Affiliated to the BMFA Doncaster Model Flying Club Constitution and Club Rules Oct2015 www.freewebs.com/dmfc123
Page 2 Aims and Objectives Doncaster Model Flying Club BMFA Affiliated Constitution 1. To ensure safe and competent flying of model aircraft. 2. To instruct members in the safe use of flying models and the necessary standards required to guarantee the safety of members and others at all times. 3. To foster the public image of the hobby, its enjoyment and the knowledge of its techniques. Annual General Meetings, Extra-ordinary General Meetings. 4. An Annual General Meeting shall be convened on the second Wednesday in December. 5. An Extra -ordinary General Meeting may be convened, within one month, by the Secretary, upon written request by 10 members, with proposals. 6. Fifteen members are required to form a quorum, but if, after a period of 30 minutes of the time stated for the commencement of the meeting, a quorum is not present, the meeting shall be dissolved and the stated business may be dealt with on behalf of the club by the Committee. 7. Alterations to the Constitution of the club may only be made at the AGM or at an Extra-ordinary General Meeting, provided that the proposals of such alterations are carried by a majority of two thirds of the members present or a minimum of 20% of the club membership. 8. A record of the names of the members attending such meetings shall be kept. 9. Only adult members shall have the right to vote at AGM or Extra-ordinary meetings. Family membership confers one vote. Membership 10. Application and acceptance for membership shall be made to and at the discretion of the Management Committee. 11. Initial membership shall be Associate Membership and regarded as a probationary period. Qualification to full membership will be at the end of the full calendar year after joining. 12. Any member ceasing to be a member of the club, by choice or by decision of the Committee, shall have no claim upon club property or privileges of club membership. 13. A Full member shall be over the age of 18, a Junior member up to the age of 18. 14. Members who do not comply with the club s rules may be subject to expulsion from the club after due consideration by the Management Committee. 15. The committee s decision will be final. (see duties of members)
Fees 16. Membership fees recommended by the Management Committee shall be decided at AGM by a vote of those present. The annual fee shall include that amount payable to the BMFA insurance scheme, required for the current year. The BMFA insurance scheme is not operative until membership is approved by a full committee meeting and the required joining fee is accepted by the club. Flying is not permitted on the club field without insurance cover. A certificate of insurance will be issued with the membership card. A members personal BMFA insurance cover applies immediately on receipt of payment from that member. Members may not fly without insurance. 17. An annual membership fee is due and payable on the first day of January of each year and must be paid to the membership secretary, a joining fee will also be payable by new members. Members who have not paid by the due date may be assumed to be lapsed. 18. Any member who allows his / her membership to lapse for any reason will be required to seek re-election to the club as a probationary member. Management Committee 19. The management of the club shall be by a committee elected at the AGM who will exercise all acts in the furtherance of the aims and objectives of the club, which are not required to be authorised at a general meeting. 20. The Management Committee shall consist of the officers elected by the current committee: a. Chairman, Vice Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary, Safety Officer, Membership Secretary, Training Officer and a maximum of three other members. (Officers may combine duties) b. A committee vacancy arising after the AGM may be filled by proposal or co-option by the committee. c. A member will not be eligible to become an officer of the club until after a year of full membership. d. Five members will form a quorum at committee meetings. e. A member considered deficient in service to the club may be removed from the committee by a majority vote of the committee f. The Chairman will hold a casting vote. 21. The Management Committee will meet at regular intervals or may be convened within 14 days by the Secretary upon request from five members of the committee. 22. Meetings will be conducted by the Chairman or in his absence by the Vice Chairman. 23. The Secretary will inform members of meetings, record minutes of all meetings and of matters arising from such meetings. Minutes of the previous meeting shall be presented for approval and confirmation at the following meeting. Secretary will keep a current list of members. 24. The Treasurer will keep full records of monies on deposit and current expenditures and income. These records are to be available at all meetings of the committee. 25. The Treasurer will provide a current balance at the AGM for members information. Page 3
Page 4 26. Two members (not members of the committee) shall be appointed auditors. The accounts to be audited each year in November before presentation at the AGM. 27. Current Account to be held in the name of Doncaster Model Flying Club. Current Treasurer, Secretary and Chairman to be signatories to the account. Two signatures are required to validate cheques drawn on behalf of the club. 28. Deposit Account to be held in the name of Doncaster Model Flying Club and current Treasurer, Secretary and Chairman named as Trustees and signatories to the account. The approval of Committee and the three signatories are required to validate transfer of funds. 29. The accounts and minutes of the club shall be available for inspection by club members at any reasonable and convenient time. Duties of Member 30. Each new member shall (a) be given a copy of this constitution and of the Rules of the Club by email or hard copy if requested. (a copy can be downloaded of DMFC website) (b) be required to be passed off Competent to fly solo by a registered club instructor prior to flying solo (c) supply of passport size photograph, copy of the BMFA Membership card and a contact phone number so that a Bawtry Farms ID Card can be produced which must be carried at the field at all times. 31. Safety and consideration for others are the reason for the rules of the club and it is the duty of all members to observe these rules at all times. 32. Non-compliance with these rules may result in expulsion from the club. 33. These rules may be modified by the Management Committee if considered necessary. Any modification will be published in newsletters and will then become mandatory. 34. Any action, by a Member or Members, other than an infringement of these Rules, which results in a complaint to a Member of the Committee, and is thought to affect the proper conduct of the club will be considered by Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary for referral to a specific Enquiry by the Management Committee. The Enquiry will be minuted and will base a judgement on: (a) The original complaint. (b) Required written statements from offending person/s. (c) Written witness statements. In the absence of required written statements, the Committee will decide upon an appropriate action carried by a majority vote, their decision being final. Members of the Management Committee required to submit witness statements will not sit on the inquiry. 35. If any person is considered to be knowingly, wilfully or continuously breaking these rules: (a) A written warning will be issued by the committee and noted in the minutes. (b) On re-offending a written final warning will be issued by the committee and noted in the minutes. (c) A third offence will result in termination of membership. (d) Any member whose membership is terminated by the committee has the right of
Page 5 appeal to the membership at an Extra-Ordinary Meeting called by the Club Secretary with the purpose of hearing an appeal by the dismissed member. Communication to be by recorded letter and acknowledgement requested 36. This procedure is for the protection of the club and members and can be initiated by: (a) One committee member with a club member. (b) Three club members notifying the committee. Guest / Guests 37. (a) Must produce proof of current insurance before flying (b) must be informed of club rules (c) After three visits will be expected to become a club member (d) members introducing a guest will be responsible for his/her conduct Doncaster Model Flying Club Rules of the Club (additional to BMFA recommendations) Rules may be modified at any time at the discretion of the committee. Notice will be given by Letter or notification via the website. The following rules apply from 1 st January 2015 1. All models must have a mass less than 7kg and shall be flown at an altitude of less than 400 ft. 2. Flying times for IC power: Weekdays 08:00 hours - dusk : Saturdays 08:00 - Dusk : Sundays 9:00-18:00 hours. These times may be altered by the committee at any time. Electric powered models can be flown at any time but NO MODELS ARE TO BE FLOWN IN BAD LIGHT. 3. The positioning of the frequency boards (Rule 5) must indicate the direction of the flight line. All flying, whether fixed wing or rotary wing must be in front of and well clear of this line. Pilots must all stand together behind and near their frequency boards. 4. AT ALL TIMES all members MUST assume responsibility for safety on and around the field. Members are required to warn other members of safety procedures, flight patterns, take off and landing areas when and if necessary. They must also advise spectators, if present, of the safest areas from which to watch and if necessary request the moving of cars parked in inappropriate positions. 5. All members must follow any instruction issued by the Club Safety Officer. 6. Members must display a frequency board with operators name and the frequency number in use, in the designated control area used by the pilots. For 35 MHz the board must be approximately 6 by 4, orange background with white frequency numbers. For 27 MHz it must be white background and black numbers. For 2.4 GHz it must be black background and white lettering. 7. At all times members must display a pennon, showing the crystal number in use. This should be attached to the transmitter with a ribbon of the correct colour attached to the outer end of the aerial.35 MHz orange with white numbers. 27 MHz white with black numbers.
Page 6 8. Transmitters must be left switched ON at the flight line or with a responsible person, while a model is being retrieved after landing. 9. Transmitters MUST NOT be switched on within 1 mile of the flying field. 10. The flying of fixed wing and rotary wing at the same time is NOT allowed under any circumstance. 11. Models are to be suitably restrained when starting the motor or connecting the flight battery. 12. Any flying over spectators and behind the flight line is strictly forbidden. 13. Models MUST NOT be taxied in the pit area or directly to the flight line when leaving the runway. 14. Guests (Constitution 36a-d) must produce proof of current insurance before flying, or fly using a slave transmitter under the control of a member using a buddy lead. 15. Junior members must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and MUST NOT FLY ALONE. 16. No more than FIVE aircraft must be in the air at the same time (subject to Safety Officer s discretion). 17. When active farm equipment is in the adjoining fields, all models must be landed when safe to do so. Do not engage in discussions with farm machinery operators. The farm equipment must clear the area before flying recommences 18. Keep the road immediately adjacent to the Club House and parking area, clear of cars for farm vehicle access 19. Accidents involving serious damage and injury to a third party must be reported to a committee member. 20. When a full size aircraft approaches the field, all models must be brought down below 50 feet and landed if necessary. 21. D.M.F.C., B.M.F.A. and Bawtry Farms membership cards to prove membership and insurance must be carried when at the field. 22. The Management Committee reserve the right to refuse or restrict the flying of unsuitable models or of dangerous or inconsiderate flying. 23. LITTER: all rubbish including aircraft wreckage, cigarette ends, sweet papers etc. must be removed from the field. Non-compliance may result in expulsion from the club. 24. Anyone using the Club House must keep it clean at all times. None compliance could result in expulsion from the club. 25. A 10mph speed limit must be observed at all times on the approach and exit road. 26. Operating procedures for models over 7.0kg but no more than 20.0kg. (excerpt of MOU) A. Model Aircraft will be flown not above 400ft above ground level, and no more than 500m laterally from the point of departure. B. For a model not previously flown, a test flight must be completed with the permission of ATC to ensure that no primary contact is seen on Radar. C. Prior to flying the model aircraft the operator must contact RHADS ATC on 01302 625642 confirming they are going to commence flying. The operator will provide ATC with a contact name and mobile number for the Duty Controller to call in any event. A responsible non flyer must be manning the mobile to pass on any request to the model operator and confirm that the operator has complied with the request. Any change of contact number or if additional operators are flying must be communicated to ATC, ensuring ATC have the ability to contact DMFC.
D. In the event that RHADS ATC request it, the operator will land the model until ATC has cleared DMFC to resume flying. E. Once flying has been completed for the day the operator must advise ATC on 01302 625642. (full MOU is available on request) Page 7 Flying field Flying Zone Flying Field No Fly Zone Note: The no fly zone is marked by the red line behind the flying field. Flying is forward of the red line in all directions as shown by the green area. As stated (Rule 1) All models must have a mass less than 7kg and shall be flown at an altitude of less than 400 ft. As stated (Rule 20) When a full size aircraft approaches the field, all models must be brought down below 50 feet or landed if necessary.
Page 8 Committee Chairman Dave Mawhood Vice Chairman Shaun Suggitt ea Shaun Suggitt eta John Briggs Membership eta John Briggs Safety Officer Gordon Siddle Officer/Mr Fix it Jeff Curtis Training Officer Nigel yett Field Officer Gordon Siddle Event o-o ator Shaun Suggitt Web Editor John Briggs Officer Nigel Registered Club r or Dave ton Shaun Suggitt Nigel yett Trevor Lazenby Glenn Sykes Club Nigel yet Trevor Lazenby or on BMFA tel. 0116 244 0028