Newmarket Model Flying Club Rules

NEWMARKET MFC RULES

All club members are required to read and follow the rules set out in this document. Failure to adhere to the rules may result in disciplinary action, possibly including suspension or dismissal from the club.

A. GENERAL RULES

1.     All members are required to have current BMFA Insurance. Country Members of the BMFA (i.e. those members who do not pay their BMFA membership fee via the club) or those who pay through another club must be prepared to provide evidence of their insurance on request. Members must also comply with the registration and competency requirements of the Drone and Model Aircraft Registration and Education Scheme (DMARES).

2.     Members who wish to fly at non-approved sites are required to comply with the Safety Code described in the BMFA handbook, a copy of which can be obtained from the club secretary or downloaded from the BMFA website.

3.     All equipment must be collected before leaving the flying site. Litter (including cigarette ends) and ALL crash debris must be taken home for disposal.

4.     The committee may make temporary changes to the club rules if it is deemed necessary. Any such changes will be communicated to members. Permanent changes to these rules can only be made after consultation with the current membership. Approval requires a simple majority of those members voting on any proposal, as described in the Club Constitution.

B. SAFETY RULES

5.     It is the responsibility of every member to ensure all possible measures are taken to protect the safety of the public, other members of the club and property. Members are required to adhere to the measures set out in section 18 of the BMFA Members’ Handbook.

6.     Committee members act as Safety Officers when on site. It is not possible to guarantee that a Committee member will be present at all flying sessions and, where this is the case, club members must take responsibility for their own safety, the safety of other members and members of the public.

7.     2.4GHz radio systems are preferred and there is no peg or pennant requirement for these systems. Any 35MHz transmitter which is switched on must have its aerial retracted and when not controlling a model in flight.

8.     I.C. and electric motors may only be run in the area designated as the ‘pits’. Powered models with the capability of taxiing must be restrained (either by staked restraints, a cradle or a responsible helper) whilst running motors.

9.     The Club uses the BMFA Achievement Scheme as the basis for assessing pilot safety and competence. Members without the necessary certification may only fly when other club members are present. Beginners/novices are required to be accompanied by a Club Instructor, using a buddy system if appropriate. Once a Club Instructor feels that a member is sufficiently safe and competent, the member will be allowed to fly with assistance/guidance from other club members. Members in this category ('Improvers') are encouraged to put themselves forward as candidates for a Certification test as soon as they have sufficient experience. [Note: The Committee reserves the right to waive the certification requirement in the case of long-standing club members who can demonstrate the necessary competence.]

10.     Pilots wishing to fly must obtain clearance from those already flying before launching a model or taking off. Unless there is clear agreement from those already flying, models for take-off must always be positioned upwind of the last pilot in the line. Pilots must also obtain clearance from those flying if they wish to cross the runway or retrieve a model.

11.     Pilots must stand sufficiently close together on the flight line to enable communication with each other. All takeoffs, landings, low passes, unusual manoeuvres and emergencies must be announced clearly.

12.     Models must land if full-size aircraft are seen flying low or may be attempting to land or take off within the vicinity of the flying site.

13.     Turbine models are not permitted because of the fire risk to crops in the surrounding area.

14.     Members must ensure that they operate within the constraints imposed by the club’s planning consent, viz:

•    limiting flying to the permitted hours for i.c. and electric models
•    ensuring that all i.c. models are noise tested and have a certificate verifying that they meet
      the 82dB(A) limit set out in the DoE Guidelines on noise from model aircraft

15.     Vehicles must be parked ‘nose in’ along the edge of the car park/pits furthest from the runway.

16.     Pilots must follow the daily procedure displayed in the storage container. This includes the mandatory call to Mildenhall Air Traffic Control notifying them that models will be flying in the Flight Restriction Zone.

17.     35MHz systems may use any available channel- pilots must provide their own frequency stake and peg. The stake and peg must be placed by the windsock trolley on arrival; the peg is removed and attached to the active transmitter aerial when a model is being flown.

18.    Pilots are forbidden from flying over the trees at the eastern end of the site. There is also a designated ‘no fly’ zone in front of the trees which must not be entered unless it is required for larger models during take-off and landing.

19.     Members wishing to fly rotary wing aircraft unsupervised must hold the relevant BMFA Basic Proficiency / ‘A’ certificate or an NMFC Rotary Wing Assessment Certificate.

20.    Fixed wing pilots have precedence. Rotary wing pilots must seek the agreement of the other pilots before flying; if agreed, all fixed wing aircraft must be allowed to land and clear the flight line.

21.     Members wishing to fly using First Person View (FPV) must be accompanied by a competent observer (‘spotter’) who maintains direct unaided visual contact with the model for the purpose of avoiding collisions and advises the pilot accordingly.

22.     All persons appointed as, or performing as, club instructors in regard to the training of junior members (aged 18 and under) must have DBS clearance.

23.     At any time that a junior member (aged 18 and under) is receiving instruction there must always be a minimum of two adult members present, one of whom must have DBS clearance.

24.    Where the conditions in paragraphs 22 and 23 cannot be met, the parent, guardian or carer of the junior member must be present at the flying site at all times.

Version 11.0
May 2023