Field Safety Rules
1. All fliers must observe field discipline and comply with the Air Navigation Order, all relevant BMFA safety codes as contained within the BMFA Members’ Handbook and Civil Aviation publication (CAP) 722 and Article 16 authorisation.
2. On matters of field safety needing an immediate decision, responsibility lies with committee members, then NFCs (Nominated Flying Companions), in that order. Any instructions must be accepted without dissent. Should a member believe the instructions to be wrong, then he should bring this to the attention of the Committee through Article 17 of the Constitution.
3. Any pilot not holding their solo qualification for the type of aircraft they are flying must not fly without the supervision of an NFC (all B Cert holders, and any A Cert holders nominated by the committee).
4. Due consideration must be given at all times to trainee or novice pilots in the circuit. In the event that the pleasure or concentration of a pilot is affected by the flying style of another, precedence will be given to the pilot who was airborne first. Intimidating flying of any sort is not permitted.
5. While flying, all pilots must form a ‘flight line’ a safe distance from, and parallel to, the edge of the patch. Hand launching must take place upwind of the pilots, in front of the flight line. Any spectators must remain behind the flight line while flying is in progress.
6. Any person wishing to enter or cross the runway area or cross to the flying side of the pilots’ line must seek clearance from any pilots flying at the time before doing so.
7. The patch is not to be used for take-off, landing or low passes while mowing or rolling is taking place. Flying may continue, but the patch is not to be used.
8. When flying at sites other than Wether Down (e.g. the sports field at Buriton), the pilots should form a line with their backs to spectators and the pits area, with at least 10 paces spacing between the pilots’ line and pits.
9. Avoid running motors in the pits area whenever possible. When carrying out power checks all persons including the pilot are to be behind the line of the propeller, and the model must be held.
10. Range checks must be undertaken by 2 members to one side of the Pits: one holding the model whilst the other operates the transmitter at a suitable distance.
11. All models are subject to random safety spot checks. If it is thought that a model is unsafe to fly or does not conform to Club rules, it will be grounded until rectified.
12. If in the opinion of a Committee member a model is excessively noisy in the air, it is to be grounded until rectified.
13. All operational failsafes must set the motor to be stopped if control is lost. Any member may be requested to demonstrate correct failsafe operation at any time.
14. Mobile telephones should not be kept in close proximity to computerised transmitters. It is recommended that they should be kept in the flight box and switched to the flight safe mode.
15. Children must be closely supervised at all times and must not be allowed to run around the pit area or runways.
16. Any accident involving a third party, or another member must be reported to a Club Committee Member as soon as possible, they in turn will then inform the Club’s Executive Committee and BMFA.
17. Circuits will be flown with left or right turns such that, after taking off into wind, the first turn is made away from the pits. Any manoeuvres which may violate the normal circuit pattern (e.g. flying downwind over the patch) must be agreed with the other pilots before the manoeuvre takes place.
18. Transmitters which have a throttle kill switch must have this configured so that the motor will not start unless the switch is in the “armed” position.
19. Any plane which has its main battery connected should be considered live. No live model is to be left unattended unless there is an emergency which requires the owner’s attention elsewhere.
WETHER DOWN: FIELD / SAFETY RULES
Preamble (& part extract from BMFA):
Wether Down is a mixed-use site. As ‘people carrying’ aviation e.g. hang-gliding, paragliding, etc. takes place the model flyer must accept that their needs are going to be secondary to the safety of the other user. Indeed, this point is specifically covered by the Air Navigation Order.
On any shared site, it is extremely important that the model flying group have a robust and reasonable set of rules that are agreed by all users of the site and are rigidly applied. Anything less than this could lead to compromised safety.
Study the following site maps to familiarise yourself with the location of the other clubs and there likely operating areas. Both MVSA and The Sky Surfing club indicate the don’t usually overfly our area at low level. However, errors or emergency must be allowed for, and constant look out must be a priority.
20. All PAM circuit flying is to be done in the designated PAM area (see later diagram). This is to the North of the red dashed line (keeping separation from domestic dwellings).
21. No PAM flying if hang/paragliding is taking place. On first arrival we should make reasonable endeavours to establish if hang/paragliding is likely to take place during the day.
22. A permanent lookout must be maintained whenever model flying is taking place, either by individuals or by everyone present.
23. If a hang/paraglider appears unexpectedly in the vicinity, all PAM flyers should land immediately.
24. Only fixed wing models and autogyros may be flown. These must be electric powered or gliders. Helicopters and drones are not permitted. IC powered aircraft are not to be flown at this site.
25. Flying Hours are from 10am until 9pm. No noisy planes (especially pushers or EDF) to be flown after 6pm. Up to 4 PAM aircraft may be flown at any time. A maximum of a further 2 may be flown at the same time if these are gliders, electric powered sailplanes, or small models (less than 250g).
26. All vehicles must be parked on the hardstanding near the phone mast. Care must be taken not to block access to the barn, tracks or gates. Vehicles may not enter the flying field unless specifically authorised by a Committee Member. Access to the fields and roads must be maintained at all times.
27. When walkers are on any path near the field, low flying in their vicinity must be avoided. When horses are near the field or the road, the airspace in their vicinity must be avoided, and any noisy planes should land. Never take off towards horses.
28. No flying within 50m of masts to the north of the field (using your best judgement).
29. No dogs are allowed at the flying field unless kept on a lead or tethered.
30. If approaching the patch on foot while flying is already taking place you must shout for permission to cross the active runway area or approach/take-off line.
31. PAM Fliers using 35MHz must use ODD frequencies only (MVSA use even numbers). If multiple pilots are using 35MHz, they must co-ordinate to avoid frequency clashes.
The above rules should prevent airspace conflict with hang/paragliders, but if, nonetheless, a collision appears possible then the much better agility of your model (compared with a hang/paraglider) means that your role will probably be the more significant one in any avoidance action.
It is not possible to give hard and fast collision avoidance rules to cover every situation, but to minimise the effects of depth perception and disorientation `up’ or `down’ manoeuvres by the model are likely to be the most sensible actions.
If unexpected conflict does occur, aim to keep a good angular separation between your model and any hang/paraglider. Don’t forget – your depth perception is often very poor.
Your best protection is to observe and learn about hang/para-glider characteristics compared with your models. If collision avoidance then becomes necessary your actions will be more likely to be instinctively best. A hang/paraglider pilot will not be able to see models above and behind them.
Remember that a life is at stake on a hang/paraglider.
(Part extract from BMFA / BHPA Code for shared use sites 2011)
PAM Site Detail
Area Detail
Site Parking
Keep barn, gates, tracks and road clear. Remember to close gates.
Further details of the Meon Valley Slope Soaring Association’s (MVSA) Handbook and site rules can be found at:
https://mvsa.bmfa.uk/wp-content/uploads/Handbook-v27.pdf
Further details of The Sky Surfing Club’s site information and rules can be found at:
https://skysurfingclub.co.uk/site_guide/mercury/
Risk Assessment
The most recent Risk Assessment for Petersfield Aero Modellers can be found here
