Field Rules
1. By joining this flying club or using the facilities of this club you automatically waive all rights to any claims you may have against this club, the Executive Committee or the farm owner and their staff for any responsibility for any damage or injuries caused by the flying or operating of model aircraft at this field.
2. No member shall be allowed to fly on his own without having qualified at least for an Elementary Flying Certificate i.e. proficiency of at least “Fixed Wing Solo”. Any TMFC pilot who has not attained the required “SACAA approved ARO” “Fixed Wing Solo” proficiency will be required to fly with a qualified instructor or TMFC member with such (or higher) proficiency and on the same mode.
3. No pilot shall consume alcohol prior to or during his flying any aircraft.
4. No pilot should be alone on the field and fly on his own without someone present to assist or if so, the members will be informed on the “TMFC Members Only” WhatsApp group both when arriving and when leaving the airfield.
5. A safety officer is appointed when there are 2 or more members on the field, typically the most senior pilot, in years of experience (not age), will take the responsibility. This can be decided on the day from any of the members. Safety officers: Everyone is a safety officer and therefore your own responsibility.
6. Pilots who still use the transmitters with approved FM/AM frequency bands, must use the pegboard to identify their frequency spot on the board.
7. To qualify to fly at the Tygerberg Model Flying Club, any visiting pilot must provide proof of their “SACAA approved ARO” membership including proficiency of at least “Fixed Wing Solo” and pay the landing fees by scanning the QR code on the notice board. The pilot is then considered to be a member of the TMFC for the day. Any visitor who has not attained the required “SACAA approved ARO” “Fixed Wing Solo” proficiency will be required to fly with a qualified instructor or TMFC member with such proficiency and on the same mode in order to be covered by the “SACAA approved ARO” insurance. Visitors using transmitters with approved FM/AM frequency bands, must use the pegboard to identify their frequency spot on the board, unless they use a 2.4GHz transmitter.
8. No children or any other unauthorized person shall be allowed into the pit area, or on or near the runways at any time. No children shall be allowed in the clubhouse without proper supervision.
9. No pets shall be allowed outside vehicles at any time.
10. Under no circumstances are vehicles of any kind allowed to drive up to or on any of the Club’s runways.
11. A committee member or senior club member will designate the active runway and direction and will be indicated by the runway arrow located close to the flagpole. In the event of a change in the predominant wind direction, pilots can petition for a runway change. Once general consensus is reached, the arrow will be moved to indicate the new active runway and the direction to take-off and land. Pilots already in the air will be notified of the change.
12. No pilot shall start his motor within the covered pit area. Aircraft must be started at the designated starting areas. No fuelling is allowed in the pit area which must be done at the starting areas provided. Pilots using electric motor configuration aircraft must always have a throttle-cut switch active on their transmitters and only arm or test run their electric motors on the runway or the designated starting blocks. When working/setting up an electric model in the pit area the prop must be removed before connecting the battery or in the case of a EDF jet, the model must be restrained by a fellow pilot.
13. All pilots shall take care that their aircraft exhausts do not blow towards any other person, aircraft or equipment in or around the pit area.
14.No pilot shall taxi an aircraft in or near the pit or pilot’s area. Pilots are required to cut their engines before exiting the runway after landing.
15. No aircraft is allowed to take off from the grass areas, taxiways and or any other areas other than the designated runways. Hand-launch aircraft are to be launched from an area to be determined by a committee member or senior club member. The prevailing wind direction will determine this area. Hand-launch aircraft are to be launched away from pilot and spectator areas.
16. A pilot approaching the runway prior to take-off shall, at a distance of approximately 3 meters from the runway ensure that there is no aircraft coming in for a landing.
17. No pilot shall stand on or near the runway except during take-off or landing. Otherwise, all pilots shall stand inside the designated pilots’ area.
18.Prior to take-off or landing the pilot shall call all other pilots to his intention to take-off or landing.
19. When three or more aircraft are airborne, all pilots will fly in a circuit direction mutually agreed upon between the active pilots. All manoeuvres outside the general pattern must be timeously called out so that the other pilots can take appropriate action.
20. A pilot who desires to execute a fast or slow low pass shall call “low pass” and shall then execute such low pass only on the furthest side of the indicated flight line.
21. No pilot shall fly his aircraft at any time over or around the clubhouse, pit area, spectator’s area or car park.
22. Any pilot who suffers engine failure or any other emergency, shall call “dead stick” and will be given immediate priority over all other aircraft in the air or on or near the runway at that time.
23. Peg time for a single flight shall be limited to 20 minutes. Peg time shall include any preparation for a single flight and the duration of such a flight (excluding 2.4 GHz).
24. All transmitters capable of a “FAILSAFE”-feature must be configured to bring the aircraft’s engine to a slow idle or complete cut in the event of interference, signal loss, or similar malfunction.
25. All gas (petrol) engines are required to have an electronic engine cut-off module fitted which can be operated by a switch on the transmitter. All electrical & glow fuel power planes must have a throttle cut programmed.
26. Turbine powered aircraft may only be flown at the TMFC if accompanied by the necessary firefighting equipment and with prior clearance from the TMFC committee. Turbine powered aircraft may only be flown by a pilot who has a “SACAA approved ARO” proficiency for turbines.
27. It shall be the duty of all members of TMFC to ensure that all Field Rules be obeyed. A pilot may be grounded by the persons referred to in clause 13(g) of the Constitution.
28. There shall be at least one TMFC member present at the field when there is a visiting pilot. The TMFC member is responsible to lock up after leaving, therefore the visiting pilot will have to leave with him/her.
29. The access gate must be closed and secured at all times, as well as locked when leaving.
30. A visiting pilot will be allowed to fly without paying a landing fee for three times, thereafter he/she will have to become a member or pay appropriate landing fee.