all circuits are done off the hill. Above this height is open airspace (excluding behind the pits/hut) do not fly below 50ft behind the hut

•  Flight behind the pits is for runway access/ circuit training only. Hence it is only allowed when runways 29/11 and 33 are in use. Models using it must remain at circuit height and strickly outside the pit markers. Left-hand circuits on these runways are permitted but the model must not fly out of bounds or behind the pits. Or use full throttle in the low noise zone

•  Pilots must inform each other where they are joining the circuit i.e. down wind, cross wind etc.

•  No overtaking in the circuit unless agreed.

•  Only one model on the approach at once unless agreed

•  Only one model to take off at once unless agreed.

•  Models not in the circuit must remain clear of ones that are, they have right of way

•  Pilots must inform other pilots when they have left the circuit

•  Gliders need not conform to full circuit size

•  Pilots joining the circuit are not necessarily landing. When you call "landing" you should first

join the circuit then land. If you join say down wind and call "landing" other models in the circuit ahead of you should continue their circuit and land if they have already called landing. You only land when it's your turn; they do not get out of your way. If when you are on the approach and their model is still on the runway you must go round or if agreed land without hitting his model

•  When a model is in the circuit having declared it, then it is the responsibility of other pilots to remain clear. If there are no models "in" the circuit then the circuit area is open airspace and can be used for general flying and aerobatics.

•  Pilots intending to do "low passes or touch and goes" etc. must obviously join the circuit first and inform other pilots of their intentions. This only applies when the circuit is active. Again if the circuit is not active then it is open airspace.

•  The pilot on the approach controls the runway first then any other pilot in the circuit then any model in the air; this does not apply when a "Deadstick" is declared. It must be remembered that when a pilot wishes to take off he has to obtain permission from all pilots who are flying, in effect he is the last person to control the runway.

•  When a Deadstick is declared and the model concerned is going to fly through the circuit then the other models will make room. Hence the need to communicate. The Deadstick model has priority.

From the above it is obvious that pilots must communicate with each other and, when it's busy it is important to know where other models are.

Also note the area inside the circuit is open airspace, (but not behind the pits), other models may use this space if they inform pilots that are using the circuit, which they must keep clear off. They may fly underneath circuit traffic but must in no way interfere with circuit models, landing models, or taking off aircraft. They must not be in the approach area when a landing model commences his final turn. They must not fly through the circuit.

Circuit traffic must fly an accurate pattern. (Maintain correct height and flight path)

When there are a number of models waiting to fly on the same freq., or there are 5 models in the air remember the "20 minute flight rule"

That is 20 mins from peg on the board to peg off the board, not 20 mins in the air.

Pilots must be familiar with the following terms

Downwind, x wind, base leg, finals (approach). Deadstick, Low pass, Touch and go (roll), backtracking.

*Structural Inspection: -

•  All models must undergo a structural inspection before being permitted to fly at the field.

•  A structural inspection can be performed by the safety officer or one of the committee members (who are not novices) acting on safety officer's behalf. Aircraft that have passed the structural test are recorded in the club's official records with the officer's signature.

•  Findings from a structural inspection result in ‘mandatory' or ‘recommended' actions. A mandatory action must be undertaken before the aircraft is deemed airworthy; failure to do so grounds the aircraft. All mandatory actions must be followed up with additional inspections to ensure the action has been undertaken correctly and to the officer's satisfaction. A recommended action is not compulsory and can be undertaken at the pilot's convenience.

•  Major alterations or crash damage work must be structurally inspected by the safety officer or acting committee officer (as declared in section 2) to ensure that the aircraft is structurally airworthy.

•  The safety officer's decision is final on matters of structural airworthiness.

Note

To conform to BMFA regs club members may be subject to a CRB check (criminal records beau)

For the protection of children and vulnerable adults. By signing the pilots log you are giving permission to do so.

Rule notes

a) Students undergoing training will do some solo flights before their test. But they will be supervised from the pits they will not solo on 29, 33, or 11 and 08

•  Non-members may fly under certain conditions

Fly-in

Demonstration/display flight

Flight experience under BMFA guidelines

All of the above are at the discretion on the committee. All other club rules apply to non-members

All other club flight rules apply.

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