Members

Flying Times:

Tuesday - Friday: 09:00 to 19:00

Saturday - Sunday: 09:00 to 15:00

No flying Mondays, except Bank Holiday Mondays when flying is permitted from 09:00 to 19:00. Flying is not permitted on the Wednesday of a Bank Holiday week - see Diary page.

Radio Frequencies:

35Mhz

Fixed Wing: Channels 55 to 76 Helicopter: Channels 78 to 90

Channel 77 is designated as a dead band channel

35MHz transmitters must display an orange ribbon approximately three inches by two inches with one inch minimum height black or white numerals indicating the frequency in use.

2.4Ghz

May be used for both fixed wing and helicopter

2.4GHz transmitters must display a black ribbon. These systems automatically seek free frequencies before transmitting and, therefore, do not strictly require formal frequency control. The Club, however, still requires disciplined use of the pegboard (See section below)

Frequency Board

The Club uses a "peg on" system for frequency control. The board has each 35MHz channel marked with its own clip. To use a frequency pilots must clip their membership card in the appropriate place. When a frequency is finished with the card should be removed to allow another flyer access. Users of 2.4GHz systems must clip their membership card to a free peg in the 2.4GHz area of the board.

Useful information for new/trainee flyers:

Up and Away - The BMFA booklet for new flyers. Please read this; it will help make sense of what your Instructor is saying! This link takes you to the BMFA website to download the book.

The "A" test schedule - This is what you are trying to achieve.

Test standards for Examiners and guidance for Candidates - Detailed explanation of what is required when attempting the "A" test. This link takes you to the BMFA website.

Mobile Phones

At the Club Meeting on June 6, 2005 it was agreed that we comply with the BMFA guidelines on mobile phones. This means that, effective immediately, no active mobile phones should be in the pits or on the square -- fixed wing and helicopter. Please turn off your phones as you approach the squares. If you want to use your phone you must walk at least 10 feet away from the square. For those members or guests who wish to leave their phones on to receive incoming calls we have erected phone pigeon holes near each square.

The BMFA Safety Bulletin is repeated below:

USE OF MOBILE TELEPHONES IN PROXIMITY TO ELECTRONICALLY PROGRAMMED TRANSMITTERS

The JRCUC has reported there may be a problem associated with operating mobile telephones in the close proximity of programmable transmitters causing the memories to be partly or fully erased. This problem has yet to be scientifically substantiated; however, it is generally known that RF radiation can disable or permanently damage some modern electronic devices.

Although the risk may be small, we believe it should be minimised by bringing it to the attention of members and clubs. Pending resolution, we recommend that mobile telephones are not switched on within 10 feet of any programmable transmitter. This may appear to be overkill, but better safe than sorry. Care should be taken during pre-flight checks to ensure that all controls are operating fully and in their correct sense and to ensure that the memory has not been affected by any undetected or unknown transmissions since the last flight.