UMAC – Safety Rules v8b
GENERAL SAFETY RULES
Juniors (persons under 18) must be supervised at all times by their parent/guardian (or an
adult provided and approved by the parent/guardian) and this person must assume total
responsibility for the junior.
Members are not permitted to fly after the 16th January until they have paid their subscription
(because their BMFA insurance will have expired).
The last member to leave the site shall be responsible for ensuring that the clubhouse and
gates are locked. As a condition of our tenure, with the very occasional exception of a major
event such as a fly-in, members must close the gate after them. They should also show
consideration for the livestock which graze the area and not walk on grass areas other than to
recover models.
FLYING SAFETY RULES
Clause 10b of the UMAC Constitution requires members not holding a BMFA ‘A’
Certificate, who joined after January 1996, to be supervised at any time by a member holding
a BMFA ‘A’ Certificate. The ‘A’ Certificate held by the member (either flying or
supervising) must be for the type of model being flown i.e. Fixed Wing, Helicopter or Multirotor.
35 MHz flyers must use the pegboard and your peg must be clearly labelled with your name
and frequency.
Before engines are started the model must be restrained and pointing out of the pits towards
the flight line.
Pilots must comply with the designated areas and limits shown on the UMAC Site Plan.
Flying (at any height), landing or taxiing in the Dead Airspace is not permitted, except as
shown on the Site Plan.
When flying, all fixed wing pilots must be in the pilot box. A maximum of five fixed wing
pilots are permitted to have models airborne at one time. Models without undercarriages
should be launched and landed from the vicinity of the pilot box. Models can be fitted with
skids and/or tape on the belly and wing tips for protection when landing on tarmac. Pilots
may also land on the grass but not launch or fly from the grass.
Pilots must not take-off past anyone in the pilot box or flying area.
Pilots should call out their intentions with the following calls – “taking off”, “hand
launching”, “landing”, “landing on grass”, “dead stick”, “on the runway”, “touch and go”.
High-speed low passes are not permitted to be closer than 15 m from the flight line. When
more than one pilot is flying, low passes are only permitted to be carried out into wind, in
other words, circuit direction must be maintained.
1
UMAC – Safety Rules v8b
To comply with UMAC’s Letter of Agreement (in preparation) with Air Traffic Control
(ATC):
Fly below 400’;
Keep a lookout for full-size aircraft (particularly when fuel powered models are being
flown) and immediately warn the pilots of airborne models by klaxon (to be heard
above engine noise);
Lose height quickly if you become aware of the proximity of a full-size aircraft;
Before flying a model over 7 kg, telephone ATC (tel: 028 9448 4281) to seek
approval (ATC may set time and height restrictions) and let them know when you
stop flying for the day;
For models over 20 kg, obtain written approval from ATC in addition to holding a
current CAA ‘Full Exemption to Operate’ certificate (issued under the ‘Over 20kg
Scheme’ administered by the UK Large Model Association) for the model and pilot;
If a model flies away or in other emergency, telephone ATC immediately
(tel: 028 9448 4213).
The flying of helicopters and multi-rotors is permitted in the flying area but only with the
agreement of the fixed wing pilots. For hovering and testing, pilots should use the helicopter
hovering area provided (see Site Plan).
APPENDIX 1 – BMFA MEMBERS’ HANDBOOK
General
Pilots must also comply with the following safety codes of practice in the BMFA Members’
Handbook. You are encouraged to follow the other safety codes in the Handbook.
The page numbers refer to the current 2012 Website Issue of the BMFA Members’ Handbook
which is available on the BMFA website.
First Time Inexperienced Flyer [page 11]
Club indemnity is extended to cover first time visitors to a club who have no previous
experience but are seeking to try out model flying prior to joining the BMFA and the Club.
Indemnity under this First Time Inexperienced Flyer provision will only be in place when
flights are being totally organised and supervised by a suitable club member approved by the
Club Committee. The limit of this indemnity is 3 separate day visits for any single
inexperienced flyer.
[The Committee approves all members who hold an ‘A’ Certificate to supervise these flyers.]
2
UMAC – Safety Rules v8b
Visibility [page 21]
If light conditions or visibility are such that you might lose sight of your model then do not
fly.
Children and dogs [page 21]
It is extremely unwise to let children wander on a flying site. If children are there make sure
that they are under supervision and safe.
If you take your dog to the flying field it should be on a lead and restrained at all times.
35 MHz Transmitters [pages 32-34]
The move to the pegboard before even thinking about switching on a 35 MHz set should be
second nature to all R/C flyers.
Ensure that all inactive transmitters in the pits area have their aerials retracted if possible. The
extension of the aerial should be one of the last actions taken when moving out to the pilot’s
box to fly and retracting the aerial should be one of the first actions when moving back into
the pits area with your model and transmitter switched off.
Engine starting [page 37]
Never put yourself in a position where your face is in line with a turning propeller. A broken
propeller will fly out and forward so make all engine adjustments from the rear if possible. A
broken propeller will also be a danger to anyone standing nearby so take care that no-one is
in line with it when starting your engine.
Electric models [page 39]
When plugging in the flight battery, positive restraint, and staying completely clear of the
propeller must always be part of your regular routine.
Electric powered helicopters [page 41]
Electric helicopters should be carried out from the pits area with the flight battery
disconnected and it should only be connected in a safe area. The model must be considered to
be live as soon as this is done and great care is needed during this procedure.
3
UMAC – Safety Rules v8b
First Person View Radio Control (R/C) [page 50]
Only fly if:
(a) the activity is solely for ‘sport and recreation’ purposes;
(b) two pilots take part;
(c) a Buddy Box system is employed;
(d) the person in charge operates the master transmitter;
(e) the person in charge does not wear the headset or view a screen;
(f) the aircraft remains within the natural unaided visual range of the person in charge;
(g) reliable operation of the Buddy Box is established;
(h) a clear handover protocol is established; and
(i) the person in charge is solely responsible for the safety of the flight.
These operating conditions very clearly place the legal responsibility for the safety of the
flight on the person in charge who must maintain direct unaided visual contact with the
model at all times. [The Handbook provides information about the safety problems of FPV.]
4
UMAC – Safety Rules v8b
APPENDIX 2 – REGULATIONS
AIR NAVIGATION ORDER
The regulations for flying are contained in the Air Navigation Order. Articles 138
and 166 apply to all model pilots.
Article 138 – Endangering safety of any person or property
‘A person must not recklessly or negligently cause or permit an aircraft to endanger
any person or property.’
Article 166 – Small unmanned aircraft
‘(1) A person must not cause or permit any article or animal (whether or not attached
to a parachute) to be dropped from a small unmanned aircraft so as to endanger
persons or property.
(2) The person in charge of a small unmanned aircraft may only fly the aircraft if
reasonably satisfied that the flight can safely be made.
(3) The person in charge of a small unmanned aircraft must maintain direct, unaided
visual contact with the aircraft sufficient to monitor its flight path in relation to other
aircraft, persons, vehicles, vessels and structures for the purpose of avoiding
collisions.
(4) The person in charge of a small unmanned aircraft which has a mass of more than
7 kg excluding its fuel but including any articles or equipment installed in or attached
to the aircraft at the commencement of its flight, must not fly the aircraft:
(a) in Class A, C, D or E airspace unless the permission of the appropriate air
traffic control unit has been obtained;
[NB Nutts Corner lies in class D airspace]
(b) within an aerodrome traffic zone during the notified hours of watch of the
air traffic control unit (if any) at that aerodrome unless the permission of any
such air traffic control unit has been obtained; or
(c) at a height of more than 400 feet above the surface unless it is flying in
airspace described in sub-paragraph (a) or (b) and in accordance with the
requirements for that airspace.
(5) The person in charge of a small unmanned aircraft must not fly the aircraft for the
purposes of aerial work except in accordance with a permission granted by the CAA.’
5