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To: All Sun Valley Fliers Members
Dear fellow club member,
FIELD RULES
In Addition to AMA Safety Codes
AMA MEMBERSHIP REQUIRED: Persons intending to fly at the SVF Field must possess a valid AMA membership in their name and be current SVF members in good standing. Guests holding an AMA membership may accompany a current SVF member, but will be asked to join the club after subsequent visits (guests MUST furnish proof of AMA membership on request). Operators of turbine powered aircraft must be able to produce the proper AMA turbine waiver.
ENTRY GATE: All members must lock the gate after entering or leaving the facility. No member may give the gate code out to non-members or guests. The gate is to remain locked at all times. Failure to adhere to entry gate rules will result in disciplinary action.
STARTUP: All starting and running of electric and fuel aircraft must be done at the designated flight stations, with the aircraft facing North, away from the pits. All pilots must have an assistant hold a fuel aircraft during start up. Please do NOT tether your aircraft with ropes or wires. No aircraft (fuel or electric) may be run in the pit area.
PILOT SPOTTER: All pilots must use a spotter by their side. The spotter’s role is to provide for the safety of the pilot, monitor other model aircraft and notify the pilot of any full-scale aircraft in the airspace. Any pilot utilizing a Caller must also have a spotter by their side. If you have to fly by yourself. You are Limited to a 65″ wingspan plane and no turbine planes. As soon as a spotter is available you are required to have one.
TAKEOFF/LANDING DIRECTION: Shall be established by an East – West traffic pattern as determined by the prevailing wind direction. Takeoffs, landings, dead sticks, and aircraft retrieval from the runway and surrounding areas shall be ‘called’ loudly, to give ample warning to other flyers.
FLIGHT STATIONS: All Pilots while flying from the main runway shall stand at one of the five flight stations and must remain behind the designated safety netting.
FLIGHT RULES:
- All pilots will abide by See and Avoid regulations as defined by the AMA (540d), no exceptions. Pilots must descend to 100 feet, and maximize separation with full scale aircraft. Pilots may ascend above 400 ft to perform maneuvers, however no sustained flight above 400 ft. is allowed.
- All flying is to be performed North of the Southern edge of the runway and continues North to Jomax road. At no time may any aircraft fly South of the dead line (Southern edge of paved runway), North of Jomax or East of the gated field entrance. Pilots will be given only ONE verbal warning, after a second offense they will be asked not to fly for the remainder of the day.
- All pilots intending to fly on or over the runway must call out maneuvers verbally and have the permission of the other pilots on the flight line. Takeoffs, landings and deadsticks have runway priority 100% of the time. In the event of an emergency, any pilot flying over the runway must vacate the space immediately.
- Pilots will exercise situational awareness, courtesy and communication with other pilots on the flight line.
- No high energy maneuvers may be performed with the aircraft headed toward the pits or other pilots.
- Helicopter pilots are encouraged to use the heli pad, however helicopter and multi-rotor aircraft may utilize the main flight line provided they have approval from any other pilot currently on any flight station.
Academy of Model Aeronautics National Model Aircraft Safety Code
Effective January 1, 2014
A. GENERAL: A model aircraft is a non-human-carrying aircraft capable of sustained flight in the atmosphere. It may not exceed limitations of this code and is intended exclusively for sport, recreation, education and/or competition. All model flights must be conducted in accordance with this safety code and any additional rules specific to the flying site.
- Model aircraft will not be flown:
(a) In a careless or reckless manner.
(b) At a location where model aircraft activities are prohibited. - Model aircraft pilots will:
(a) Yield the right of way to all human-carrying aircraft.
(b) See and avoid all aircraft and a spotter must be used when appropriate. (AMA Document #540-D.)
(c) Not fly higher than approximately 400 feet above ground level within three (3) miles of an airport without notifying the airport operator.
(d) Not interfere with operations and traffic patterns at any airport, heliport or seaplane base except where there is a mixed use agreement.
(e) Not exceed a takeoff weight, including fuel, of 55 pounds unless in compliance with the AMA Large Model Airplane program. (AMA Document 520-A.)
(f) Ensure the aircraft is identified with the name and address or AMA number of the owner on the inside or affixed to the outside of the model aircraft. (This does not apply to model aircraft flown indoors.)
(g) Not operate aircraft with metal-blade propellers or with gaseous boosts except for helicopters operated under the provisions of AMA Document #555.
(h)Notoperatemodelaircraftwhileundertheinfluenceofalcoholorwhileusinganydrugthatcouldadverselyaffectthepilot’sabilitytosafelycontrolthemodel.
(i) Not operate model aircraft carrying pyrotechnic devices that explode or burn, or any device which propels a projectile or drops any object that creates a hazard to persons or property.
Exceptions:
Free Flight fuses or devices that burn producing smoke and are securely attached to the model aircraft during flight.
Rocket motors (using solid propellant) up to a G-series size may be used provided they remain attached to the model during flight. Model rockets maybe flown in accordance with the National Model Rocketry Safety Code but may not be launched from model aircraft.
Officially designated AMA Air Show Teams (AST) are authorized to use devices and practices as defined within the Team AMA Program Document.(AMA Document #718.)
(j) Not operate a turbine-powered aircraft, unless in compliance with the AMA turbine regulations. (AMA Document #510-A.) - Model aircraft will not be flown in AMA sanctioned events, air shows or model demonstrations unless:
(a) The aircraft, control system and pilot skills have successfully demonstrated all maneuvers intended or anticipated prior to the specific event.
(b) An inexperienced pilot is assisted by an experienced pilot. - When and where required by rule, helmets must be properly worn and fastened. They must be OSHA, DOT, ANSI, SNELL or NOCSAE approved or comply with comparable standards.
B. RADIO CONTROL (RC)
- All pilots shall avoid flying directly over unprotected people, vessels, vehicles or structures and shall avoid endangerment of life and property of others.
- A successful radio equipment ground-range check in accordance with manufacturer’s recommendations will be completed before the first flight of a new orrepaired model aircraft.
- At all flying sites a safety line(s) must be established in front of which all flying takes place. (AMA Document #706.)
- (a) Only personnel associated with flying the model aircraft are allowed at or in front of the safety line.
- (b) At air shows or demonstrations, a straight safety line must be established.
- (c) An area away from the safety line must be maintained for spectators.
- (d) Intentional flying behind the safety line is prohibited.
- RC model aircraft must use the radio-control frequencies currently allowed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Only individuals properly licensed by the FCC are authorized to operate equipment on Amateur Band frequencies.
- RC model aircraft will not knowingly operate within three (3) miles of any pre-existing flying site without a frequency-management agreement. (AMA Documents #922 and #923.)
- With the exception of events flown under official AMA Competition Regulations, excluding takeoff and landing, no powered model may be flown outdoors closer than 25 feet to any individual, except for the pilot and the pilot’s helper(s) located at the flightline.
- Under no circumstances may a pilot or other person touch an outdoor model aircraft in flight while it is still under power, except to divert it from striking an individual.
- RC night flying requires a lighting system providing the pilot with a clear view of the model’s attitude and orientation at all times. Hand-held illumination systems are inadequate for night flying operations.
- The pilot of an RC model aircraft shall:
- (a) Maintain control during the entire flight, maintaining visual contact without enhancement other than by corrective lenses prescribed for the pilot.
- (b) Fly using the assistance of a camera or First-Person View (FPV) only in accordance with the procedures outlined in AMA Document #550.
- (c) Fly using the assistance of autopilot or stabilization system only in accordance withthe procedure soutlinedinAMADocument#560.
C. FREE FLIGHT
- Must be at least 100 feet downwind of spectators and automobile parking when the model aircraft is launched.
- Launch area must be clear of all individuals except mechanics, officials, and other fliers.
- An effective device will be used to extinguish any fuse on the model aircraft after the fuse has completed its function.
D. CONTROL LINE
- The complete control system (including the safety thong where applicable) must have an inspection and pull test prior to flying.
- The pull test will be in accordance with the current Competition Regulations for the applicable model aircraft category.
- Model aircraft not fitting a specific category shall use those pull-test requirements as indicated for Control Line Precision Aerobatics.
- The flying area must be clear of all utility wires or poles and a model aircraft will not be flown closer than 50 feet to any above-ground electric utility lines.
- The flying area must be clear of all nonessential participants and spectators before the engine is started.
The new maximum sound level standard that your Board set is 100 dB, effective January 1, 2003. Many club members have already been working to make sure that their aircraft would be able to meet the tighter standard by the start of the New Year. Those that have not need to measure the sound their current equipment makes now. In many cases a larger prop, a higher pitch prop, or a three-bladed prop will correct an aircraft that produces too high a sound level. Better mufflers or lower nitro content in the fuel may help also. You may additionally use mechanical means or radio end-point adjustment to limit maximum motor rpm as a method of reducing sound output. Whatever you need to do, please do it now. If your aircraft does not meet the new standard starting on January 1st, you will not be able to continue to fly it at the SVF field.
The measurement procedure that will be used is the one described on page 202 of the Academy of Model Aeronautics Competition Regulations for 2002-2004. The distance from the aircraft to the sound meter will be 3 meters (10 feet, 2 inches). I thank you for your understanding and support in making this change that will benefit each of us as members as well as our club by retaining our most important asset – our flying site.