Safety Rules & Regulations

Issue Date : 26^th March 2009

Issue Control : Editor WRCS

Note : These regulations are supplementary to the MAAA regulations.

1. General

a) Each member has the obligation to co-operate to ensure the safe operation of all model aircraft.

b) Flying Times at the Jack Black Field are Monday to Saturday 8:00am to dusk, Sunday & Public Holidays 9:00am to dusk.

3. Definitions of Areas and Restrictions:

• The Restricted Area commences at the first or Northernmost fence ( i.e. directly ahead of you after crossing the creek-bridge) and extends to the third or Southernmost fence ( i.e. where pilots rest against to fly their aircraft). This Restricted Area is ONLY for pilots and assistants actively operating aircraft.

• The ‘Flight Line’ is the area between the second (i.e. the middle fence) and the third fence.

• The ‘Start Up’ area is between the first and second fence.

• The ‘Pits’ is the total area extending from the Western shed to the Eastern fence and from the creek to the third fence. This includes the Startup Area, Flight line, spectator area around the shelters and the shelters themselves.

• The ‘Running In’ area is 30 metres further to the East of the Pits Eastern fence line, where the engine test stand is positioned

• The Helicopter ‘Hovering’ area is in a reserved section of the field a further 15 meters to the North East of the Running In area.

d) To comply with insurance, visiting flyers MUST sign & fill-in the Visiting Flyers register on each occasion before flying.

e) Members who host visiting flyers must also sign the register & ensure their visitors comply with all rules.

f) Proof of current MAAA insurance and any necessary certificates required must be available upon request. In particular proof of current insurance must be supplied if insurance is via a non-WRCS club.

7. Membership badges must be worn to help identification, and show membership and insurance are current.

h) All children are to be in the company of and under the direct supervision of an adult (children under the age of 10 years are not permitted to fly solo).

i) All dogs are to be on a leash at all times.

j) All mobile phones must be turned off at the bridge prior to entering the Pits and other areas.

k) Take all your rubbish home, including broken models….there’s no garbage collection at the field!

l) The flying of jet turbine or rocket powered aircraft is banned due to potential bushfire hazards.

2. Transmitter Operation

a) Frequency control will be by means of the keyboard system. This is located in the lockable transmitter pound area in the Eastern shed. On arrival at the field, ensure your transmitter is switched off and placed in the transmitter pound with your frequency key on the throttle stick.

b) Your gate entry key will open the transmitter pound and the last member leaving at any time MUST ensure the pound is locked before leaving.

c) No transmitter may be operated for any purpose unless the appropriate frequency key has been inserted in the correct slot in the Frequency Keyboard. Transmitters must be clearly identified with the owners name & operating frequency.

d) Frequency Keys must be clearly marked with the owners name & operating frequency and must be of a design and size to suit the keyboard. A separate key is required for each operating frequency.

e) A maximum time of 20 minutes is considered fair for any one use of a frequency.

f) Only the operator of a transmitter can remove their own frequency key from the keyboard.

g) The frequency bands that may be used are 29MHz, 36MHz (20KHz spacing on ODD numbers ONLY – e.g. 36.050, 36.070 etc), 40.665MHz and 40.695MHz and 2.4Ghz

h) Only small electric park flyers will be permitted to use 27Mhz band (26.995, 27.045, 27.095, 27.145 and 27.195).Park flyers are limited to a maximum 500g weight and max 9volt battery.

i) If you are unlucky enough to land your model in the bush, turn your transmitter off and return it to the pound and remove your key before departing to search for your model.

3. Flying

a) Engine Etiquette:

1. All Engines MUST ONLY be started and run in the Start Up or Running In areas. Alternatively engines may also be started West of the Pilots Flight Line on the field itself.

2. All large models with engines of 23cc capacity and above are to be started outside the pit fence. The club will be providing two concrete pads with provision for restraints for this purpose.

3. All electric models must only be armed/connected to power in the pit area (not the sheds) with the model on the ground. They must be disarmed before moving from the pits area into the public area or sheds.

4. Running-in of new motors or prolonged tuning of motors must be carried out away from the pits.

5. Effective mufflers are compulsory. Models that are perceived to be ‘noisy’ will be subject to noise meter testing to ensure compliance with club guidelines (max. 98db @ 3 metres, 1 metre above ground).

6. As a courtesy, starting and/or revving of engines immediately behind the Pilots Flight Line is to be avoided.

b) Prior to Flying please observe the following;

1. All members, and visiting flyers, must hold a minimum Bronze Wings qualification, for the appropriate model type, before flying on the main field without a supervising instructor (helicopters hovering in the hovering area excepted).

2. All models must comply with MAAA guidelines and any relevant certificates must be available for inspection before flying. WRCS reserves the right to check any model and certificates at any time to ensure compliance.

3. Test flights of new models may be carried out on the field if the pilot obtains permission from pilots on the flight line and advises non flyers as appropriate for general awareness and safety.

4. Large models, multi engine aircraft, pylon racers, high performance aircraft (including electric), ducted fan jets and .90+ powered helicopters, require the pilot to have a minimum standard of Gold Wings. High performance model pilots must exercise extra care to avoid mid air incidents with slower aircraft.

5. No taxiing is allowed in the pits.

6. All aircraft must be effectively restrained during startup and at all times when engines are running in the pit area. In-ground Posts are preferred. String, rope or bungee restraints are not allowed.

c) Immediately prior and during Take Off please observe the following;

1. Clearance must be obtained from all pilots with aircraft in the air before taking off…NO RESPONSE- NO TAKE OFF!

2. Pilots must take their position on the flight line before commencing take off. (Please notify the Chief Flying Instructor if any member consistently ignores your call for clearance).

3. Hand launching of any model is not to take place from the flight line and is to be carried out beyond the 30 metre boundary and launched away from the flight line.

d) During Flight please observe the following;

1. All models must be flown from the flight line.

2. Helicopter pilots wishing to practice hovering must do so in the reserved North East corner of the field.

3. Aircraft in flight must keep at least 30 metres South of the first fence. Long grass at the field’s edge denotes this.

4. Helicopters and fixed wing aircraft must fly full circuits on the main field if other aircraft are flying.

5. Helicopters in the practice hover area must not have the blades turning west of the engine test stand. The stand is 30 metres from the Pits fence. Practicing helicopters must not encroach on the main flying field.

6. Aerobatic manoeuvres of aircraft of any type require a clearance from other pilots with aircraft in the air.

7. No flying is allowed over the pits, barbecue area or spectator enclosure.

8. Aircraft must not fly over the helicopter hovering area except when the hovering area is closed on special event days. The car parking area must be avoided except on controlled landing approaches.

e) Priority for Landing ‘Right of Way’;

1. Power models with engine failure (pilots must call ‘Dead Stick’ clearly to obtain right of way).

2. Gliders on the landing circuit.

3. Powered models landing – pilot must call ‘Landing’ clearly on entering the circuit , but should be prepared to give way to the above cases by ‘going round’.

f) Post Flight;

1. Before retrieving models on the field, clearance to go on the field must be requested and granted from all other pilots currently flying.

2. Access and exit the field promptly by the shortest practical route.

3. After flight all engines must be shut down before entering the pits.

4. Aircraft should be turned to face away from pits before shutting down.

4. Board of Enquiry ( BOE )

If a “serious incident” occurs then the transmitter, key and aircraft are to be impounded immediately, and the Club flying privileges of the pilot suspended pending the outcome of a BOE.

(A “serious incident” that will trigger a BOE is defined as one which injures or had the potential to injure a third party and may require an MOP Incident Report.)

A BOE is to be appointed consisting of three Gold Wing standard members not present at the incident site as soon as possible and all witness statements, including a statement from the pilot should be invited and be considered and the findings and recommendations of the Board are to be provided to the Committee for such action as the Committee may determine.