FIELD SAFETY RULES

Rev February 12, 2012

AIRMASTERS RADIO CONTROL CLUB, Inc AMA CHARTER 2814

I. General Provisions
Use of the flying field is restricted to club members and their guests. Members using spread spectrum (2.4) GHz) radios must display their club membership cards on their radios or visibly on their person whenever they fly. Members using fixed-frequency radios (e.g., specific channels on 72MHz) must clip their cards to the frequency control board (in exchange for the required frequency pin) before turning on their transmitters. Guests use their AMA cards this way.
Everyone at the flying field must abide by the club's field rules.
The Official National AMA Safety Code is an integral part of the club's field rules.

II. Pilots
Permission to fly solo is restricted to current AMA members who can pass the test of proficiency described below (II, 3).
Club members or their guests may fly using a buddy box yoked to a radiating transmitter in the hands of a qualified instructor.
In order to qualify to fly solo, a pilot must demonstrate two things to the instructor (or the club's Safety Coordinator or club officers) satisfaction:
(a) A basic knowledge of these rules, and
(b) The ability to make three, successive, unaided takeoffs and landings, without incident twice, on two different days.
All new pilots must read and understand the clubs Field Safety Rules before they can fly with a sticker. Also any club officer with the flight instructor will ensure the new member has read the field rules.

III. Spectators and Visitors
Spectators must remain under the shelter or behind the fence separating the pits from the parking area.
Visiting AMA members qualified to fly solo (see II, 3) are welcome to fly up to five days a/year as guests, at the pleasure of the membership. Relatives or out-of-town guests of a club member may fly with their host up to ten days a/year.

IV Radio Frequency Control
1. Pilots may use only those radio frequencies approved by the FCC for model aviation. Including 2.4 GHz and 72 MHz (See the AMA's table of approved frequencies posted here along with AMA's Safety Code.) or be FCC licensed (HAM) operators using the amateur-service radio frequencies 50 MHz (channels 00 - 09). Please note: this 50MHz frequency is also used by ground boats and car/trucks. 27Mhz channel A1 - A6 (mostly used by park flyers and CB radio).
2. Because radios transmitting on the same fixed frequency (e.g., channel 55 on the 72 MHz band) interfere with each other, the following frequency-control procedures apply: Radios that transmit on a fixed frequency must NOT be turned on until the corresponding frequency-control pin (the one bearing the same channel number as the transmitter) has been transferred to the transmitter from the clubs frequency control board. The pin must remain with the transmitter while in use. When not in use, the pin should be returned to the frequency control board, and the transmitter should be switched off and kept in the impound area. Use of the frequency pin (channel) is limited to 15 minutes when others are waiting to fly on that channel. Pilots sharing a common frequency (channel) should inform each other of that fact and cooperate in the interest of safety.
3. Because the signals radiating from spread spectrum transmitters (2.4 GHz) do not interfere with each other, frequency-control procedures are unnecessary.
All non-2.4 GHz Radio transmitters must be switched off and kept in the impound area when not in use. See above (IV).
Before leaving a transmitter in the impound area, a pilot must ascertain that it is switched off.
Please make sure you take the right pin number for your radio.
When one transfers a frequency pin from the frequency control board to a transmitter, one's current membership card (Airmasters or AMA) must be clipped to the frequency board in place of the pin. This identity card remains on the board until the frequency pin is replaced.
If anyone causes an accident by failing to follow the rules above, the pilot will be liable for all losses. If more than one person is at fault, they share the liability.

V. Flight Restrictions
flying over the pits or the spectator and parking areas is forbidden.
A maximum of five (5) aircraft are allowed in the air at one time. Exceptions may be made (at the discretion of the Safety Coordinator) for special occasions.
High-speed, low-level passes over the runway are forbidden. Exceptions may be made (at the discretion of the Safety Coordinator) for specific demonstrations flown at, and for, the pleasure of the other members present at the field.
Fast aerobatic maneuvers directly above the middle half of the runway that aims the airplane's heading, even temporarily, toward the pits are forbidden.
Turbine engines: Limited to aircraft that fly less than 150 miles per hour

VI. Runway and Pits Procedures
Airplanes must be physically restrained while starting and running up their engines.
Airplanes must not be taxied through the pits at any time before takeoffs or after landings. Large aircraft may taxi out of the pit area under hand control of the aircraft until it reaches the entrance to the runway.
All aircraft will be launched from the edge of the runway by the pilot themselves or with a helper. No launching aircraft from within the pilot's stations. After the aircraft is safety airborne the pilot will return to the pilot station.
The runway area is to be used for all takeoffs and landings.
Takeoffs and landings must be in the direction indicated by the sign located near the middle of the field. If the wind direction does not meet the pilots' takeoff abilities that pilot needs to ask all pilots flying if they can change the takeoff direction. All pilots flying must agree or that pilot must wait till the others are done flying.
Before taxiing out to take off, a pilot must advise those flying that they are going to be taking off.
Before walking onto the runway, a person must advise those flying that there is a going to be a person "on the runway," and then get on and off the field as quickly as possible.

VII. Flight-Line Procedures
Any time a club meeting is scheduled by The Board of Directors or Club President at the flying site of the Airmasters RC Club.
10 minutes prior to the meeting, all engines in the pit area will stop, and flying of
any type will stop until the meeting has been adjourned.
While flying, pilots must stand at one of the five (5) designated pilot stations. If a pilot stands on the runway to take off (e.g., to hand-launch a power aircraft/glider or simply to ensure a safe takeoff), the pilot should go to a pilot station once the plane is safely airborne.
When two or more pilots are flying at the same time they should generally fly in the same clockwise or counterclockwise pattern, with the up-wind leg being above the runway and the down-wind leg being farther out.
When a pilot plans to land or do touch and goes they must advise other pilots on the flight line of their intentions.
A pilot forced to make a dead-stick landing must shout out the words "dead-stick" so that others, including those standing far out on the runway, can hear the warning and yield the right-of-way.
Use of a pilot station is limited to ten minutes (per flight) when others are waiting to fly.
The four pilot stations must be shared equitably, with those pilots having flown deferring to those who have not; when others are waiting, pilots should stand down between flights to allow those waiting a chance to fly.
Flight instructors should generally limit training flights to ten minutes each, with three flights per student per day.
Pilots flying dissimilar flying styles or aircraft should use common sense, courtesy and exercise care before flying. Specifically, observe what type of flying is already taking place and either wait for a break in the flying or ask the other pilots for permission to fly in a way that would not cause conflicts between planes.

VIII. Noise Control
Mufflers or sound-muffling exhaust pipes are required on engines that are .090 c.i. or larger
Engines that require long periods of run time in order to test, adjust or break them in must be done in the designed test area at the south west end of the pit area.

IX. Safety Coordinator
The club's Safety Coordinator is authorized to investigate alleged rule violations and to dispense appropriate counseling, warnings or reprimands as needed. Any member who repeatedly ignores the Safety Coordinator's counsel is to be considered to be in flagrant violation of the rules and will be issued a written notice to that effect by the President in consultation with the Safety Coordinator. If a member in flagrant violation of the rules continues to violate the rules, his flying privileges will be suspended, at the discretion of the President in consultation with the Safety Coordinator and the Board of Directors. A member may appeal to the Board of Directors to have his flying privileges reinstated.
The Safety Coordinator may put an airplane or a pilot on probation at a moment's notice stipulating that specific steps be taken to resolve a hazardous situation; for example, "This airplane must not be flown until it passes a radio range test," or "You must not fly solo when the wind is out of the west until you can land safely from the east;" get an instructor to help you. The plane or pilot comes off probation automatically once the remedial steps have resolved the hazard. If a claimed hazard is in dispute, the Board of Directors is the final arbiter.
The club's flight instructors are deputized to fill in for the Safety Coordinator in their absence.

X. Pre-Flight Inspection of New and Rebuilt Airplanes
A new or rebuilt airplane must pass a thorough pre-flight inspection at the field before it is test flown.
The plane's owner should ask the Safety Coordinator or a flight instructor to double-check this inspection.

XI Helicopter
No flying from the main runway without proficiency signoff, and no hovering over main runway when aircraft are being flown.
Beginners should go to the far end of the North/South runway and practice hovering away from the pit area and away from the East/West runway. Do not enter into the airspace of the main runway with aircraft flying.
Flight maneuvers must be done at a safe height and distance from the pit area for the specific level of competency, (if this is not voluntarily adhered to then the Safety Coordinator or Club Official/s have an obligation to remind the pilot what must be done).
A crash in or near the pits will result in a mandatory discussion with chopper officials and safety coordinator for a refresher on the height and distance displacement requirements.
Test conductors designated by the Airmasters Board of Directors will give this test. The test must be administered at Airmasters club field (weather permitting). Before taking this test, study and understand current Official AMA National Model Aircraft Safety Code in your AMA membership Manual and make sure you also read and understand the current Airmasters field and Flight Rules.
When you and your test conductor are confident with your performance and knowledge of ground and safety rules, you will be ready to take your pilot proficiency test, Contact the Airmasters Safety coordinator for a list of designed test conductor/s. The test is strait forward and consists of the following:
a. Carry out preflight safety checks of the helicopter to include range check, check for cracked or missing parts, check the helicopter and transmitter's batteries for proper battery voltages and the helicopter is fueled.
b. Start the engine in a safe and secure manner, check that the Idle up switch is disengaged and hold the head to keep main blades from inadvertently spinning up, and carry the helicopter to the flight line in a safe manner.
Engage the hold head to start the rotor system to rotate to ground idle speed.
c. Smoothly life off into a stable hover, hover for one minute.
d. Fly left and right (tail in) below 20 feet maintaining speed and height.
e. Fly left and right (side on) below 20 feet maintaining speed and height.
f. From a hover, transition to forward flight rising above 20 feet and terminate in a hover approx. 50 feet away.
g. From a hover at 20 feet altitude return the helicopter to the initial take off location performing a controlled decent.
h. Fly two figure eight patterns with the crossover point in front of the pilot. Altitude and speed to be constant.
i. Perform a controlled decent beginning at a safe height (approx. 50 feet away).
j. Remove model from flight line and complete post flight check.
An orange sticker will be added to your membership card after proficiency test has been