Club rules
Bury Metro Model Flying Club Rules
Effective from 1st January 2024
1. All members must be covered by suitable insurance as provided by the British Model Flying Association or The Large Model Association or FPVUK
2. All members must observe field discipline and comply with the Air Navigation Order, Civil Aviation publication CAP 658 (as amended by CAP 1763) and relevant BMFA safety codes as contained in the BMFA members’ handbook and addendums.
3. These rules apply whilst using the facilities of the Bury Metro Model Flying Club at Whittle Lane, Heywood. It is the member’s responsibility to familiarize himself/herself with all rules of the club and to abide by them at all times
4. Any member who contravenes these rules will be dealt with at the discretion of the committee. The committee will set the penalties (verbal warning, written warning, suspension or expulsion) but members have the right to appeal against any such rulings.
5. A current Club Membership Card must be carried at all times as proof of identity and insurance and must be produced on request.
6. The committee may reject any application to join or rejoin the Club without explanation.
7. Only members holding a BMFA Basic Proficiency Certificate or above or have passed the Large Model Association Proficiency Test are considered competent for safe solo flying.
8. Members MUST have visible CAA registration visible on or in non-jettisonable areas of any model being flown
9. Dangerous flying will not be tolerated and will be dealt with at the discretion of the committee.
10. All children under the age of 14 must be accompanied by a parent, guardian or someone who has the written authority to bring the child to the field and supervise them
11. DO NOT fly anything inside the pits
12. DO NOT fly outside of designated flight zones
GUESTS
13. Guests must comply with the rules of the Club at all times.
14. Guests who are members of other model flying clubs or organizations and wish to fly solo must bring a valid certificate of insurance which provides sufficient cover to satisfy the committee. Further they must satisfy the committee that they meet the club criteria with regards to their proficiency and safety.
15. Guests may only visit and fly on 3 separate occasions in any club year unless they pay for a Guest Pass which is valid for 12 months at a rate equivalent to the current annual rates of membership as set by the committee at the AGM. The Guest Pass does not extend to any club meetings nor does it confer any membership rights or any voting rights upon the holder. Guests may not hold any office or take part in any organization of the club. The Guest Pass may be withdrawn without notice and at the discretion of the committee.
16. Prospective members may visit on up to 3 occasions before deciding to join and will be covered by our club insurance.
THE FLYING FIELD – GENERAL RULES
Priority Rule: The flying site at Whittle Lane is entered via the main gate which is secured by a combination padlock. It is each member’s responsibility to ensure that the gate remains PROPERLY LOCKED AT ALL TIMES once you have entered OR exited the site!!
ENSURE the rules are followed, it is OUR club but the FARMER’S field, irresponsible actions could lead to the loss of the site. This is self explanatory..
17. All members MUST be mindful of the close proximity of livestock in the adjacent fields and avoid low flying and noisy models.
18. Litter and model wreckage must not be left on the field.
19. Children must be supervised at all times.
19a. No dogs are allowed on the field unless kept on a lead.
19b. Owners MUST clean up after their dogs.
CAR PARKING & TIMES
20. Flying times for internal combustion engine models are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays. Silent flight models (e.g. electric) may be flown at any time 9am to dark
MODELS
21. First Person View fixed wing aircraft may only be flown subject to adherence to the special safety precautions outlined in the BMFA handbook.
22. Multi-copters are permitted provided flight patterns do not interfere with other pilots flying at the same time.
23. IC powered helicopters and planes are permitted to be flown at this field between 10am and 7pm and must be flown within the areas indicated in GREEN on the diagram below.
RADIO CONTROL EQUIPMENT
24. Only 35 MHz and 2.4 GHz “type approved” radio control equipment will be allowed on Club flying site.
Channel numbers for 35MHz radios are restricted as follows: Fixed wing models may only use even numbers between 56 & 86 inclusive.
Helicopters may only use channels 85, 87, 88, 89 & 90.
FLYING CONDUCT
Fixed Wing
25. Members who do not hold a Basic Proficiency Certificate or above cannot fly alone and must be accompanied at the flight line by a member who has an ‘A’ Certificate or above.
26. The transmitter crystal control system “The Peg Board” – has become obsolete with the advent of 2.4Ghz systems. If you are still using the old systems PLEASE talk to committee members before flight
27. Landing and take-off areas will be designated and circuit directions fixed at each session. Members must check and confirm these before flying.
28. No more than six aircraft shall be airborne at any one time.
29. Landings have priority over all other maneuvers.
30. On sight of a low flying, full size aircraft, all models in flight must descend to a safe low altitude. (BELOW 400 feet)
FLYING CONDUCT
Helicopters
The helicopter section of the BMFA handbook must be read and fully understood before flying. If there is anything that you do not understand then you must seek clarification from an experienced helicopter pilot. The recommendations made in the handbook must be taken into consideration at all times. For those pilots permitted to fly unaccompanied it is strongly recommended that they have a mobile phone available to call for help in the event of an emergency
For the duration of any helicopter flight, ONLY the pilot and an instructor/assistant nominated by the pilot are permitted at the flight line. ALL other members and/or visitors MUST remain within the pits area
In the interests of safety only members holding A(H) or B(H) certificates may fly unaccompanied. All other pilots must ensure that they do not fly unless there is another member present who is an A (H) certificate holder.
Only one helicopter can fly circuits with the exception of arranged synchronised flying or beginners hovering on separate areas of the helicopter patch.
FIELD DISCIPLINE
Notification to a committee member must be made of any incident or accident however small where third party and/or property is involved and must also be entered into the Incident Book with all details (date, time, nature) of the incident and the names of witnesses.