Flying Regulations

1. Flying field hours
   
    
   1. Monday through Saturday: 10:00 a.m. to dusk
   2. Sunday: 11:00 a.m. to dusk.

   
   Note: Electric powered aircraft may operate at anytime during daylight hours. On Sunday, operation of aircraft with four stroke cycle engines may start at 10:00 a.m.
   
    

2. Frequency Control System.
   
    
   1. Only transmitters (narrow band, gold sticker) on radio control frequencies currently allowed by the Federal Communications Commission shall be used. Only properly licensed Amateurs are authorized to operate equipment on Amateur Band frequencies.
   2. Transmitters must be marked clearly with the owner’s name.
   3. Channel numbers and red ribbons must be displayed on transmitters at all times.
   4. The frequency control system consists of an impound box and a frequency board with slots for each channel, a slot for "Ground Testing" and a "Taxiway" slot for queuing.
   5. Transmitters must be placed in the impound box on arrival at the field whether they are to be used or not.
   6. Members must place their AMA membership card in the channel slot corresponding to that of their transmitter before flying and remove it afterwards. Transmitters will not be removed from the impound box until an AMA card is in the proper slot. (Radios in the six meter band have a separate slot.)
   7. Each member is responsible for his or her AMA card and must not place or remove the cards of other members from the frequency control board. Exceptions to this rule may be made at official club functions when a member is designated to manage the frequency control system.
   8. To enter the queue for the next open flying opportunity if four channels are already being used, place your AMA membership card in the impound box card slot labeled “Taxiway” in back of the other cards, if any, that may be in the slot. The person owning the front card is next in line to fly. If his or her frequency is already in use, the person with the card next behind the front card may fly.
   9. Pilots are expected to be ready to fly when their card is in the “next to fly” position. When the flight is complete, the transmitter will be returned promptly to the impound box and the user’s AMA card removed from its slot.

   
    

3. Safety
   
    
   1. A maximum of four (4) aircraft will fly at any time.
   2. Intentional flying behind the flight line is prohibited.
   3. Children under 6 years old are allowed on the flight line only as a pilot or while under flight instruction. In general, children will not be permitted beyond the spectator area unless underdirect supervision of an adult.
   4. Flight operations will stop during electrical storms.
   5. Flying alone is not recommended.
   6. The latest version of the AMA Safety Code will be displayed when the field is open for flying.
   7. First Aid kits will be available when the field is open for flying.
   8. Emergency numbers (Hospital, Police) and location of the nearest public telephone will be displayed at the field.

   
    

4. Flight Operations
   
    
   1. No one shall fly a model aircraft in sanctioned events, air shows, or model flying demonstrations until it has been proven to be airworthy by having been previously, successfully flight tested.
   2. Flyers shall give right-of-way and avoid flying in the proximity of full-scale aircraft.
   3. Flyers will not willfully and deliberately fly models in a careless, reckless and/or dangerous manner.
   4. The maximum takeoff weight of a model with fuel is 55 pounds.
   5. No one shall fly a model unless it is identified with his or her name and address or AMA number, on or in the model.
   6. No one shall operate models with metal-bladed propellers or with gaseous boosts, in which gases other than air enter their internal combustion engine(s); nor shall anyone operate models with extremely hazardous fuels such as those containing tetranitromethane or hydrazine. (AMA General #6)
   7. No one shall operate models with pyrotechnics (any device that explodes, burns, or propels a projectile of any kind. (AMA General #7)
   8. No one shall consume alcoholic beverages prior to or during participation in any model operation.
   9. A successful radio equipment ground range check shall be competed before the first flight of a new or repaired model.
   10. No one shall fly a model aircraft in the presence of spectators until qualified as a flier unless assisted by an instructor or experienced helper.
   11. For Combat, distance between combat engagement line and spectator line will be 500 feet per cubic inch of engine displacement. (Example: .40 engine = 200 feet.);
   12. At air shows or model flying demonstrations a single straight line must be established, one side of which is for flying, with the other side for spectators.
   13. With the exception of events flown under AMA Competition rules, after launch, except for pilots or helpers being used, no powered model may be flown closer than 25 feet to any person.
   14. Under no circumstances may a pilot or other person touch a powered model in flight.
   15. RC Night Flying is limited to low performance models (less than 100 m.p.h.). The models must be equipped with a lighting system that clearly defines the aircraft's attitude at all times.
   16. Flying must be within the designated field boundaries (see attached map).
       
        

       

       
        

   17. All take-offs and landings must be at least twenty feet from the flight line and pilots must announce loudly their intention to do either. Planes on final approach have the right of way.
   18. Only pilots and spotters are allowed in front of the flight line.
   19. Spotters are recommended for each aircraft when more than two aircraft are in the air.
   20. Helicopter liftoff, hover and land operations will be restricted to the designated area at the extreme left end of the flight line. Helicopter flight operations will exit from and return to this area for landing. No hovering is permitted within twenty feet of the rest of the flight line or any pilot at one of the four flight stations.
   21. Racing, free flight, control line and gas turbine operations will be in accordance with the AMA 2003 Safety Code (Appendix A).

   
    

5. General Requirements
   
    
   1. Testing of engines will be done on or near the picnic table (to the right rear of the flight line), not in the pit area.
   2. All fliers must openly display their East Coast Swamp Flyers (ECSF) membership tag or card on their person.
   3. Mufflers are mandatory on engines of 0.09 cubic inches and larger.
   4. AMA approved nuts or spinners must be used at all times.
   5. Two or more members may declare a plane unsafe to fly. The plane shall remain grounded until the unsafe condition is corrected.
   6. A member may bring a guest flyer but is responsible for the guest while the guest is at the field. The guest must be advised of these regulations and agree to follow them. A guest is allowed three visits a year in which he or she may fly. When flying, a guest must place his or her AMA card in the appropriate slot on the frequency control board.
   7. Every effort to locate a lost plane must be made by members present. No trees are to be cut down. In the case of difficulty in retrieving a plane, contact a club officer.
   8. Members are expected to take away everything brought to the field. Leave no litter. Do not burn anything.
   9. Avoid spilling fuel. Collect overflow either in a tank, cup or soak into paper towels and remove from the field.
   10. In the case of damage to personal property, either accidentally or through carelessness, the members involved are expected to arrange restitution among themselves.