Field Layout for Pilot and Aircraft Movement

The new RAMS Field Layout has been developed by the RAMS Committee with the following objectives, to;

  1. Prevent members walking in front of armed aircraft
  2. Prevent armed aircraft to be pointing towards RAMS members or members of the public without a barrier in place
  3. Ensure the flow of arming / departing aircraft doesn’t interrupt, or intersect with, arriving/disarming aircraft.
  4. Restriction of access to the field for both the Public and RAMS Pilots that would unduly put either a pilot or a member of the public at unnecessary risk.

In developing this Field Layout for Pilot/Aircraft Movement we have taken into consideration;

  1. Addressing concerns raised (as outlined above)
  2. Comply with MAAA rulings (as best as our facility will allow)
  3. Minimise the need for any permanent holes within cricket pitch area (As we are a shared public field we are proposing the addition of only five permanent holes, all outside the cricket line boundary, with one of them at the edge of the existing cricket field line (Bottom right hand corner alongside disarming area).
  4. Restrict access to/from the field by the use of additional red cones placed on the ground

Please keep in mind what NOT to do…

We need to remind ourselves we fly scaled down remote controlled ‘lawn mowers’ and the RAMS Pilot and Aircraft Movement Procedure is our compliance with safety guidelines to ensure everyone goes home safe.  These procedures can also be found on the Flight Operations Board at the Hangar.

In particular we need to ensure pilots;

  • Use the arming and disarming areas only for their designated purposes, ie. DO NOT disarm your aircraft in the arming area
  • Ensure your battery is only connected or disconnected in these areas. A plane must NEVER be live (connected to its battery) outside of these areas.
  • Taxiing pathways have been designed specifically to avoid aircraft pointing towards pilots, members or the public.  Aircraft must only be taxied towards the disarming bay.

If we all band together and make sure we keep each other on top of these simple rules we will continue to have an enjoyable, and safe hobby, for years to come.

Thanks again for everyone’s help to keep our club members and the public safe.

The RAMS Committee