General

The following constitutes the field operations rules and policies of the Loveland Propbusters RC Club. It is the responsibility of each club member to be familiar with, abide by, and enforce each of these provisions.

As an Academy of Model Aeronautics (“AMA”) sanctioned club, the Loveland Propbusters shall abide by the AMA safety code. These additional rules are added to cover specifics of our field and flight environment. If there are conflicts between this code and the AMA safety code, the AMA safety code shall take precedence.

All operations at the field must be conducted in a sportsman-like manner and in accordance with club rules and current Bylaws, Field Operations Policies, and AMA safety code.

A copy of the Field Security and Flight Operations Rules will be maintained in the large green equipment locker located just west of the runway/spectator area.

Field Sanctioning Organization

We operate under a permit from the US Corp. of Engineers in the spillway of the lake at William Harsha (East Fork) State Park.

While the safety of all is the paramount concern, the possibility of losing our field permit at William Harsha state park is of equal concern. As a result, not all of the policies set forth below are specific to safety concerns.

Enforcement

As stated above, each club member has the responsibility to both abide by and enforce these flight policies. Violations of this policy can result in the revocation of member status in the Loveland Propbusters RC club.

The following process should be followed in the event a pilot, spectator or other such person should violate this policy:

The club member witnessing the incident should remind the alleged violator of the club flight policy. Every effort should be made to be non-confrontational. A pilot should not be confronted until after they have terminated their flight, returned to the pit area and turned both their radio and aircraft off. Distracting a pilot while in flight can only increase the danger to both people and equipment.
If the violation persists or if the club member is uncomfortable dealing with the situation personally, the club Safety Officer should be notified

It is the Loveland Propbusters RC club’s hope that all club members will abide by these flight policies and that violations will rarely occur. Nevertheless, in the event that a situation is addressed to the Safety Officer, the following procedure shall be followed:

The Safety Officer will gather information with regard to the reported incident. This will include a description of the incident as well as the names of all persons present at the time of the incident.
Once the information is gathered, the Safety Officer can, after investigating and reviewing the information, dismiss the incident without further action.
If after reviewing the information from the incident, the Safety Officer can convene a Safety Board to review the incident and recommend action. Any enforcement action or sanction recommendation will require approval of the officers of the club. The safety board will be comprised of a minimum of the following club members:

Safety Officer (Chairperson)
1 club designated Flight Instructor
2 Other Club Officers

Any person found to not be abiding by the field operations policy or the AMA safety code, who causes a loss to another person’s property shall be financially responsible for such damages.

Should the Safety Board determine enforcement action or sanctions are necessary, the offending member will be notified in writing of the Safety Boards determination. If a member is asked to leave the club the return of club fees will be at the discretion of the Club Board.

Flight Operations Policies

The following flight polices are divided into the following 6 categories:

Aircraft Classifications – Rules defining the allowed aircraft types.
Pilot Classifications – Defines the different pilot classifications.
Flight Safety – Rules intended to minimize the risk of injury or loss of property.
Flight Area – Defines the designated fight area at the field.
Good Neighbor – Rules intended to minimize the risk of loss of field.
Special Events – Special considerations that may be used for events.

Aircraft Classifications

While the Loveland Propbusters RC club cannot restrict use of the field, the following aircraft types will be considered sanctioned by the club:

Fixed wing non-power (glider) aircraft not to exceed a 10’ wing span
Fixed wing electric powered aircraft not to exceed a 10’ wing span
Fixed wing glow-fuel powered (2-stroke and 4-stroke) aircraft not to exceed a 10’ wing span
Non-Fixed wing glow-fuel powered (2-stroke and 4-stroke) aircraft (helicopter) not to exceed a 5’ blade length.

All aircraft are to be fitted with a proper exhaust and muffler system to minimize noise.

Pilot Classifications

The following 6 classifications have been defined:

S – Pilot not qualified for solo flight of any radio controlled aircraft. These can be new pilots or new club members that have not yet demonstrated their flight abilities as defined below. These are Student pilots.
G – Pilot qualified for solo flight of sailplane/gliders/electric type aircraft only. These are Glider pilots.
B – Pilot qualified for solo flight of “basic” fixed wing trainer type aircraft only. Pilot is not qualified for solo flight of high performance aircraft such as pattern, combat, or racing aircraft. These are Basic pilots.
H – Pilot is qualified for solo flight of non-fixed wing aircraft. These are Helicopter pilots.
F – Pilot qualified for solo flight of any fixed wing airworthy radio controlled aircraft. These are Fixed wing pilots.
I – Pilot qualified for training and assistance to any pilot (instructor). These are Instructor pilots.

A pilot can hold multiple classifications at one time. For example, B and H or F and I.

It is a member’s responsibility to be aware of his classification. All flying with aircraft beyond the member’s classification will require the assistance of at least a class “F” pilot. Ideally a class I pilot should be utilized for assistance.

Advancement to a higher classification will require two successful demonstration flights observed by at least one class I pilot.

Demonstration flights must be conducted with an aircraft appropriate to the classification desired and require that the pilot only complete the maneuvers without loss of control of the aircraft in a safe manner. Precision is not required for any classification.

All members of the club must be classified by an instructor before flying any radio controlled aircraft. New members will be temporarily classified “S” until an instructor determines that a higher classification is justified.

The instructor giving the classification test must be aware that the student is seeking advancement to a higher classification and is proficient in the following items, as appropriate to the classification and aircraft:

Understand the frequency pin procedure and radio impound policy
Assembly, checkout, fueling, and starting of the aircraft
Proper restraint of the aircraft prior to starting, and observing caution around running engines.
Understanding not to stand in line with a spinning propeller, or holding an aircraft up in a way that could injure a pilot or spectator.
Not to reach across the prop arc to remove glow igniters.
Performing a proper range check prior to commencing the first flight of the day for each aircraft to be flown.
Straight flight running parallel with pilot line
Left and right hand turns
Stalls and recoveries
Glides and gliding turns
Unusual attitudes (loops, rolls, spins)
Taxing (ground handing)
Take-offs
Traffic pattern approach
Landings
Intention announcements (take-off, landing, leaving the field)

Demonstration flights for each classification shall consist of the following:

° G

i. Launch

ii. Left and right turns

iii. Landing on runway

° B/H

i. Take off

ii. Left and right turns

iii. Full average flight

iv. Landing on runway

° F

i. Take off

ii. Horizontal eight with minimum loss of altitude

iii. Three consecutive rolls

iv. Touch and go on runway

v. Full average flight

vi. Landing on runway

° I

i. Must be dedicated to helping other members

ii. Take off

iii. Split S

iv. Inverted horizontal figure eight

v. Two-point rolls

vi. Three outside loops

vii. Spins

viii. Cuban eight

ix. Stall turns in both directions

x. Alternate runway touch and goes

xi. Dead stick landing on runway

Flight Safety

The following rules apply to flight safety. The safety of people (pilots, spectators, and bystanders) should be the number one concern of any pilot. The safety of equipment should be secondary.

Prior to the first flight of the day a range check should be done of all aircraft to be flown.

All transmitters must be placed in the impound station while not in use. A clothespin with pilot identification (Name) must be placed on the frequency board, at the proper frequency, whenever a transmitter is in use. Upon termination of a flight, the transmitter must be returned to the impound station. The pilot’s clothespin designator can remain on the frequency board provided that no other pilot wishes to use the frequency. Note: A frequency is actually the specific Megahertz that are allowed to be used by FCC rules. The numbers listed on the frequency board are channels.

When more than one pilot wishes to use the same frequency the frequency should be shared. Each pilot should be allowed a flight in round robin fashion. It is each pilot’s responsibility to ascertain if other pilots are waiting for a frequency.

When finished flying for the day, pilots should remove their frequency pin from the board prior from departing the field. Frequency pins left on the board can cause confusion and unnecessary concerns for the remaining pilots.

A maximum of 5 aircraft (any permitted type) are allowed to be airborne at a given time.

While in flight each pilot is allocated one of the 5 pilot stations. Pilots are to remain in the pilot station (cages) while in flight, especially, if there are more than one plane in flight.

Pilots are not permitted to operate aircraft either from the pit area or east of the runway.

Flying over the pit area or park access road is strictly forbidden. Please imagine a line that extends left and right down your pilot stations and never fly behind this imaginary line. This will help keep the airplanes in front of you and away from the pit area at all times.

Take-offs and landings of all aircraft must be announced for all pilots to hear, and must be conducted on either the asphalt or grass runway.

No takeoffs from the taxiways or pit areas are permitted.

Aircraft requiring “hand launches” should be taken onto the active runway and launched into the prevailing wind in accordance with the preferred takeoff direction of the time. The launcher should clearly announce their intentions to the adjacent active pilot stations, and minimize their time on the runway area. While not the preferred method, pilots launching their own aircraft by hand, should abide by the previous stated guidelines.

Touch-and-goes, low passes and other runway-impacting flight activities must be announced for all pilots to hear.

“Deadstick” landings or other situations requiring an immediate return to the runway should be clearly announced. “Deadstick, coming in” or “I do not have full control” should be loudly spoken so pilots in adjacent pilot stations can be made aware of a potentially dangerous situation. When a “Deadstick” or other immediate landing requirement is announced, those pilots with other aircraft in the air should climb to a safe altitude and orbit the field until the deadstick aircraft is down and the runway area is clear.

Due to the recent increase in low level 3D flying, and the possible dangers of such, the pilot should enlist the help of a "caller", who stands behind him/her to warn of people, horses, other planes, etc. This is not necessary when at altitude.

All spectators must remain behind the fence separating the pits at all times. All small children must be accompanied by, and under the control of, their supervising parent or guardian.

All persons either entering or leaving the field area must announce their intentions prior to crossing the runway area so that pilots are aware of pedestrian traffic.

Pets are permitted at the field provided that they remain in the spectator area and properly restrained.

No alcoholic beverages are permitted at the field, in accordance with the East Fork Park Rules.

Flight Area

Take-off and landing should be made into the prevailing wind. The preferred take-off and landing direction is north to south or left to right if you are standing in a pilot station facing the runway. Take-off and landing from south to north will only be done when the wind is from the north.

On days that there are light or no winds, landings and take-offs can be made in either direction with the agreement of the other pilots at the field. This will allow for training and practice using the non-preferred direction.

Aircraft in flight should remain east of the grass runway, west of the park access road, 100 yards north of the power lines to the south and south of the far tree line to the north.

Aircraft can be flown west of the asphalt runway when they are a minimum of 100 yards beyond the ends of the runway to the north or south, but should still remain east of the tree line behind the spectator area.

With the exception of take-offs, landings, and low passes in the runway area aircraft should not fly below 50 feet over the concrete road from the parking lot to the field.

Acrobatic (unusual attitudes) flight should not be done within 100 feet of a location that may have people. This includes the park access road, parking lot, concrete road, flight line, pit area, and spectator area.

Helicopters which are loitering (hovering and practicing) should be done at the helicopter pad located at the south end of the runway.

Good Neighbor

All flights must be conducted within the established field boundaries as set by the Department of the Army, Corp of Engineers. As per the Club’s sanction, “All aircraft will be operated in a responsible manner at a reasonable distance (150 ft. minimum) from vehicular traffic, wildlife activity, and recreational activities. All aircraft will be operated a minimum of 100 yards from existing power lines crossing the spillway.”

Hikers and horseback riders are often within the flight area of the field. Care should be taken to remain a safe distance. In addition, it may be necessary to refrain from tuning engines or take-offs when horses are in the immediate pit area.

All members are required to properly collect all waste materials (props, rubber bands, crash debris, soda cans, cigarette butts, etc.) and remove them from the field. There is a trash can located near the parking area that can be used for such items.

Special Events

No aircraft may be taxied or flown while work operations are in progress in either the runway or taxi areas.

Work parties will be scheduled to minimize the impact on planned flying sessions (evening training, etc.) but pilots need to respect the safety of any worker within the field area at all times.

From May until October, Sunday afternoons between the hours of 2 and 4 P.M, and Wednesday evenings from 6 to 8 PM are designated “Student Training Sessions” and student pilots, accompanied by a Club designated instructor have priority on channel usage and pilot station selection. Experienced members should recognize these times, and should limit their flying as to provide the least distractions to the student and their instructor.

Flight rules can be altered for special events such as Fun Fly’s and combat, but must still meet minimum AMA standards.

Field Security and Flight Operations Rules

Revised May 16, 2003