FLYING SITE SAFETY
AND GENERAL RULES

1. Anyone flying model aircraft on Horsell Common must be a member of Woking Model Flyers in accordance with the guidelines of Horsell Common Preservation Society (HCPS), and must also have third party insurance through membership of the BMFA.

2. Radio control equipment must operate on one of the three legal bands of 27Mhz, 35Mhz or 2.4Ghz. Use of 27Mhz equipment is only permitted for lightweight electric parkfly-type models and members using this equipment are strongly encouraged to replace it with 35Mhz or 2.4Ghz equipment due to the potential for interference from citizens band radio. Flyers are encouraged to display an appropriate pennant on their transmitters – the appropriate colour-code for 27Mhz equipment and the appropriate channel number for 35Mhz. A black pennant should be flown for 2.4Ghz equipment.

For both 27Mhz and 35Mhz equipment, frequency control must be obeyed at all times, as follows: Never switch on your Tx in the car park – this is absolutely taboo! Once in the pits, before switching on you must first obtain the frequency peg for your channel and clip it to your antenna, then replace it on the peg board with your named peg, which must also identify the same channel. If the peg is not available do not switch on under any circumstances – you will have to wait until it is free. 2.4Ghz users are free to switch on as required, however note that the maximum limit of six planes in the air at any one time still applies.

3. I.C engines must be silenced and comply with the noise measurement of the Department of Environment code of practice for minimizing noise from model aircraft. Briefly, this states that, with the engine at full throttle, the highest reading from one of four points around the aircraft at a distance of 7 metres should be no more than 82Dba.

4. When starting your engine in the pits area care should be taken to ensure that there is no-one in front or near to the side of the propeller. If your engine requires tuning, move away from the pits to a clear area before running at full throttle.

5. All pilots must ensure that once airborne they keep their planes to the following boundaries:

Below a maximum height ceiling of 100 metres; no further South than the sandpit road; within a distance of no more than 200 metres from the runway to the East, West and North. The purpose is to prevent any flying over inhabited areas, for example Young Stroat, Shaws and Scotchers Farms to the West of the flying field and the Shores Road area to the South of the flying field.

The height is due to aircraft operating from Fairoaks and must not be exceeded. Pilots are encouraged as much as possible to fly to the North and North-East of the runway area.

6. Please use the ‘Caution – model flying in progress’ signs whenever a flying session is underway. These should be sited at the exit from the path leading from the car park, at the end of the runway as the path exits from the "sandpits" end and on the path on the Fairoaks side of the flying field. Do ensure that they remain upright, even in windy conditions, by locating the rear leg firmly in a bush or heather. Remember that all members are responsible for safety and should you see a potentially dangerous situation developing please inform a committee member or if sufficiently experienced take action yourself. Please allow common sense to prevail.

7. Lone flying is not permitted as, whilst flying is taking place, a spotter must be present behind the pilots box to advise pilots of any people or animals that walk onto the runway.

8. In the event of a person or animal or any other obstruction appearing on the runway during landing, pilots must abort and go round again. If this is not possible e.g. due to a deadstick, then the plane must be ditched safely away from the runway. Your attention is drawn to Article 64 of the Air Navigation Order appended to these rules.

9. In general flying, low manoeuvres are to be carried out away from the line of the runway. In practice this means over the area of the heather. Low is defined as approximately 10 metres or less.

10. All models should be constructed or assembled to an airworthy standard. Members are urged to pay particular attention to connections on control runs, the integrity of receivers and the serviceability of battery packs, as well as careful covering removal when fixing fins and tailplanes for ARTF models. It is recommended that advice is sought from an experienced club member if any doubt exists.

11. No flying is allowed over the pits or behind the flight line. Only the designated runway shall be used for take-off and landing. If this means that the cross wind component or light conditions are beyond your capability then DO NOT FLY. If you wish to fly from the alternate runway, you must first wait until all planes have landed and then liaise with the other pilots and spotter on each and every occasion before proceeding, to ensure that no-one is left in a dangerous position. Only one runway may be in use at a time, to ensure that people or animals do not find themselves caught in a ‘cross-fire’ with no safe place to take refuge.

12. All pilots making low passes, touch and goes or landings must first inform the spotter and other pilots and only when cleared to proceed, step forward from the transmitter line and position themselves on the runway edge. On completing the manoeuvre or landing they will either step back to the pilot line or collect their model from the runway if safe to do so. Any pilot whose engine stops in flight must call Deadstick loudly and is to be given priority on the runway.

13. Permitted flying times are as follows:

14. Members should have their Membership Card available for inspection by the Officers of HCPS and the Common Keeper. Please endeavour to maintain high standards of Commons etiquette with members of the Society as well as the general public, even when inconsiderate behaviour is encountered. Please remember to take all your rubbish with you when leaving the Common.

15. No member is allowed to fly without supervision until he has obtained the BMFA "A" Certificate. All supervision shall be from a member nominated by the Committee or Club Instructor.

New members holding an "A" Certificate gained at another club site may be asked to prove their competence to the Club Instructor/Committee Member.

16. Members wishing to bring a guest to fly on the Common must first contact a Committee Member to obtain approval. Guests must show suitable BMFA Membership/Insurance and be proven capable of flying to the BMFA "A" Certificate standard, to the satisfaction of a Club Instructor. The member will be responsible for their guests at all times.

17. The club membership year runs from 1^st January to 31^st December, in line with the BMFA, as well as a reduced rate of membership from 1^st July.

18. Any Member not complying with these rules or any instruction from a Committee Member could have their membership terminated.

Amendment 1. Issued April 2000 J.B.

Revised March 2003 J.B.

Revision March 2004 G.T.P

Revision July 2007 J.D.S/N.T.C

GUIDELINES

1. Junior Members under 18 years of age and vulnerable adults must be accompanied by their parent/guardian/carer (or another responsible adult with written permission from their parent/guardian/carer) at all times when attending club meetings and flying sessions.

Article 64 of The Air Navigation Order requires that:

"A person shall not recklessly or negligently cause or permit an aircraft to endanger any person or property".

Article 63 of The Air Navigation Order requires that:

"A person shall not recklessly or negligently act in a manner likely to endanger an aircraft, or any person therein".

These apply to ALL model aircraft at ALL times, whatever their weight or size. (BMFA Members Handbook 2003 Edition).

BMFA Members Handbook

The BMFA Members Handbook should be read so that all members understand the fundamental details with regard to the operation of model aircraft.

Updated July 2007