DON VALLEY MODEL FLYING CLUB

ESTABLISHED 1970

Amended march 2014 to include night flying

Rules of the Constitution

The Club and its representatives and officials shall, under no circumstances, be held responsible for any death, injury or damage, or for any claims whatsoever, arising from the activity of any Club member or non-member flying with other members of the Club, or flying alone, whether or not that person is properly insured.

RC 1  The Club

The Club shall be known as the DON VALLEY MODEL FLYING CLUB, hereinafter referred to as “the Club”.

The Club shall be affiliated to the BMFA

RC 2  Objectives

The aim of the Club shall be to strive to improve the social and sporting interests of its members and to further the image of the sport.

RC 3  Membership

All members must have insurance approved by the Committee.

All members must have insurance approved by the Committee.

Membership requests shall be made on an application form.and approved by the committie

Membership shall be limited to those numbers that may well be workable in respect of the available radio frequencies and general safety,                                                                            . new members  will be restricted to models less than 100cc

The Committee reserves the right, with member’s approval, to place a specific limit on the number of members where the circumstances require such limits.

The Club reserves the right to refuse membership.

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RC 4  Officials of the Club

The Officials of the Club shall form a Committee consisting of:

three Officers, i.e. President, Secretary and Treasurer.

One committee member per twelve club members.

Additional officer(s) as deemed necessary at the AGM.

RC 5  Election of Officials

Officials of the Club shall be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting

One committee member per twelve members, based on the membership on 1st October.

The nominee must be willing to stand for the post nominated and must be proposed and seconded.

If the posts of Officers are not filled at the AGM then the Committee shall have the right to fill these positions at the first Committee meeting after the AGM.

The existing Committee members will hand over their positions to the newly-elected officials at the next Committee meeting to be held no later than 21 days after the AGM.

Upon the resignation of an Official, a replacement shall be co-opted onto the Committee for the balance of the term of office.

RC 6  Business of the Club

The business of the club shall be conducted by the Committee.

RC 7  Committee Procedure

The President, or in his absence an elected chairman, shall take the chair at all monthly meetings and Committee meetings of the Club.

No business shall be conducted unless a quorum is present.

A quorum shall be no less than two thirds of the Committee.

The Secretary shall keep a written record of all meetings and such record shall be available to any member.

If a Committee meeting is held in the absence of the Secretary, a deputy, for that meeting only, shall be elected from those present.

The Secretary shall convene a Committee meeting 14 days prior to the monthly members meeting.

The Committee has the power to co-opt members to serve as Officers of the Club.  Such co-opted Officers shall have no voting powers at the Committee meetings.

Voting at meetings shall be by simple majority.  In the event of equality of voting the Chairman shall have an additional or casting vote.  The Committee has the power to call an Extra-Ordinary General Meeting as it deems necessary.

All notices to be sent to members or displayed shall be approved by the Committee.

Non-policy decisions and the day to day business of the Club will be decided by the Committee.

Policy matters shall be decided by a majority vote at the next convenient monthly meeting or at an Extra-Ordinary General Meeting.

RC 8  Monthly Meetings

Monthly member meetings shall be held at a convenient venue.

Financial statement shall be available for inspection by any Club member.

If voting is required the President shall appoint two tellers.

Voting members will be entitled to vote only if they have been a member for at least four months and attended at least three member’s monthly meetings

RC 9  Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) shall be held no later than the third Monday in December.

Items for discussion shall be submitted in writing to reach the Secretary before 31st October.

The Secretary shall notify all fully paid-up members in writing, and at least 14 days prior to the meeting of the time, place and date of the meeting.

No business shall be conducted unless a quorum is present.

A quorum shall consist of not less than 25% of fully paid-up Club members.

If voting is required the President shall appoint two tellers.

Voting will be by simple majority of those members present.  Members  will only be entitled to vote if  they have been members for at least four months and have attended at least three member’s monthly  meetings.

Postal votes will not be allowed but opinions may be expressed in writing to be read out at  the meeting.

The President, Secretary and Treasurer shall make their annual report.

RC 10  Extra-Ordinary General Meeting

An Extra-Ordinary General Meeting may be called at any time at the request of not less than six members of the Club.  Reasons for the meeting must be submitted in writing to the Secretary and signed by at least six members.

The Secretary must convene the meeting within six weeks of the request and must notify all members in writing at least 14 days prior to the meeting, giving the reasons, time, date and place of the meeting.

RC 11   Financial Year

The Financial Year shall commence on the 1st November.

Auditors, who cannot be Officers of the Club, shall be appointed at the AGM.

RC 12  Subscriptions

The annual Club and Field fees will be proposed by the Committee, to be approved by the members at a members meeting.

Club and BMFA fees

Club and BMFA fees run from 1st January to 31st December

Club and BMFA fees MUST be paid by 31st December

Any member NOT having paid their BMFA fees by 31st December are NOT insured and are NOT entitled to fly on the field.

Field Fees

The Field Fee is to run from 1st July one year until 30th June of the year following.

Fees MUST be paid by 30th June.

Any member who has not paid by 30th June WILL NOT have the right to use the field facilities.

RC 13  Funds

The Funds of the Club shall be administered in a manner as proposed by the Committee and approved by the members at a Member’s Meeting.

All cheques and disbursements shall be signed by the Treasurer and one of two named Committee members.

RC 14  Model Restrictions

The Club reserves the right, by a decision of at least two Committee members, to refuse or restrict  permission to fly models considered to be unsuitable.

RC 15 Amendments to the Constitution

Proposals for amendments to the Constitution must be submitted in writing, signed by the proposer and seconded, and have at least six other signatures of members of the Club.  This should reach the Secretary before the meeting preceding the AGM.  Such proposals will be included in the notification of the AGM circulated by the Secretary.

The Constitution can only be amended by two-thirds majority of members attending the AGM.

RC 16 Disbandment

In the event of the Club being disbanded, its assets, after all liabilities have been  met, shall be disposed-of in accordance with a majority vote of the total Club membership at a Special General Meeting.

General Rules

GR 1 All members shall be members of the BMFA.

GR 2 Members shall adhere to the BMFA rules (to the latest amendments and standards of flying), Club Codes  of Practice and comply with any safety instructions given by an Instructor/Examiner or any Committee  member.  (In any arbitration, BMFA rules take precedence for safety procedures.)

GR 3 Model aircraft types are limited to R/C models only.  (Pylon racing and free-flight models are excluded  from this site.  Where these exceed 7kg in weight they shall be fitted with a Fail-Safe Device (engine to  IDLE/STOP at minimum) and in accordance with the manufacturer’s and BMFA guidelines, and comply  with the BMFA safety regulations as stated in the Hand Book.  The operator shall hold any relevant CAA  exemption certificate.

Where PCM equipment is used, the Fail Safe should be set in accordance with the manufacturers and  BMFA guidelines (engine to STOP/IDLE at minimum).  Flyers with large and heavy models should  always fly with an observer for extra safety.

GR 4 A maximum of 5 aircraft are allowed in the air at one time.  (On Open Days special dispensation may be  approved to increase this number.)

GR 5 All engines shall be silenced so as not to cause a public nuisance and are to comply with the BMFA  guidelines, currently set at 82dB at 7 metres.  If in doubt ask to have your model checked with the Club’s  Decibel Meter.

GR 6 Flying times are 9.00am until dusk daily.With the exception of electric models fitted with lights. These are to be flown from concrete side only with a weight limit of 2.8kg. To be flown by “passed out flyers” only.

This does not include FVP and noise should be kept to a minimum

GR 7 Entry to the flying field will be via a locked gate, which must be re-locked after use.  Keys are available to  Club members at nominal cost but remain the property of the Club.

GR 8 All motor vehicles will be parked in the car park but may be brought forward to the designated  loading/unloading area, provided they are returned to the car park.  Vehicles must not be driven onto the  field during wet conditions.

GR 9 Wildlife is to be respected at all times.  Shooting and fishing are not permitted.  Dogs on leashes only.

GR 10 In the event of any failure to observe these rules, a written warning will be given.  Persistent offenders  may be excluded from the Club, with no refund of fees.  A right to appeal against any warning or  exclusion is available to members and must be made in writing, addressed to the Secretary, for the  attention of the Committee.

Field Rules

FR 1 R/C equipment used on our flying field is restricted to approved frequencies as defined in the BMFA  handbook, viz; 35MHz, 2.4GHz and 27MHz frequencies. (27MHz is restricted to gliders and park-flyer  type models).  Limited range transmitters/receivers on 27MHz or 2.4GHz cannot be used on i.c-powered  aircraft or electric models not considered as “park flyers”.

FR 2 Before you may fly:

You must know the frequency and crystal numbers used in the transmitter and receiver and display an orange streamer and your frequency number if operating on 35MHz, a black streamer if on 2.4GHz and the appropriate streamer colour on 27MHz.

You must have a white flight board 6” square, identified with channel number (black, approx. 3” high) and your name, and fitted with a spike to place in the ground.

Members operating 2.4GHz equipment must place at one end of the flight line a 6” black-painted board with your name and clearly stating 2.4GHz.  (All 2.4GHz boards must be placed together.)

Park flyer type models must conform to the Code of Practice in regard to general flying and must not in any way be flown close to the flight line so as to cause a distraction to other flyers.

FR 3  Flight control is to be established by flyers placing their numbered flight boards in numerical order along  the flight line or in front of the designated pits area.  (Special arrangements are in place on Open Days).

FR 4 Upon arrival at the flying field, DO NOT SWITCH ON THE TRANSMITTER IN THE CAR PARK,  or AT ANY TIME until you have established which frequency channels are in use.  (If two  transmitters using the same crystal number are switched on together the ‘plane in the air will  immediately crash.  DO NOT switch on within two miles of a flying field!)

FR 5 Every pilot must display a frequency board for each channel they intend to use on the flight line.  If  there is more than one user on a particular channel, then on each occasion BEFORE SWITCHING  ON, contact must be made with all other users of that channel to inform them when it is in use and  also when it is free.  The member who intends to use the channel should then place his board upright  on the flight line.  This member then has complete control of the channel.  Those members using  the same channel should lay their frequency boards on the ground, face up in front of the one being  used, to identify themselves.  (Does not apply to 2.4GHz.)

FR 6 Members operating petrol or gas turbine models should make sure adequate safety precautions are in  place.  If necessary, refer to the BMFA Guidelines.

FR 7 Check for interference if flying with an adjacent channel by co-ordinating with the respective flyer(s) and  completing the adjacent-channel frequency check in accordance with the BMFA  Guidelines. Avoid  flying if sandwiched between adjacent numbers.  Viz, 78-79-80, the person on 79 would be advised  to wait until one of the adjacent channels is free and ensuring that that person has switched off.

FR 8 If you change crystals, be meticulous about changing the attendant frequency board and notices. (All  crystals have an identification.  If it is worn away, check before using them with the Club’s frequency  checker.)

FR 9 When you “have the board frequency control” check your equipment with the transmitter aerial down.   Aircraft should be in good control from at least 25 yds/mtrs distance.  (Try from another direction if  your r/c is swamped by active transmitters.)   If sharing a channel, limit your time to 15 mins.

Safe flying is no accident.  Ignorance & negligence are no excuse!

Code of Practice

CP 1 ALWAYS use a restraint when starting-up the engine.  (Check that it cannot move forward.)

CP 2 Keep other flyers/observers away from the front of a high rpm engine test.  (Propellers can come off and fly forward and to the side.)

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CP 3 Until you have authority to fly solo, or if flying a new aircraft, ask an experienced flyer to stand with you as an observer/helper.  If in training you must have an Instructor/Experienced flyer with you.

CP 4 Do not ‘run-in’ engines in the pits or close to the flight-line, move away to an agreed safe area.  Models must not be left unattended.

CP 5 Do not taxi into or out of the pits.  (Carry or restrain your aircraft until on the flight-line.)

CP 6 On the flight-line on the first flight or after a heavy landing, and whilst restraining the aircraft, check ailerons, elevator, rudder and throttle for function before take-off.  (Check again that right stick means right bank and down stick means down when viewed from the rear of the aircraft.)

THINK FIRST, FLY AGAIN!

CP 7 When ready to fly, call out “Taking off”. (So that other flyers are aware of your actions. Ensure that you have been heard/acknowledged.)

CP 8 Follow a left-hand or right-hand circuit into wind, as appropriate, for all landings and take-offs.  Do not take-off or land down-wind.  (The circuit direction should be designated before flying.  If there is no wind, mark out a flight line in an agreed direction).  If an emergency dead-stick landing is required make sure that your intentions are clearly stated, particularly if this involves a forced down-wind landing.  Other flyers should take appropriate action and clear the landing area.

CP 9 After taking-off position yourself back in the flight group with other flyers.

CP 10 Do not over-fly the pits area, the road, the car-park, members of the public, people crossing the landing strip, tractors or people working in the adjoining fields.

CP 11 When landing, call out “Landing”, checking that the field is clear, then walk a small distance from the flight line so that you have an unrestricted view, land and quickly recover your aircraft, stating your intentions clearly and ensuring it is still safe to do so, and return to the pits.

CP 12 Do not take your transmitter onto the field when recovering aircraft, this can swamp an over-flying aircraft.  Turn off your aircraft receiver before the transmitter.  (This ensures that the servos do not get forced up to the limit of their travel by stray radio noise.)

CP 13 If you hear “Landing” or “Dead-stick”, avoid the landing approach area, keep high and out of the way.  (Don’t watch the other aircraft, you may lose sight of yours, and don’t distract a pilot so that he loses sight of his aircraft.)

CP 14 Flying without insurance can jeopardise the future of the Club, as can flying without due regard to safety procedures.

Persons who fail to observe this code may be required to make restitution to any injured

party and be subject to disciplinary action by the appointed officials of the Club.

Visitors

Spectators are welcome but, for their own safety, should be asked to stand behind the pit area and kept away from running engines.

Visiting BMFA members must ask for a DVMFC member to act as an observer during their visit to ensure safety and procedures are followed.

Visitors are allowed up to THREE visits per year.  (Voluntary contributions would be appreciated!)

All persons entering the flying field and the pond area do so at their own risk.

Every flyer is to be safety aware

ALL members are responsible for safety on our site.  In the event of somebody not abiding by Safety Procedures, please advise them accordingly and, if necessary, give them clear guidance.

Insurance

This is a BMFA member club.  ALL flyers (including visitors) must be insured with a minimum cover of £5,000,000 and proof of insurance should always be brought with you when flying.

Non-BMFA members flying in open events or visits should show proof that they hold third party insurance cover with a reputable company to a minimum limit of liability of £5,000,000 for any single incident.

There are NO days of grace with insurance!  If your BMFA membership has elapsed so has your insurance and you may not fly.  As a BMFA member club, on completion of a membership form and payment of full fees to a committee member, the BMFA cover is immediate.

NOTE:  It is the joint responsibility of all Club members to maintain the hedges, fences and ditches and keep the grass cut.  Members are expected to participate within the limits of their ability.  Regular work parties reduce the workload on any particular member.

Remember, if nobody works, nobody flies!

Flying is NOT permitted whilst mowing is in progress

or when work-parties are operating!

New members are subject to a 3 month probation period