CHESTER LE STREET RMC
CHESTER-LE-STREET RMC
Information for members, Safety Code and Club Code of Practice issue2 march 2020
We are a primarily a fixed wing model-flying club for RC models but also allow the use of helicopters and multirotors in all their forms.
We do not allow control line flying on our club site.
The club is entirely orientated towards flying for fun.
Principally in the interest of safety and more skilful flying, the club actively promotes the ‘A’ and ‘B’ proficiency scheme of the BMFA.
Several of our more experienced flyers are registered BMFA examiners. These and other experienced members will willingly give instruction to those who may need it, particularly raw beginners.
The Club Flying Site
This is a mown strip in a farmer’s field near Craghead. It is available to club members 365 days of the year during daylight 10.00am (9.00am – electric). Noise levels must be restricted to the BMFA recommendations
We have no toilet facilities or clubhouse at the field unfortunately. Parking facilities are available on the field.
The site can only be reached by car. From Chester-le-Street marketplace take the B6313 west to Craghead, a distance of about 5 miles. In Craghead proceed over the cross roads passing the wind turbines on your left and in about 1¼ miles along this minor road, just before a T-junction the entrance to the club site is seen through a five-barred gate on the left. For those approaching from Durham, take the B6532 to Sacriston and onto Craghead, where you will turn left at the crossroads for 1¼ miles.
The OS grid reference for the site entrance is 194500 (at the 284m spot height) on the OS Landranger Series Tyneside Map Sheet 88.
Flying at the club is available for club members, invited guests (who must be BMFA members) and prospective members (maximum of three sessions). Prospective members and guests must be under the supervision of a recognised/responsible member or a BMFA registered club instructor who will be recognised by this club as a ‘nominate club member’.
Club Night
This takes place in the large meeting room of Burnmoor Cricket, Lawn Tennis and Football Club, DH4 6HQ. We meet at 8.00 pm on the Second Tuesday of every month.
The club is located on the Chester-le-Street to Sunderland road,A183, some 1½ miles from Chester-le-Street on the ‘S’ bend.
Club Fees
Club fees are fixed at the AGM every Year. We are a BMFA affiliated club. No one can use our field without BMFA membership and insurance.
Fees are due in January and are valid for the whole or part of a year. If a new member joins after the 31st July they will receive a credit note towards next years club fees.
The club reserves the right to refuse membership if they choose to do so for their own good reasons. Equally they may discipline or expel any member who behaves in an inappropriate manner. These sanctions are mainly reserved with the issue of safety in mind.
BMFA membership is normally organised on behalf of members by the club but individual members of the BMFA who have arranged this for themselves, or have it done for them through another club may join us on production of proof of insurance.
The clubs day to day running is carried out by the officials. The whole club is the Committee who share responsibility for decisions taken at all meetings.
Complaints and Discipline
We follow the BMFA recommended procedure for complaints and discipline
1. Any complaint concerning any member must be in writing and signed by the complainant(s). The written complaint must be forwarded to the Secretary so that the matter can be addressed at the next meeting.
2. The club may impose a flying suspension not exceeding 30 days upon any member in the event of misconduct. Any suspension must be accompanied by a verbal and or written warning as deemed appropriate.
3. The club may consider removal from the role of members any member whose conduct on the field or elsewhere is considered
to be prejudicial to the club. Dismissal will be in accordance with the following procedure in order to comply with the laws of natural justice:
a).The member is to be given a verbal warning by an authorised official in which the member is made aware of their misdemeanour and what is reasonably required to do to make amends. Authorised officials for this purpose are the Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer.
b) If the member does not respond he/she will be given a written warning by an authorised official to advise them of their misdemeanour
and what is reasonably required to make amends.
c) if he/she fail to respond, the club should invite them in writing to attend a meeting at an agreed date and time to discuss the situation, advising they are considering withdrawal of their membership.
d) If he/she still fail to respond to reasoning or fail to attend without reasonable cause the club can advise them in writing
that their membership is withdrawn, stating the reasons why this decision was reached.
e) When the member is advised of withdrawal of their membership, they must be given right of appeal. If they opt to appeal, this will be to the club membership at a meeting which the officials would call on their behalf at an agreed date and time. The motion to uphold the
membership withdrawal or reverse it must be in accordance with voting procedure set out in the club constitution.
4. In the event of gross misconduct, immediate dismissal without warning may be considered but the member must still be accorded the right to present their case to the club and be given the right of appeal in accordance with sub paragraphs c) – d) and e) above.
In the event of dismissal, the club will arrange for a refund of a reasonable proportion of club fees less an administrative charge of £5.00.
Important Safety Points and Codes of Practices
These notes are in addition to the BMFA requirements for safe flying as laid out in the BMFA handbook.
A safety co-ordinator has been appointed to ensure all BMFA and club guidelines are followed. They will have assistants to help and members must co-operate fully with their instructions. All incidents and matters of safety concern should be reported to these Officers for discussion at a general meeting.
1. The ‘Peg on System’
We operate this well-known safety system. Each member carries a spring type clothes peg on which s clearly written with your name and frequency number. Before switching on in the pits you must place your peg in the appropriate position on the pegboard, which is kept in the pits. This done - you and you alone – can use that frequency until your peg is removed, leaving it free for someone else. Flying on adjacent channels is subject to mutual agreement and the BMFA compatibility test
If when you go to the pegboard you see that another peg is on the frequency you wish to use, or one next to it, then you must obviously wait until that member has finished flying
The peg on system does not apply to those members using 2.4ghz systems.
2. Check your Frequency
When first using your radio, first check that the frequency of your transmitter (TX) and receiver (RX) crystals is the same.
Modellers are allocated the frequency numbers 55 to90 on the 35MHz wave band. Most modern crystals have the pennant number clearly printed on the tag on the crystal. This is the one that is wanted for the pegboard and is any number from 55 to 90.
3. Do not switch on at the gate
When you park your car and assemble your model before carrying it onto the field, do not switch on your radio to check that it is working OK unless you are operating a 2.4ghz system
4. Basic use of the Strip, Pits and Pilot Line
Walk to the strip by sticking to the path and reach the pits by walking around, rather than over the strip.
The pits area will be set up initially by mutual agreement and must not be changed without full consultation with all pilots present. The limit of the pits must be clearly defined. A pilots line will be clearly marked in front of the pits area.
All models** are to be started in the pits and nowhere else, then carried to the strip for take-off. Start up areas should be as far away from the pilot’s line as possible. The model should be placed on the strip sufficiently upwind from the pilot’s line and pits area to prevent any chance of the model, under full throttle for take off, veering into these areas should it for any reason go out of control.
**The starting of aircraft with a return to home function MUST NOT be done in the pits. The aircraft must be armed on the take off point so that it does not return to the pits should a signal loss occur.
Whilst flying, all pilots will stand on the pilot’s line in front of the pits. This is to minimise the risk of interference and facilitate necessary communications such as calls for ‘landing’ or ‘dead stick’.
Operators of helicopters and multirotors must not fly from the same flight line. Their flight line is to be as far forward as possible on the strip in front of the pits. This is to ensure maximum safety zone between pits and aircraft due to the increased size of the aircraft blades. All flying is to be done out in front and should not go into the no fly zones as per the fixed wing rules.
There is to be no ‘mixed’ flying at any time. This is due to the above point of using a differing pilots line dependant of discipline being flown. It is asked that members respect this rule and between themselves work out their respective ‘slots’
Calls must be in a loud and clear voice so that pilots are made aware of what is happening. Calls must be made for take off, landings, on the strip, dead stick or low passes.
After landing, make sure the strip is clear and it is safe to do so, before retrieving the model. Never leave a transmitter unattended e.g. an electric model on the patch is still a live model despite the propeller not moving! Remember to switch off your plane first then transmitter.
All pilots should fly ‘in front’ of themselves. ‘In front’ may be defined as the direction in which you look while standing on the pilot’s line and facing out over the strip with your back to the pits.
The dead zone must be a full 180 degrees behind the pilot’s line and airspace in which you do not fly. This way all models are in front of the pilots and everyone has the best chance of seeing what is flying and where.
5.Flying Alone
Unless you are very experienced, and perhaps not even then, the basic recommendation here is don’t.
6.Engines, Fingers and Things
Never stand in front of a rotating propeller for longer than is necessary e.g. when starting your engine. Breaking propellers always fly forward and upwards, possibly towards your face and throat. Never allow others to stand in front of your model when starting up.
You should always move behind your engine to tune it after starting and make certain that your model is securely anchored or held by a helper while this is done. Needless to say, having a basic first aid kit with you at all times is a good idea.
7.Noise
Most flying fields are lost by clubs due to noise and consequent attention of the public to our sport than by any other cause. Members are actively encouraged to silence their models to the limits recommended by the BMFA.
8.Publicity
In the event of a member being approached by the media for information you are requested to refrain from comment and advise a club official without delay.
9.Safety Marshall
A safety marshal is not required at CLSRMC, however we should always endeavour to adhere to the safety guidelines as stated in the BMFA handbook section 11 where appropriate.
Should any member witness an unsafe practice, it is their duty to inform the Club Safety Officer of this occurrence. This will then be dealt with on a case by case basis.
Members are reminded that it is everyone’s responsibility to fly and operate their aircraft, no matter the discipline, in a safe manner.
10. Retrieving Models from Neighbouring Land
If there are crops in the neighbouring fields please see the landowner before attempting to retrieve any models. You may be allowed to collect the model, however, you may also have to wait until harvesting of the crop. Try to treat these as “dead zones” whenever conditions permit.
11. No Alcohol is to be consumed at the club flying site by any person involved with the preparation, the flying and recovery of any aircraft.
12. Smoking during indoor club meetings is not allowed.
13 Membership of the club implies that the member accepts-
a. The Club Constitution and Codes of Practice
b. The BMFA guidelines and Codes of Practice
23rd March 2020