Club Rules...
GeneralHambelton-Helis welcomes all safe and responsible helicopter pilots to its friendly and relaxed club. The hobby is of course potentially dangerous and therefore it is vital that rules are established for the safety of modellers and the general public.
All club members must be members of the BMFA and as such will receive from the BMFA a comprehensive booklet providing guidance on how you can participate in this growing hobby in a safe and responsible manner.
It is the responsibility of all club members, and guests, to ensure they have a copy of, and abide by, the requirements as detailed in the BMFA Members' Handbook.
Additional Hambelton-Helis club rules are further detailed below :-
MembershipClub membership season runs from January through to December.
Membership fee for a season is £30. For members who join with less than 6 months of the season remaining, the fee is £15. Fees should be paid, in cash, to the Club Secretary within the first month of every season. A receipt will be provided.
You must also present, with your payment, a valid BMFA certificate of insurance/membership card, for validation by the club Secretary.
To improve club flying safety, you will be requested to select a frequency to fly on which is not currently being used at the club. You are responsible for purchasing the necessary crystals for your models.
Club Guests
Guests are very much welcome at Hambelton-Helis.
It is the responsibility of the club member to ensure that their guest is fully briefed of the rules for flying at Hambelton-Helis. There is no fee for flying as a guest of a club member, however, you must present a valid BMFA certificate of insurance/membership card, for validation by a club Committee member.
Insurance
You must hold a valid BMFA certificate of insurance/membership card to fly at Hambleton-Helis (which can also be gained through Hambleton-Helis). Your insurance/membership card should be brought with you when you wish to fly and be available for inspection by a club Committee member when requested.
New starters wishing to try out the hobby can do so under Hambleton-Helis club indemnity. This provision is only valid where flights are being totally supervised by a Committee member. The limit on the indemnity is 3 days.
Incident/Accident Reporting
You must report all accidents/incidents that may result in a claim on the policy promptly. Contact should be made with both the BMFA, as per the BMFA Members' Handbook, and additionally you must report the accident/incident to a club Committee member within 24 hours.
Site Safety
The club Safety Officer is :-
Matt Ward - matt@hambleton-helis.co.uk - 07790 771287
It is the responsibility of all club members, and guests, to ensure they have a copy of, and abide by, the requirements as detailed in the BMFA Members' Handbook.
A club member, or guest, shall not recklessly or negligentlycause or permit their model to endanger any persons or property.
A club member, or guest, shall not recklessly or negligently act in a manner likely to endanger an aircraft, or any persons therein.
No models are to be spooled up or flown within the pits area.
Models are started and carried to the take off area which is considered to be any area greater than 15m from the pits area.
The helicopter is then flown away from the pits area to a point outside of the dead zone.
A dead zone 'no flying area ' exists which is considered to be any area within a 30m radius of the pits area. No flying is allowed whatsoever in this dead zone.
Never fly your model between yourself or spectators in the pits area, especially when landing.
Never fly over members of the public who may be in the vicinity.
Model Safety
You are responsible for ensuring that your model is airworthy. You must carry out the following checks at the flying site :-
Undertake a range check before your first flight.
Pre - flight checks of your model - mechanical and electrical checks.
Post flight checks of your model, particularly after a heavy landing.
If you have any doubts whatsoever regarding the operation of your model DO NOT FLY.