Rules, Regulations and Protocols

The Club operates model aircraft at the flying field located at Shanley Feild, just off Shanley Street in Wangaratta,  in accordance with the following regulations and protocols.

All untethered model aircraft whether uncontrolled or remotely controlled must be operated in accordance with Civil Aviation Orders CAR (1998) Part 101

. The relevant sections of this document are as follows;

A person must not fly a model aircraft….

•  in cloud or with visibility which does not permit continuous visual contact by the operator with the aircraft.
•  in such a manner that a model aircraft would constitute a hazard to full size aircraft.
• that weighs more than 7 kilograms (excluding fuel) but not more than 25 kilograms (excluding fuel) unless that person holds a valid permit to fly for that particular model aircraft issued by the Model Aeronautical Association of Australia.

A complete copy of the CAO is available from the secretary of the Club.

In addition to the government regulations the Club also enforces the following Rules, Regulations and Protocols:

• 1. Eligibility to fly at Wangaratta Aero Modellers WAM Inc.

1.1 Pilots may fly at WAM Inc provided that they satisfy all the following:-

1.2 Pilots must be financial members of W.A.M or visiting members of other Clubs affiliated with the VMAA or MAAA. Note. A financial member is a club member who has paid their membership fees for the forthcoming year on or before the 14th August of that year. The Club financial year commences on the 1st July and ends on the 30th June the following year.

1.3 Show their membership card to a W.A.M. member.

1.4 Receive a briefing from a club member on club rules relevant to the intended flight.
 
1.5 Demonstrate their proficiency to an Instructor.

1.6 All pilots are required to comply with the minimum flying standards as set out in Section 2.

1.8 Visits shall be limited to no more than three times in one calendar year unless invited by the Club.

1.9 Bona fide visitors from other clubs are welcome to use the facilities.

1.10 For avoidance of doubt no person is permitted to take control of a model aircraft unless they are covered by the MAAA insurance policy.
 

2. Flying Standards.

2.1 Members must have achieved at least “Solo Standard” as assessed by a Club Instructor, or have reached Bronze Wings standard in accordance with the MAAA training manual and be verified by a Club Instructor before flying without an Instructor.

2.2 Visitors must demonstrate proficiency to an Instructor before flying without direct supervision.

2.4  On reaching Bronze Wings standard there is no restriction on new models, but Members are advised to seek assistance with test flights.

2.7 A Bronze Wings pilot should gain experience over a further twelve months before taking the Gold Wings test.

2.8 Instructors must be Gold Wings standard before taking the Instructor Course.

2.9 See Appendix for formal test requirements.
 

3. Frequency Control.

3.1 The Club operates in accordance with MAAA policy on the frequencies approved for model aircraft in the 29Mhz, 36Mhz and 40Mhz bands. A frequency control keyboard is in use in the pitts area.

3.2 Radios must be bandwidth tested and show a sticker with the details from an MAAA approved testing station. Despite narrower bandwidths being available a 20Khz (50mm) key must be used. Keys must show the channel number, Club Member’s name and have a hole through which can be seen the frequency of the slot.

3.3 The use of “Buddy cords” is encouraged at certain stages of instruction. The slave radio should have its RF crystal or module removed to avoid confusion over radio frequencies in use.

3.4 Correct etiquette dictates that when a frequency is not in use, the owner shall remove the key from the board. This enables maximum use of the channels available. When frequency clashes occur it is good policy for the members
 involved to identify each other and cooperate closely as a double check and to share the flight times.

3.5 The keyboard system of frequency control must be used when there are two or more members flying. Transmitters must not be switched on unless a key of the correct width (as declared by the Club) is inserted in the keyboard. The key must be labelled with the name of the owner. The transmitter must be switched off and the key must be removed from the keyboard after each flight. It is good sense to hang the key on the transmitter aerial or on/off switch to avoid inadvertently switching on the transmitter.

3.6 Pilots and guests of the Club should not remove another pilot’s key from the keyboard, unless prior arrangements have been made. The removed key should not be left in the keyboard housing but placed with the key owner’s transmitter.
 
3.7 All members are to familiarise themselves with the Model Aeronautical Association of Australia (MAAA) Rules regarding Frequency allocations, bandwidths, testing of equipment requirements and usage of relative “Keyboard systems”.

4. No Fly Zones.

4.1 There are defined No Fly Zones, which have been declared due to changing circumstances at the field. Please ask a Club member if you are unsure.

4.5 For safety and public nuisance reasons violation of the above could lead to the loss of the field.

5. Public Area.

5.1 The W.A.M. Club operates from an area that is well known to the public. Many visitors call in to watch our operations. All Members must be conscious of safety aspects at all times and operate their aircraft accordingly. The Club gains many members as a direct result of public viewing. Please try to be polite and respond to enquires when possible. Keep the area clean and tidy.

5.2 Members of the public are not permitted beyond the pitts area and the stoned area unless specifically invited by a Club Member. The Member is then responsible for keeping the visitors at a safe distance from all aircraft operations

5.3 There is a designated car park area and it must be used. On busy days members are encouraged to fill up the space down towards the tree.

The Flight Line.

6.1 When operating RC models from the flight line it is important to stand on the designated concrete spots because this minimises the possibility of radio interference. Transmitter aerials should be more than three (3) metres apart at all times. Pilots must avoid the tendency to crowd together for a chat whilst flying.

6.3  When test flying a new model or in the early stages of training it may be necessary to walk onto the field to get behind a model for takeoff or to retrieve a model. In this case the pilot should check the position of other airborne models and notify intentions by calling out “ON THE FIELD” before walking out and keeping a watchful eye on other models. As soon as practical the pilot should return to the flight line in the normal position, or to the pits.

6.5 Taxying into the pit area is prohibited. Refer to the attached map for definition of the pit area.

6.7 The following protocols should be observed by all pilots:-

                    If  an engine fails in flight the pilot should call out “DEAD STICK”.
 
 If a pilot calls “DEAD STICK” other pilots should move their aircraft out of the way of the dead stick aircraft and give that pilot landing priority.
 
 Before landing a pilot should call out “LANDING and unless obvious the pilot should indicate from which direction.
 
 Landing has priority over all other activities on the flight line.
 
 If there is more than one aircraft flying, pilots shall conform to an established circuit pattern (left hand or right hand). 
  
  TAKE-OFFS MUST NEVER BE MADE TOWARDS THE FLIGHT LINE OR THE PIT AREA.

8. Helicopter.

8.2 In all other aspects of flight, helicopters must conform to the rules laid down in “Rules, Regulations and Protocols” of the Club. 
  

10. Incidents and Crashes.

10.1 All incidents involving damage to property (other than the model itself) or injury to persons shall be reported to the Club Secretary or to a Committee person.

10.2 When you crash an aircraft please remove all of the debris from the field.

10.3 If a member wishes to complain about the behaviour of a pilot, they should do so in writing to the Club Secretary.

11. General Behaviour.

General behaviour of members may be regulated as deemed necessary from time to time by the Club committee. This may cover issues such as OH&S, equal opportunity and public standards of behaviour.

Members must not consume alcohol before they fly.