Club Rules

1. Joining– Membership of the club is at the discretion of the Committee. New Members will sign for receiving a copy of the clubs rules and agree to be bound by them. Membership is subject to the payment of a joining fee.
2. Subscriptions– A membership subscription is paid annually and covers 1stJanuary to 31st December. Members not renewing subscriptions before the end of the membership year will be subject to a re-joining fee. Subscription rates are fixed at the AGM or EGM. Renewal will be subject to signing onto any rule changes that may occur during the year.
3. Disciplinary Procedure– In the event that a member breaks the DHMFC rules the procedure is as follows:
  - The disciplinary procedure will begin when an incident is formally reported by at least 3 Club Members or 1 Committee Member
  - Each incident will be heard before a full Committee. The member will be given the opportunity to explain his actions.
  - The Committee will communicate its decision in writing to the member.
  - The issue of two letters for two proven offences may result in membership being terminated
  - The Committee’s decision is final
4. Insurance and Club Cards– All Members will have BMFA third party insurance and should carry their BMFA and club cards to be available for inspection, if requested, at the flying field
5. Guests and Newcomers– Guest flyers must be under the supervision of a suitably qualified Club Member who will be responsible for checking that the guest has valid insurance and that the club rules are observed. Guests will be allowed 4 active visits to the flying field in a year and at that point will be asked either to join the Club or not attend again. Guests should be “booked in” by advising the Club Secretary prior to their visit.
6. BMFA insurance provides cover for newcomers to the hobby to make 3 visits to the flying field to experience model flying with their own or a loaned aircraft. Such newcomers must be under the supervision of a suitably qualified flyer during these visits and should be “booked in” by advising the Club Secretary prior to their visit. On completion of three visits they will be asked either to join the Club or not attend again.
FLYING RULES
1. General Points– The DHMFC adopts the Safety Code published in the BMFA Members Handbook. DHMFC Members must read and adopt this code in order to prevent accidents and possible prosecution. The two Air Navigation Orders (ANO) below constitute part of UK Law governing the flying of aircraft, including models, and form the basis of the Safety Code and the DHMFC rules
  - Article 74 states – ‘A person shall not recklessly or negligently cause or permit an aircraft to endanger any person or property’
  - Article 73 states – ‘A person shall not recklessly or negligently act in a manner likely to endanger an aircraft, or any person therein’.

If found guilty of breaking these orders, a model flyer may be prosecuted under criminal law.

Permitted Flying Times– At the Redburrow Lane site flying is permitted on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Friday between 09.00h to 21.00h, except Sunday when flying ceases at 18.00h. (Flying ceases at dusk if earlier).
Frequency Control– Flying is only permitted on the 27Mhz, 35Mhz and 2.4Ghz bands. Transmitters must only be powered in the on the flight line or pit areas.
1. If using the 27Mhz band:
  Users should use the appropriate coloured pennant and liaise with other 27Mhz users to achieve frequency control.
2. If using the 35Mhz band:
  Frequency control pegs are provided. No transmitter may be switched on without the correct frequency peg being clipped to the transmitter aerial.
  The peg should be returned to the peg box after a flight. Pennants denoting the frequency of operation must be displayed on all transmitter aerials at all times.
  Flying frequencies must use the frequncy numbers 55 to 90. Helicopters for hovering away from the fixed wing flyers must operate within frequency numbers 81 to 85. Fixed wing flyers that may fly near to the hovering helicopters should avoid these frequencies.
3. If using the 2.4 GHz band a black pennant should be used.

See rule 3.2

Noise Control – The noise level of all aircraft will be limited to a level of 82 db but allowing a reading of 84 db from the front only (prop noise).
A maximum of five aircraft (including gliders and helicopters) is allowed in the air at any one time. Fixed-wing pilots must stand together while flying and be between the cones supplied for this purpose.
Aircraft Construction and Flying– All aircraft must be soundly constructed and flown to comply with Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), BMFA, DHMFC and landowner requirements.
Safe Flying– No member may fly any model solo unless in possession of a BMFA “A” certificate for the type of model being flown (fixed wing/glider,helicopter,multirotor). No member who has held an “A” certificate for less than 4 months.may instruct others unless this dispensation has been given by the Committee.
Flying behind and over the pits area is strictly prohibited. Models must not be taxied out of or into the pits area. Wheel or carry your model well clear of the pits before commencing taxying and stop the model and its engine well clear when taxying back.
Low flying over the strip is prohibited during the take off, landing and retrieval of models. The pilot walking onto the strip must ensure other flyers are made aware by calling the start and end of these phases and he/she must clear the strip quickly.
The flying of aircraft fitted with PCM receivers (and PPM with “Fail Safe” facilities) is permitted only when the “Fail Safe” mode is selected and set up to close the throttle with any loss of signal or interference conditions.
When fixed-wing and helicopters are flown simultaneously, the fixed-wing fliers have choice of take off and landing directions.
At the flying field Members should be vigilant for walkers on the public footpaths and the passing of full-sized aircraft. They should alert fellow flyers and warn where not to fly while the risk is present.
A Flight Line Marshall, Safety Officer, or deputies will enforce the Club and BMFA rules, as and where necessary. Members will comply with instructions.
Special Situations– The following rules apply to the flying of certain types of model at the DHMFC flying site:
1. Models exceeding 7kg unfuelled weight can only be flown by pilots that comply with the BMFA and CAA requirements and additionally have either a BMFA “B” Certificate or an LMA Certificate of Competance.
2. The Committee must be consulted on whether a pilot can safely and legally fly amodel exceeding 20kgs unfuelled weight.
3. The Committee must be consulted on whether a pilot can safely and legally proceeed to fly a gas turbine powered model. The approval of when and if to fly such models will be made by the Committee.
4. Night flying may only proceed with the permission of The Committee and the land owner.
Flight Instruction-The Delta-Hawks MFC operates no formal instruction scheme but the Club does recognise that teaching to fly skilfully and safely is vital. Experienced Members, when they feel capable, should encourage and assist other Members to attain “A” or “B” certificate status.
Members and guests must observe a speed limit of 20mph along Redburrow Lane to comply with the landowner’s request
Members should remove all litter, debris and aircraft parts from the field. The chairs should be returned to the area near to the windsock.
No cars may be driven down the path to the flying strip.

FLYING FIELD LAYOUT
- The layout is shown in the diagram below which delineates flying from the shaded no flying zones. The “no fly” zones further include:
  1. All aircraft at all heights.
  2. Areas to infinity in the directions of the arrows shown in the shaded boxes
  3. Any where behind the chosen flight line including that area behind a line to infinity in either direction along the length of the flight line.
- The pit position and flying direction, selected on any day, will be in accordance with the BMFA safety code. The no flying zones include the area behind the pits
  1. The chosen pit position can be at A or B

FLYING FIELD LAYOUT –no fly zones are shaded

“Road cones” are provided and should be used to mark a small area on the flight line from which pilots should fly their models. They should be placed parallel to the flight line.

The flying strip is mown to produce safety zones.

It is recognised that with certain wind directions and/or a low level sun that flying from A or B may not be practical or safe. Where there are less than 5 modellers present it is acceptable to fly from a diagonal between A&B.

In these circumstances the pilot position should be marked with cones and further cones used to mark the flight line where it crosses the sides of the strip. The flight line then becomes a straight line through all of the cones. The pits area is then ONLY that triangular area behind the cones. The no fly “greyed out” areas remain as before and now include behind this temporary flight line to infinity in both directions.

LEGAL SAFEGUARDS AND CLUB CULTURE
- Club Culture– The DHMFC’s aim is to promote a safe and enjoyable environment for model flying where newcomers are assisted and experienced flyers are respected. The club rules are intended to accommodate not to penalise Members, guests and newcomers.
- Flying Other Person’s Models– Experienced flyers who test fly other Members models or give instruction which involves the flying of other Members models are advised to follow this procedure to preserve insurance cover, to provide legal protection and to avoid litigation claims:
  1. The Members should satisfy him/her self that all pertinent parts of the BMFA safety code are met in respect of the model’s construction and control equipment.
  2. The Member should not fly any model for which he/she does not have the appropriate achievement qualification.
  3. The model must be flown in accord with the BMFA and DHMFC safety requirements.
  4. The Member should disclaim any responsibility for whatever damage may occur to the model and its control equipment. This can be done verbally in front of another Member or in the form of a witnessed statement.
  5. The Member cannot disclaim responsibility for any other aspect of the flight, that remains the legal responsibility of the pilot.

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Personal Possessions– Members must ensure that insurance cover is in place for any item of value that might be stolen or damaged at the flying field.
Children and Vulnerable adults– The DHMFC aligns itself with the policies of the BMFA with regard to protecting Children and Vulnerable Adults (C&VA). This is set out in a Club Policy and Guideline Statement which is included with the Club rules, signed for by new Members. The application of the following rules will ensure Members are meeting the DHMFC requirements:
Members must ascertain that any C&VA requiring tuition is accompanied at all times by its Parent/Guardian or a Nominated Responsible Adult. A Nominated Responsible Adult is either the Parent/Guardian or, if previously registered with the club, a near relative of the C&VA (a letter detailing the clubs responsibilities to the parent/guardian is available from the Club Secretary).
1. Members can only invite a C&VA to club activities if it is accompanied at all times by its Parent/Guardian or a Nominated Responsible Adult.
2. Members can only organise parties of C&VA’s to attend club activities if each is accompanied at all times by its Parent/Guardian or Nominated Responsible Adult.
3. Members must not represent the DHMFC at any activity external to DHMFC involving C&VA’s.
4. Members must behave appropriately in the presence of C&VA’s.

Members having concerns or needing advice should consult the Club Welfare officer.