NOTICE TO ALL MEMBERS 19^th May 2017

At a recent committee meeting, it was decided to adopt the following actions until ratified or otherwise (with a rule change) at the next AGM. As we operate in a public park safety must be our main concern but technology in model aircraft is rapidly changing. The committee believe that the following will help to improve safety, which is paramount, until the rules can be updated. These changes will take immediate effect.

Anyone who joined as a new member this year for the sole purpose of flying multi-rotors and does not agree to the changes listed below should contact the membership secretary. On return of their gate key and membership card a refund of club fees (not including the BMFA membership fee) will be given.

MULTI-ROTORS

• No racing, practise racing or low fast flying will be allowed. No air gates at all and ground markers can only be used as positioning spots for carrying out test manoeuvres.

• Anyone who passes a BPC with a multi-rotor will be allowed to fly solo line of sight. If practising for an FPV extension a competent observer will be required, by law this means one observer to one pilot.

• Any multi-rotor flyer without an 'A' or BPC will be allowed to fly solo (Not FPV) until the end of June 2017, this is to allow time for pilots to practice the manoeuvres required for the BPC and 'A' certificates. From the 1st of July 2017 anyone who has not achieved the required certificated cannot fly without a qualified observer. (A qualified observer for multi-rotor flying is anyone who holds an 'A' certificate or higher in any discipline.)

• The control line area on the main site should be used for practise hovering of multi-rotors when not in use for control line flying. If the control line area is not available then the helicopter area is to be used, with red flags to warn the public of the activity, applying the safety distances as marked out.

• Any pilot holding an 'A' certificate or higher in any discipline will be allowed to fly a multi-rotor this is to allow practise for either a BPC or 'A' certificate. FPV is not allowed unless the relevant certificate has been obtained.

FIXED WING

• Anyone achieving a BPC will be allowed to fly solo but only with an aircraft of the same classification type that the test was taken with.
• This means: - Under 1Kg with or without under carriage.

· An aircraft with stabilisation up to a maximum weight of 1.5Kg including battery e.g. A Riot is just under this limit.

HELICOPTER (Rotary Wing)

· Anyone achieving a BPC will be allowed to fly solo but only with an aircraft not greater than a 350 size.

• Any helicopter pilot holding an 'A' certificate or higher will be allowed to fly a multi-rotor. FPV is not allowed unless the relevant certificate has been obtained.

As mentioned above, these changes are in the interest of safety, they will only be in place until either the AGM or an EGM when the members can vote on any changes to club rules, together with any other matters that may be on the agenda.

The club already has quite a few members flying multi-rotors at the field, some of these have been club members for many years, but as of writing none have an ‘A’ certificate, this means they are flying against club rules. The committee believes that the above conditions will help to improve safety whilst still allowing members time to achieve the appropriate certification to allow them to fly solo.