SPARKS Club and Field Rules

August 8, 2003

Administrative

1. Parking Permits should be affixed to your vehicle window, facing away from the shed/pit area, identifying you as a SPARKS member while flying.

2. SPARKS R/C Club nametag must be worn on your person to identify you as a SPARKS member at all times when flying or attending any event at the field. Because our field is "open" with no security gate, this rule will be enforced. All members should have nametags, if not, you can order a new nametag from your club treasurer. There is no cost for the badges to current members in good standing.

3. Guests: SPARKS allows guests of club members to fly at our site three times (meaning three separate days). A guest is defined as an adult flying a model aircraft without the use of a "buddy" box or aid from the SPARKS club member. Family members over the age of 17 are considered guests. The guest flyer must have a current AMA membership before being allowed to fly with a SPARKS club member in attendance. There are no exceptions to this rule. A temporary membership is available for $100.00 which is good for six months.

4. Late Payment of club dues: Yearly club dues may be paid at anytime between April 1st and June 30th of the current year. Dues not received before the close of the July club meeting may be subject to penalties stated in the club bylaws.

5. Work days: A regular member will be required participate in work days (typically 2 per year). Members who fail show up on workdays may be assessed $25 per occurrence. Failure to pay within 30 days is automatic expulsion from the club.

Safety

1. All members certify that they will fly their models in compliance with all requirements specified in AMA Required Safety Standards currently in place.

2. Flying any type of aircraft is not permitted while mowing is in progress. Due to rain, it is not always possible to mow on the scheduled days. The mowers have priority .

3. All transmitters will be placed in the transmitter impound rack unless the corresponding channel pin is in your possession. Anyone causing an aircraft to crash due to turning on a transmitter without the proper pin will be liable to pay for the aircraft. If you don't understand this ask your instructor to explain..

4. All flying is restricted to the area east of the flight line, forward of the North/South runway pilot stations and away from the pit area. This no-fly zone extends upward infintely and extends out to the tree line to the north and to the south fo the pilot stations. If in doubt, never fly overhead or behind you.This is to prevent over flight of the homes and buildings located due East of our site and over flight of the shelter and flight line. Over flight of the flight line is strictly prohibited.

5. Due to possible radio frequency interference and flight safety, no more than five aircraft are allowed in the air at the same time. All pilots must remain in the safety fence pilot station area while flying and when landing. Call out loud and clear "ON THE FIELD" when retrieving your aircraft from the runway if you cannot taxi back to your pilot station.

6. No taxiing back to the shelter area. Stop your engine and bring your aircraft back to the shelter area. You may taxi your aircraft from the shelter area to the runway as long as you do not taxi unrestrained aircraft in the pit area behind the flight stations, but use extreme caution while doing so. We don't want any taxing aircraft striking a pilot flying his aircraft, possibly causing serious injury.

7. All ignition engines (gas) must have an emergency manual shut off switch, while glow engines are required to have a low idle shut down.

8. We discourage flying alone. Accidents do happen and should you require medical attention, it may be difficult to get assistance if you are alone. We have a medical kit in the silver box by the frequency pin cage. The keys are to the silver box are located in the lower left side of the frequency pin cage.

Field Courtesy and Conduct

1. Glider pilots are not required to stay in one of the five pilot stations but are required to come to the flight line to announce their intention before launching. They may then move to the area south of the pit area during the flight. When ready to land they must come back to the flight line and announce their intention to land.

2. All engines run at the field must be equipped with a muffler. Excessive loud engine tuning and engine break-in is not allowed in the pits. This should be done in the area to the south of the pits unless this area is occupied by glider pilots. Engine break-in is discouraged on weekends.

3. Flying times: For many reasons, the club recognizes a long standing consensus that fixed wing aircraft have flying priority before 1:00pm, and helicopters have flying priority after 1:00pm. Should you wish to fly a helicopter in the morning, or a plane in the afternoon, please ask the other pilots at the field and follow their protocol if they say yes.

RC Flight Instruction

1. RC Flight instruction is restricted to currently designated SPARKS Club intructors on weekends and holidays.

2. The AMA strictly prohibits RC flight instruction to non-AMA members (even if they are immediate family) unless you are an offically recognized AMA Intro Pilot sponsored by SPARKS.