Park
Flyers
Park
flying is here to stay! The progress of
technology in recent years in the areas of electric propulsion, power
sources, materials, construction methods and radio equipment, has made
it possible to fly r/c models in much smaller spaces than we have been
traditionally used to.This has resulted in an increasing number of
pilots flying their models from sportfields, open urban velt areas and
even indoors in sport and school halls, leading to the advent
of "park" and "indoor" flying.
2. SAMAA and
Park/indoor flying:
SAMAA has the responsibility of
regulating and controlling all r/c flying activities in the RSA. SAMAA
has therefore started a process of looking onto the phenomena of park
/indoor flying in an attempt to establish the ways and means for it`s
members to participate legally in this fast growing discipline of our
hobby, in a safe and controlled manner at recognised flying sites with
insurance cover. This regulation process obviously also needs to be
done in such a manner that the enthusiasm and growth in park/indoor
flying is not dampened.
3. Definition of a
park/indoor flyer:
"a Small and light electric power driven
aircraft that can be flown in a confined area like a sports field or
indoors in a hall".
4. Specification suggestions:
4.1.
Aircraft:
Wingspan: 1,2m max.
Weight:1kg max
including battery.
Propellor speed 15000rpm Max. (Ducted fan by
Committee permission only)
(Note: This specification will
force a trade-off between the model type, size, mass, and the limits of
the specification ie.: a glider type model will fit into the 1,2m
wingspan, 1kg limit, but a power model might have a reduced wingspan
for the same mass.)
4.2. Helicopters:
Main rotor diameter: 800mm total max.
Weight:
: 1kg max with battery.
4.3. Propulsion: Electric power
only.
4.4.
Flying sites:
"Field" size app. 100m x 50m (outdoor.) "Hall" size app. 35m x 20m
(indoor.)
ie.: Rugby, soccer type sports field.
*Park flying sites are to be at least 4,2km apart, and at least 5km
from registered
r/c flying sites.
All Park flying sites closer than 4km from
a full size aerodrome must be cleared by SAMAA with the Civil Aviation
Authorities.
4.5. Airspace:
All flying to be done within the perimiter of the field used,
to a max. of 50m
Above ground level.
(Note: This is a very important restriction as it will ensure that the
pilots fly the
type, size and weight of aircraft that is within their
proficiency and skill level, to
stay within the boundaries of the field that they are using.)
5.
Management and control:
5.1.In time all park/indoor flying
sites will have to be registered with SAMAA as such.
5.2.
Each site is required to be under the control of a club
committee or a responsible person.
5.3. Normal SAMAA safety
rules are to apply, ie.:Frequency control, spectator areas, no-fly
areas, pilot proficiencies, SAMAA membership, insurance cover etc.
6.
Process:
6.1.Draw up a database of sites being used for
park/indoor flying.
6.2. Register as many of these sites as
possible with SAMAA.
6.3. Encourage as many people as
possible to make use of these registered sites, and to stick to the
aircraft specifications, through SAMAA news, website and distribution
of a SAMAA park/indoor flying leaflet through the dealer network.
7.
Conclusion:
We had to start somewhere. The above is the Park
Flying proposal and it will be used as the
yardstick until experience and time has proved otherwise. If you
have any suggestions which can be substantiated, please
address your comments to:
SAMAA General Manager
-011-9074652.
ADVICE ON FINDING AND
SETTING UP A FLYING SITE FOR SMALL AIRCRAFT
For Small Aircraft and Park Flyers:
This booklet
is specifically directed at advising on how to find, set up and control
a site or field for flying small aircraft and helicopters,
aircraft commonly known as park fliers.
a)
Finding a Field: Park "Flyers" by definition, need a smaller
space than the usual 11/2 to 2 meter wingspan glow or petrol powered
model aircraft. The smaller and less powerful park flyers can
fly in the area of a rugby field (ie 100m x 80m).
Nevertheless the size of the field defines the size of the airplane
that can be flown on that field.
But If:
*
Your model is too big or the incorrect type
* Your flying
ability is not yet advanced enough for you to fly the type of model you
have within the limits of the field then you must not fly your park
flyer model at that site. This is not negotiable, if you
cannot fly within the limits of the field, you are not
permitted to fly at that field.
b) The Suitable
Field: When you eventually locate a suitable size piece of
ground (without adjacent land containing building etc, which cause
turbulence and odd wind slants) you then need to obtain written
permission from the owners of the land giving you the right to fly
model aircraft on the property. Most owners will not give
permission without some sort of commitment from the group using the
field, wherein they have set out their Rules and Regulations, operating
policies and given a liability commitment to the owner exonerating him
from all responsibilities, liabilities and consequences arising from an
accident.
c) Setting Out the Field:
The setting out of a flying field has been Internationally
agreed and is documented (with minor variations due to obstructions) as
follows:
(i) A flight line, a
straight line on the nearside of the runway, preferable
in
the direction of the wind is to be set out. The far side of
this line is the flying area. The near side of this
line is a no fly area and
contains, the pits, the spectators, the car park area etc.
For safety, communication, and radios signal reasons all pilots will
stand
together (± 2 metres
apart) within 7 metres of the flight line on the
near side of the flight line.
All spectators, persons not actively involved and parking
will be a least 20
metres away from
the flight line on the near side. (only the pilot and his spotter,
helper or
instructor may be near
the flight line.)
ii) When accommodating
helicopters, two alternatives exist:
(a) Fixed wing and
helicopter take turns to fly on the same line.
(b) A
separate area well away to the side of the flight line is established
iii)
A frequency control system must be installed, many radios operate on 35
MHz and each radio transmitter has a frequency within the
band. It is usual to install a "Frequency Control Board" and
when you fly you reserve your transmitter frequency with a correctly
marked peg placed on the correct spot on the frequency
board..The peg is removed when you have completed your flight. Please
note that only radio equipment operating on 27MHz, 35MHz, 53MHz,and
2.4GHz is legal and ICASA can confiscate your equipment or fine you
should you use any other frequency band.
d)
Controlling a Group of Flyers: Experience has shown that it
is necessary to have guidelines and a responsible person or group to
run and organize any group of people participating in any game or
sport. So, model flying is no different and the flyers at a
field should nominate, say 5 persons to form a committee who will be
responsible for ensuring that the field is run correctly and safely and
the basic guidelines are observed.
The above
elected "Committee" will be responsible to:
* Ensure that
there is a land use agreement in place
* Ensure that persons
flying obey the guidelines and Rules set down.
* Ensure
that any fees, dues or other costs due to the field owners are paid by
the flyers using the field
* Ensure that a frequency control
system is operative
SAMAA
PR17
POLICY ON PARK FLYERS
* Have some sort of indemnity / liability,
responsibility mechanism in place
* Have a pilot and
aircraft competence and suitability guideline / approval in place
*
Have a control mechanism in place to ensure flyers comply with the
guidelines and Rules
agreed
(e) Guideline Rules: Basic Rules Are:
*
No flying on near or over roads (Gazetted).
*
No flying above 150ft (45 meters) (gazetted)
*
No flying within 5NM (9.76) km of an aerodrome
(gazetted)
* No flying within 5 km of another venue using
radio control equipment.
* No flying over or within 20
meters of spectators, people, buildings or parked vehicles.
*
No flying without reserving your radio frequency by putting your peg on
the board.
* No flying beyond the bounds of the approved
flying area.
* No flying after drinking alcohol or taking
inhibiting medication.
* No flying unless you have written
permission to use the land for flying models.
* No flying
over other pilots at the field.
* Do announce your
intentions to other pilots, present when: you are going to land / take
off or do anything unusual.
* All take offs , flying and
landings will be done on the far side of the flight line.
If you follow these guidelines and Rules you will have a good and safe
flying site.