Arizona Model Cropdusters Club Flying Field Guidelines

 

1. Flying Facility – Intentional violation of these guidelines will be subject to Safety Committee action and may result in suspension or removal from the club. Inadvertent violation may be subject to Safety Committee action.

      A.     All club and guest pilots using the flying facility must be AMA members. Club members sponsoring a guest pilot must be present for a guest pilot to fly.

      B.     Flying under the influence or having drugs or alcoholic beverages at the field site is PROHIBITED.

            C.     Unaccompanied children in the pit area or on the runway area are not permitted. 

D.    Pets are not allowed in the pit area or on the runway unless leashed and attended by an adult. 

E.     Runway, pit and parking areas will be kept weed free. 

F.      Don’t litter the area. Put all trash in trash bins and cigarette butts in butt cans. 

G.    Smoking is permitted behind the fence on the south side of pit area. 

H.    Vehicles are restricted to the roads and parking area. 

I.       All metal shades and equipment are the property of land owner. 

2. Use of Flying Facility 

A.     Flying will be stopped at the request of the owner whenever other events are schedule for the soccer field area. 

B.     Dues will be established each year. 

1.      Dues for 2022 are: Regular members - $75.00

 Initiation fee for new members is $100.00

        Junior members - $0.

If you join Oct 1 thru Dec 31, your dues will cover the following year in addition to the current year. 

C.     Lease agreement will be established with the land owner each year. 

1.      Lease agreement for 2014 is: Regular members $20. Junior members - $0. 

D.    Pilots shall inspect the field, runway, pit area, roadway and pickup trash before any flying. 

E.     Two adults are required to be present to fly.  

F.      The table you use must be cleaned and wiped down before leaving.

G.    Start-up tables are to be cleaned of fuel, etc. before leaving. 

H.    Helicopter pilots will be able to fly fifteen (15) minutes out of every hour. There will be no airplanes flown during the time helicopters are being flown. 

I.       All radio control airplanes and helicopters must be flown north of the water ditch and west of the white tank on the East end. (Gliders are exempt from this guideline after reaching flying altitude) . All flying to be 400 ft, or less agl.

J.      Nitro and gas engines will be started with the aid of an assistant. NO EXCEPTIONS! 

K.    To maintain communication between pilots, we strongly encourage pilots to use a safety observer/spotter while flying. 

1.      Spotters - Before a flight, the pilot must insure the spotter understands his/her duties and expectations. 

a.       A spotter should be used to assist in monitoring the surrounding airspace for manned aircraft whenever a flight is expected to exceed 400 feet above the ground and that operation is expected to be in proximity of know manned aircraft traffic within three miles of an airport. The spotter must have sufficient visual acuity and be mature enough to take this responsibility seriously. (We are located 4.1 miles from Glendale airport.) 

b.      A spotter should also be prepared to assist their pilot in the event another model aircraft or spectators become endangered or in turn are perceived to be a danger to the pilot or the pilot’s model aircraft. 

c.       If a model aircraft pilot experiences what they consider a near miss with a manned aircraft, that model aircraft pilot should notify AMA Headquarters with a written report of the incident, including action taken by the model aircraft pilot to avoid the manned aircraft.  

This report is intended to help the modeler, the club, and the AMA capture as much detail as possible so it maybe used to assist all parties in recalling the particulars of the incident at a later time. Call 1-800-435-9262 (1-800-IFLYAMA) extension 230 or 251 for assistance with this report.

L.     We encourage all pilots to maintain good flight safety conditions by communicating flight intentions with fellow pilots. When taxiing out for takeoff, preparing to land, or having problems in the air ANNOUNCE IT. PAY ATTENTION TO ANNOUNCEMENTS. While flying, yield the right-of-way to emergency landings, take offs, and landings. 

M.  Models started in pit area will be hand carried to the taxi area west of the pilot barrier. 

N.    Taxing models behind the pilot line barrier fence is PROHIBITED. 

O.    All takeoffs, landings, and flights shall be made North of the flight line. Intentional flying behind the flight line is PROHIBITED.  Overflying the alfalfa field north and east of the access road is acceptable. (Gliders are exempt from this guideline after reaching flying altitude.) 

P.      Only five (5) model aircrafts may be flying at one time. 

3. Transmitter Frequency Control 

A.     Radio Control transmitters and frequencies of transmitters for model aircraft flight control must be valid AMA authorized equipment. 

B.     PRIOR TO TURNING ON YOUR TRANSMITTER, place an ID pin (clothes pin or other clip) with your name on it over the desired frequency on the frequency board. If you turn on your transmitter and cause a plane to crash, you just bought a new plane for the pilot. 2.4GHz transmitters are exempt from this guideline. 

C.     When placing an ID pin on the frequency board, call out the frequency to ensure it is clear. 

D.    Upon the completion of flying or checkout activities, remove your pin from the frequency board.

E.     If frequencies are to be time-shared, pilots shall not exceed fifteen (15) minutes for each rotation time period. 

4. Model Set-up and Checkout - A flight instructor shall check out all new/used aircraft before the aircraft will be allowed to fly the first time at the field.

A.    All starting of models will be on the ground or safety start-up benches unless prior approval for medical reason has been obtained from the BOD’s. All run-ups will be done on the flight line or the south/north ends of the pit area. Don’t start models on set-up tables. 

B.    A “range” and/or control check will be made every time you fly to ensure the correct model is selected on multi-model capable radios. 

C.    All engines sizes .15 and larger shall have a muffler. 

D.    All engine starts and ground runs will be oriented such that the engine blast is toward the runway (West). 

E.     Hand launched models shall be launched from taxi area in a direction so model flies away from pilot area. 

5. See and Avoid Guidance 

A.     Vigilance must be maintained by each person operating a model so as to “see and avoid” other aircraft, whether model or manned. 

B.     Model aircraft must avoid manned aircraft. Our privilege to fly model aircraft depends on our commitment to remain “well clear” of manned aircraft. 

a.       Simply avoiding an actual collision is not enough. A “near miss” is not acceptable. (The FAA defines a near miss as a violation of a 500 foot bubble around the aircraft) 

C.     Model aircraft flying must not only be safe, it must be perceived to be safe by the greater manned aviation community. Modelers must continually demonstrate their respect for the safety of manned aircraft by remaining vigilant and well clear. 

D.    Whenever a potential conflict arises between model aircraft and manned aircraft, the pilot of the model aircraft must always give way to the manned aircraft. 

E.     The pilot of a model aircraft must never assume the pilot of a manned aircraft can see the model or will perform any maneuver to avoid the model’s flight path. 

F.      Visual line of Sight is required by the AMA Safety Code. It means that visual contact with the model aircraft be maintained without enhancement other than by corrective lenses prescribed for the model aircraft pilot. All RC flying must remain clear of clouds, smoke or any other obstruction to the line of sight. 

G.    Since the model aircraft pilot is exercising control by visual reference from a location on the ground, in general the model aircraft should always descend and turn to pass well below and away from the flight path of the manned aircraft. (Common sense would dictate that if descending endangers other aircraft, persons or property on the ground, other evasive action would be appropriate.) 

H.    A modeler should never place any consideration for the well being of the model aircraft above the safety of manned aircraft. Maneuvering to avoid the conflict may require that the model aircraft be sacrificed. 

I.       Free flight models should not be launched with relatively low altitude manned aircraft downwind or headed downwind from the launch site. 

6. First Person View (FPV) Operations 

A.     A FPV-equipped model must be flown by two AMA members utilizing a buddy-box system. The pilot in command must be on the primary transmitter, maintain visual contact, and be prepared to assume control in the event of a problem. 

B.     The operational range of the model is limited to the pilot in command’s visual line of sight as defined in the Official AMA National Model Aircraft Safety Code (see Radio Control, item 9). 

C.     The flight paths of model operations shall be limited to the designated flying site and approved overfly area. 

D.    The model weight and speed shall be limited to a maximum of 10 pounds and 60 miles per hour.

 

Revised January, 2022