The Fly Zone is our approved flight envelope for our field.. that is, where we can and cannot fly.  There are several aspects to the approval of the flight envelope for our club procedures required for the commencement of flight for each session;

  • Height (CASA Approval)
  • Footprint (Council Approval)
  • Duty Officer (DO) is appointed for the day
  • Any member of the public must not be endangered by our aircraft.  The public have right of way and should only be informed of the danger to them in a polite manner.

Fly Zone Footprint

Maintaining a strict fly and no fly zone is critical in sustaining the respect and support of our community and the safety to other users of the park.

For this reason there is a strict zone where aircraft have been permitted to fly.  Aircraft must always stay within the permitted zone.

If you are unable to control your aircraft within the limits of the Fly Zone then do not fly.

Breaches of the no fly zone can mean the cancellation of your club membership.

Height

The following is an extract from the CASA Flight Approval certification for our club;

Approval
This Instrument approves an area for operation of model aircraft up to 1000FT Above Ground Level (AGL).

Model aircraft are not to be flown:

  1. Above 1000FT Above Ground Level (AGL); and
  2. Not within 30m of people; and
  3. Over a populous areas; and
  4. Into cloud or fog

During operations above 400FT AGL, the pilot must appoint a observer / spotter who is responsible for:

  1. Maintaining a visual lookout to identify any manned aircraft that may operate in the vicinity of the site; and
  2. Upon identifying that a manned aircraft is operating in the vicinity of the site, ensure that all Model aircraft are operated below 400FT AGL until the manned aircraft has departed the site vicinity or immediately instructed to land if required.

Duty Officer

A Duty Officer has been appointed = OK to fly

The Duty Officer (DO) is appointed at each flight session and is indicated on a portable ‘A Frame’ which is placed at the entrance to the Pilot Area at the beginning of each session.

The Duty Officer (DO) is the responsible person entrusted with the safety of all aspects of club flying. Members must follow the direction of the duty officer without argument.  Due to the DO’s focus on safety, flying is not permitted until a Duty Officer has accepted their role and placed their name on the Duty Officer A Frame Board.

The responsibilities of the DO are listed under Position Descriptions heading in the Members Resource page.

In summary the responsibilities are;

A Duty Officer has not been appointed = Flying not permitted
  • Pilots are not connecting their aircraft batteries outside the coned area.
  • Pilots Taxi for take-off safely.
  • Pilots inform other pilots of your intention to take off and land or if there are people on the field
  • Pilots do not operate their aircraft closer than 30 meters to any other person.
  • Pilots maintain their aircraft within the Fly Zone
  • Pilots maintain their aircraft withing height restrictions
  • The DO A Frame is erected on the field in full view of all pilots
  • A name card is placed in the DO A Frame