Hill Country Aeromodelers

Please read the Field Safety Rules below and agree to follow them by selecting the checkbox and clicking Agree.

Hill Country Aeromodelers Club Flying and Safety Rules (HCAM FSR)

Version 2020.01 (Effective May 3, 2020)

Preface
This document provides the guidelines and rules necessary to establish a safe flying environment. Safety is every member’s business and members are encouraged to politely point out any safety problems to other club members. The rc pilot conducting flight operations at HCAM field has personal responsibility for full compliance with these rules during all flight operations at the field. The HCAM Board of Directors and Officers have the final responsibility for the enforcement of these flying and safety rules.

General
All AMA safety rules and Mary Moore Searight Municipal Park Rules apply and cannot be waived on a temporary or permanent basis. RC pilots flying at HCAM field are personally responsible for compliance with all of the AMA National Model Aircraft Safety Code and it’s associated documents in the AMA Safety Handbook.

1. Pilot Qualifications and HCAM Club Membership Requirements

A. AMA Requirements:

All pilots flying at the field must be current full members of AMA.

B. Pilot Requirements:

To fly at HCAM facilities you must be a soloed pilot or a student pilot under the direct supervision of an authorized soloed pilot or club flight instructor. A student pilot may not conduct any flight or moving ground operations except when under the direct supervision as specified

i Student pilots and solo requirements:

All student pilots must be under the supervision of a soloed pilot while flying. Experienced HCAM soloed pilots may request authorization from any instructor or Director to instruct students on their own aircraft or the student’s aircraft. Only the Safety Coordinator and authorized HCAM instructors may use club owned aircraft.

ii To solo:
All student pilots will be required to demonstrate basic flight skills and the understanding of AMA and Club Flying and Safety rules (FSR) and procedures to the satisfaction of an HCAM Instructor.

iii Experienced Pilots joining HCAM:

New HCAM members who have already soloed elsewhere must review the HCAM FSR and may be asked to have a check flight by a HCAM member to demonstrate basic flying proficiency before flying solo at the field.

iv Visiting Pilots:

Visiting members may fly here on a limited, infrequent basis as a guest of a specific HCAM member. The HCAM member who is acting as host is responsible for the guest’s compliance with HCAM FSR. The guest may only fly during the time the host is present. Before flying the guest must be in possession of their current AMA membership card.
2. Flying Hours:

Flying will not commence before 9:00 A.M. Monday thru Saturday and not before 11:00 A.M. on Sundays and National Holidays. Flight restriction times do not apply to “nearly silent” aircraft typified by electric planes, power gliders, drones or sailplanes.

3. Authorized Aircraft:

Only radio controlled and control line aircraft are authorized to fly at this field. Turbine Jets are not permitted due to AMA standards, the size of the field, the surrounding apartments, and the fire potential in the case of a crash.

4. Sailplanes

May be electric-powered, aero-towed, piggybacked or hand-launched. Short, bungee-style catapult launching equipment must be approved by a club officer and may not obstruct the runway or landing areas. No other launching method is allowed; specifically no winch or “high-start” launch system that is commonly left on the field after launch and may present an obstacle to aircraft landing or taking off.

5. Pilot ID/Membership Cards _ Frequency Control:

A Pilot ID / Membership Cards:

The current city park lease arrangements places the responsibility on HCAM to ensure that all pilots flying at the HCAM field on Park Property have are current AMA full membership.

All Pilots must have their AMA card and HCAM card on their person while conducting flight
operations, it is strongly recommended that the pilot display his/her HCAM card on their
person.

B Frequency Control:

Any authorized rc pilot using other than 2.4Ghz, is solely responsible for checking with all other pilots at the field to avoid frequency interference.

6. Noise Abatement:

With recent new housing and apartment encroachment to the existing HCAM flying field, aircraft
noise has the potential for community noise issue complaints. Each rc pilot is encouraged to attempt
to minimize the potential for complaints by minimizing the noise signature of their aircraft through
various methods (enhanced mufflers, propeller size/pitch, location and duration of full throttle passes
and 3D hovering operations). The Board members have the discretion of conducting decibel testing
on any aircraft being flown at HCAM field to ensure compliance with the City of Austin noise
ordinance.

7. Flight line Pit Control:

A Parking of aircraft is permitted on either side of the pit area. No taxing is permitted in the pit area.
B Power must be cut-off at the yellow strip cut-off line when entering the pit area.
C All engines must be started in the starting area (wooden starting stands) in the grass area between the pits and the taxiway or on the taxiway’s runway side of the cutoff line.
D Taxiing is permitted from the grass starting areas or on the taxiways between the
starting stands and the safety fence.
E As a courtesy, engine break-ins and extended throttle run-up testing should be
conducted at the farthest end of the pits area away from any pilots on the field and
spectators.

8 Battery Charging Operations and Battery Disposal

The rc pilot will be solely responsible for knowing and taking appropriate safety measures
in the proper storage, handling, charging/discharging of all their batteries as well as
disposal of damaged batteries at the field. There is a fire risk if batteries are improperly left
on the counter or dumped into the trash cans or dumpster.

9 Fight Operations:

A Pattern Direction:

The current wind direction determines right or left traffic patterns. Take off into the
wind and land into the wind.

B Pilot Separation:

Pilots may fly from any of the flight stations along the flight line; however, timely communications with other pilots flying and their safety is a critical consideration. Communications between pilots will be difficult if a pilot is flying at the extreme north end of the runway while a pilot also flies from the south end.

C Building:

i No gas or glow engines are allowed to be started inside the building.
ii No flying of any aircraft is permitted inside the building.
iii Pilots may not fly from inside the building.
iv No fueling or de-fueling of any gas or glow engines is permitted in the
building.

D Best Practices:
i. The pilot must keep his or her full attention on the operation of his plane while flying and at no time do anything that would be a distraction such as using a cell phone or watching a child.
ii. Pilots are encouraged to conduct a detailed preflight inspection and to range-check their aircraft and transmitters before their flying session.
iii. Pilots should consider setting fail safe settings for their aircraft.
iv. Pilots flying electric aircraft should have a mental plan for battery fire inside the aircraft or at the crash site. HCAM field grass and surrounding Cedar trees are a potential fire hazard during long, hot summer months.
v. Pilots are responsible for picking up and properly disposing of all crash debris.
vi. The AMA requires any rc pilot using FPV devices while flying to have a dedicated observer in close proximity for voice communications and the observer must have visual line of sight (VLOS) of the aircraft being flown at all times.
vii. It is strongly recommended that the first aid box at the field be opened before flight operations begin. The last club member leaving the field must re-lock the first aid kit.
viii. Any time there are field mowing operations on-going, absolutely no flight operations will take place until the rc pilot(s) have coordinated activities with the mowing crew to ensure everyone’s safety. The mowing crews are normally very accommodating unless there is a specific deadline to have the field mowed for an upcoming event.
ix. It is highly recommended that all pilots while flying have a spotter
standing next to them, to not only watch for other models but also to
watch for any full scale aircraft operating in close proximity to our field.

E Taking off and Landings –

i. Take-offs and landings should never endanger another pilot flying.

ii. The current wind direction determines right or left traffic patterns. Take off into
the wind, and land into the wind. If there are light, or changing winds, fly the
same pattern direction as the other pilots flying with you. All pilots airborne
should be flying the same pattern direction.

ii. Take-offs and landings should be done on the paved runway or the grass runway east of the paved runway. If utilizing grass between runway and safety fence for glider landings, particular care should be taken with regards to other pilots due to their close proximity. Remember, pilots are watching their aircraft not yours.

iii. Aircraft may be hand launched from behind the safety fence or, if permission is received from currently flying pilots, from an area east of the safety fence. Flying pilots should be notified of the impending hand launch.

F Number of Aircraft:

Generally, a maximum of six (6) aircraft will be in the air at any time. There may be
occasional exceptions such as a “combat streamer” event where six or more pilots are in very close proximity to each other.

G Flight Boundaries:

i. At no time should pilots fly aircraft over any portion of the apartment
complexes or the park road bordering the field.

ii All flying shall be east of the pilot’s safety fence with the exception of the
multi-use area. If more than one pilot is at the flight line, 3D or other low
level aerobatics or stationary flight must be moved to the grass area to free
the runway for landings/taking offs and avoiding close-in distractions to other
pilots.
iii Rotary aircraft and drones are not allowed to taxi, hover or fly west of the
flight line fence except in the designated multi-use flight area.
iv. There are two red flags at north end of field in tree line clearly visible from the flying stations. These flags represent the maximum distance aircraft should fly to the north in order to avoid over-flying the park road. Pilots should conduct all flight operations to the south of these two flags and turn “inside” both flags when turning south. The Park road cannot be overflown.

H Flight line Communications:

When other pilots are present at the flight stations, pilots should courteously notify each other with phrases such as:

i Coming Out (When approaching the runway for takeoff).
ii Taking- Off (before take-off roll)
iii Landing (on approach, prior to landing)
iv Touch and Go
v Low Pass
vi Dead Stick
vii On the Runway (When crossing the runway—Coordinate this!)
viii Hand Launch

I Joining other pilots while flying:

Pilots are encouraged to courteously join existing flights of similar types of aircraft.
For example, avoid mixing 3D or helicopters with high speed aircraft or big birds as
it is potentially hazardous. Avoid dominating the airspace by continuously flying one
type of aircraft, take turns. Remember, pilots are predominately watching and
concentrating on their own aircraft in flight.

J Flight-line pilot stations:

Cement flight-line stations are to be used ONLY by pilots, instructors, students-in-training, and/or safety observers.

10 Special emergency procedures:

In the event anyone is on the field or an emergency is declared or called out, ALL other pilots shall assume a safe altitude and avoid the emergency area.

11 Spectators:

A Spectators are not allowed inside the pits chain link fence unless escorted and
supervised by a club member. Anyone escorting spectators inside the fence is
responsible for the spectator’s behavior & compliance with club rules.

It is recommended that the chain link fence gates be closed during all flight operations.

B Member’s children, grandchildren, youth guests and Pets:

Children are not allowed on the flight line unless they are soloed pilots or receiving flight instruction from an authorized pilot. Other children and pets are not allowed on the flight line and must be supervised by a responsible adult when inside the pits fence. The adult shall be responsible for the behavior of their child or animal while at the field.

12 Field Entrance Gate:

The last club member to leave the field must ensure that all
visiting pilots and spectators have departed, and that the first aid box, electrical circuit box and entrance front gate are locked.

13 Special Events:

All special events must have the prior approval of the Board of Directors. If any non-AMA club Flying and Safety Rule (FSR) is an obstruction to holding the event, the Contest Director or the Board of Directors may temporarily suspend that particular rule during the event. All other rules shall remain in effect during the special event. The temporarily suspended rule shall become effective again after the event.

14 Safety Coordinator:

The goal of Safety Coordinator is to mentor, serve as a role model and educator and a promoter of safety awareness.

A Violations Reporting:
i. The Safety Coordinator or any member can report violations to the Board.
ii Violations Processing by Board:
All safety violations shall be handled in accordance with the HCAM Bylaws Article IX – Flying Field Safety Rules, Grievances, and Disciplinary Actions. If the Board of Directors finds the safety violation serious enough, as part of their safety obligations, they have the authority to suspend flying privileges for any member or guest flyer for the day if the Board Member(s) believes safety may be compromised.
15 Accident Reporting:
The HCAM Safety Coordinator has accident reporting requirements to AMA. Any HCAM member or visiting pilot that has a flying aircraft accident must report the accident to the HCAM Safety Coordinator immediately when:
A The aircraft crashes into the surrounding apartment/housing complexes, park road
or school property adjacent to HCAM field.

B There is property damage.
C There are injuries or loss of life concerning people or animals.
D There is some other significant, serious event not specified above.

These revised club Flying and Safety rules were discussed and presented to the club Board of Directors/Officers and formally adopted by the Board in a teleconference* board meeting vote held Sunday, May 3, 2020 at 1pm. (*Teleconference Board meeting necessary due to Covid 19 pandemic and social distancing requirements.)

/S/ Bobby Yount
BOBBY YOUNT
PRESIDENT, HILL COUNTRY AEROMODELERS

/S/Richard Frysinger
RICHARD FRYSINGER
CLUB SECRETARY, HILL COUNTRY AEROMODELERS