WIRCS FLYING FIELD RULES

May 2004

 1.      Whidbey Island Radio Control Society (WIRCS) members and invited guests shall operate their models in a safe manner according to the Rules and Regulations established by the Academy of Model Aeronautics, NAS Whidbey Island Instructions of the 11132.1 series and the By-Laws of WIRCS.

2.    All pilots must be current AMA or MAAC members and be members of WIRCS or the invited guest of a WIRCS member who is present at the field.  Your name must be on the roster of club members furnished to NAS Security and to NAS Operations (ODO).  The secretary will provide the lists to the navy but you must provide a picture ID number (usually driver’s license with state) to the club secretary for inclusion on the list.

3.    Before going to OLF Coupeville, you must call ODO at 360 257 2681 to check field availability.  If the field is available when you want to go there, provide ODO with your name, estimated time of arrival (ETA) and estimated time of departure (ETD) at the OLF and any other information requested.

4.    On arrival at the field, members sign in on the form within the frequency pin box.  A separate form is provided for guests.

5.    Radios will be turned on only with the appropriate frequency pin in the possession of the operator.  Frequency pins may be taken from the frequency control board by exchanging the operators current AMA or MAAC card for the desired pin.  Consideration for others using the same frequency is expected by all pilots.

6.    All aircraft will be pre-flight checked and radio range checked before flight each time the plane is brought to the field.  Club officers and instructors have the authority to ground any aircraft deemed unsafe to fly.

7.    The direction of take-off shall be established by pilot group consensus and all shall use the same direction, into the prevailing wind if possible, and always away from the pits.  All flyers shall be notified if a change of direction is deemed advisable.

    -    Take off runs shall start on the opposite side of the foul line from pilot boxes and shall always be away from the pits and spectators.  Models shall be under manual control on the pit side of the foul line.

-   "Tail Draggers" should commence take-off run upwind of pit area.

-    Touch and go landings and take-offs should be made in front of or upwind of pit area.

8.    There are two flying sites within the OLF area.  These are shown on the attached map and shall be referred to as the south site and the north site. The south site is the primary flying site.  The north site may be used when the sun is so low that flying with the plane to the west of the pilot is difficult.  Selection of the site to be used shall be by consensus of those present.

    - The pattern for the south site shall be west of the runway centerline and at no time shall intentional flight take place east of the foul line.

    - The pattern for the north site shall be east of the runway centerline and never shall intentional flight take place over SR 20.

    - Flight of rotary wing aircraft and gliders is authorized and will be conducted in areas where interference with fixed wing aircraft is unlikely. Frequency pin use is required and a spotter will be present with each pilot. Areas for flight operations on a given day shall be by agreement of those present at the site as long as no provision of these rules are violated.

9.    When more than one aircraft is to be operated simultaneously, each pilot shall be accompanied by a spotter who shall announce the pilot=s intentions and warn the pilot of any hazards.  Any pilot operating an aircraft in either the north or south flight areas shall occupy one of the four pilot boxes painted on the asphalt.

10.    Use of the main runway is not authorized except for specified events approved in writing by the Navy.

11.    All flyers are responsible for removing any and all trash, debris, or parts from Navy property, as may result from accidents, crashes, and/or any other activity related to model aviation.

12.    Full size aircraft, military or civil, have the right-of-way at 0LF Coupeville.  Models will give way to approaching or landing full size aircraft, landing models as quickly as safety will permit.

13.    Children not specifically assisting a pilot, pets and spectators must remain behind the pit area.  It is the duty of all club members to politely make this rule clear to any visitors.  The concern is for the safety of all and the well being of our equipment.

14.    When approaching the pits in a vehicle, pull onto the grass parking areas before reaching the pits to preclude the introduction of mud and debris into the pits.  Pit parking is thus attained by approaching the pits from the rear.

15.    Excessive running of engines in the pit area is distracting to flyers and inhibits voice advisory calls by pilots and spotters, such as "dead stick."   Engine tune-up or test running in excess of three minutes should be done at least 100' past the end of the pit boundary.

14.    Flying at OLF shall not start before 0900 except on Sundays when the start time shall be at 1000.

15.    Common sense and courtesy shall prevail at all times.

16.    No Smoking within the paved portion of the pit area or on the flight line.

17.    There is a yellow box containing a green and red flags visible from the road and near the control tower. The purpose of the green flag is to show Navy personnel that club members are on the field.  The first person arriving at the field shall remove the green flag and display it on the top of the box.  The last person to leave the field shall roll up the flag and return it to the box.  If there is no flying at the field, the first person aware of this shall display a red flay on top of the box and write a note on the message pad inside the box.