Handbook
1. Introduction to the Association
1.1 SMAE and BMFA
1.2 Organisation
1.3 Objectives
1.4 BMFA Areas
1.5 Relations with the General Public
1.6 The Contest Scene
1.7 National and International Status
1.8 The Outreach Initiative
1.9 Codes of Practice and Achievement Schemes
1.10 Contests and Records
2.1 BMFA & BDF Membership
2.2 Country Members
2.3 Family Membership
2.4 Fellowship and Honorary Membership
2.5 Membership Period
2.6 Competition Entry
2.7 Fees and Benefits
3.1 Affiliated Club Membership
3.2 Schools and Youth Groups
4.1 General Meetings
4.2 Voting Rights at General Meetings
4.3 Voting Rights in Postal Ballots
5.1 Liability Insurance
5.2 Indemnity Limits
5.3 Conditions
5.4 Incident Reporting
5.5 Operative Dates
5.6 Certificates
5.7 Product Liability
5.8 MoD Indemnity
5.9 BMFA Register of Commercial Traders
5.10 Personal Accident Insurance
5.11 Travel Policy
5.12 Club Equipment
6.1 Flying Site Negotiations
6.2 The BMFA Club Support Officer
6.3 Club Assets and Grant Applications
7. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy
7.1 Our Commitment
7.2 The Policy
7.3 Appropriate behaviour
7.4 Promoting and Communicating Equality & Diversity
8. Legal Controls over Model Flying
8.1 The Air Navigation Order
8.2 Regulation (EU) 2019/947
8.3 Article 16
8.4 Mandatory Model Flying Insurance
8.5 Planning Permission Considerations
8.6 Byelaws
8.7 Noise
8.8 The Department of the Environment Noise Code
9. BMFA Guidelines and Safety Codes for Model Flying
9.1 Regulation (EU) 2019/947
9.2 Introduction to the safety codes
9.3 Respect the Environment
9.4 Mixed Sites
9.5 Military Low Flying
9.6 Your Fitness to Fly
9.7 The Effects of Alcohol
10. Guide to the Safe Operation of Model Aircraft
10.1 Club Information
10.2 The Safety Marshall
10.3 The Club Safety Officer
10.4 Using your Flying Site
10.5 Operating in close proximity to railway lines
11. R/C Power Flying Site Layouts
11.1 Introduction
11.2 Layout
11.3 Flight Patterns
11.4 Notes
12. Learning to Fly Radio Control
12.1 The benefit of joining a club
12.2 Simulators and Simulator Leads
13.1 General Safety
13.2 A Safer Flying Field - S.W.E.E.T.S.
13.3 Radio Control Flying Safety
13.4 Pre Session Checks
13.5 Checks Before Each Flight - S.M.A.R.T.
13.6 Checks After Each Flight
14. Safety Advice for Specific Model Types
14.1 Almost Ready To Fly Models
14.2 Ultralight R/C Models
14.3 Helicopters
14.4 Multi Rotors
14.5 R/C Silent Flight – General
14.6 Thermal Soaring
14.7 Slope Soaring
14.8 Electroflight
14.9 Control Line
14.10 Free Flight
14.11 Indoor Free Flight
14.12 Indoor Radio Control
14.13 ‘Large’ Models Between 7.5 kg and 25 kg
14.14 ‘Large’ Power Fixed Wing
14.15 ‘Large’ Helicopters
14.16 ‘Large’ Gliders, Slope and Thermal
14.17 Models Over 25 kg
14.18 Space Models
14.19 Gas Turbines
14.20 First Person View R/C Flying
14.21 Round the Pole
16. Mandatory Occurrence Reporting
16.1 Mandatory reporting to AAIB and CAA
16.2 Mandatory reporting to the CAA
16.3 General
16.4 General Flying
16.5 Contact Details
16.6 Public Events
17. The Radio Control Achievement Schemes
18.1 Members of the Board
18.2 Dates of Meetings
18.3 Sub-Committees
18.4 Proposals to Council
19. The Competition Rule Books
19.1 The BMFA Rule Books
19.2 The FAI Sporting Code
20. BMFA News, Websites and Social Media
20.1 BMFA News
20.2 BMFA Websites
20.3 BMFA Facebook Page
20.4 BMFA on Instagram
20.5 BMFA YouTube Channel
Annex A
1.1 Organisation
1.2 BMFA Display Permits
1.3 Control Line Aircraft
1.4 Radio Controlled Aircraft
1.5 Spectator and Parking Areas
1.6 Planning and Conduct of Model Flying Displays
1.7 The Club Fly-In, Small Display or Open Day
2. Advice for Display Organisers
2.1 Initial Planning
2.2 Legal Obligations and Considerations
2.3 Roles and Responsibilities
2.4 Flying Display Director
2.5 Flight Line Director
2.6 Flight Line Marshal
2.7 Scrutineers
2.8 Flight Line Helpers
2.9 Other Flight Line Personnel
2.10 Commentators
2.11 Insurance
2.12 Location and Site
2.13 The Pilots – to B or not to B
2.14 Pilot’s Helpers
2.15 Display Teams
2.16 Transmitter Matters
2.17 The Models
2.18 Over 25Kg Aircraft
2.19 Turbines
2.20 Helicopters
2.21 Full Size Considerations
2.22 Preparation, Paperwork and Risk Assessment
2.23 On the Day
2.24 Pilots Briefing
2.25 Weather Factors
2.26 Running the Show
2.27 Incidents and Accidents
2.28 Disciplinary Measures
2.29 Night Flying Measures
2.30 Out of Hours Flying
2.31 Special Effects/Pyrotechnics
2.32 Additional Considerations
2.33 The De-brief
2.34 PR and the Press
2.35 In Summary
Annexes
A Display Checklist
B Pilots Briefing Template
C Serious Incident Management
D Incident Announcement Template
E Debrief Template
F Useful Contact Details
G Submitting a NOTAM
Annex B
1.1 Carbon, Boron
1.2 Kevlar Fibres
1.3 Cyanoacrylate glues (superglues)
1.4 Epoxy and Polyester resins
1.5 Methanol
1.6 Petrol
1.7 Smoke
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Aerials
3.3 Batteries
3.4 Ni-Cd Batteries
3.5 Ni-Mh Batteries
3.6 Low Self Discharge Ni-Mh Batts
3.7 Lithium Batteries
3.8 Battery Isolator Switches
3.9 Becs / Ubecs / Receiver Batteries
3.10 Black Wire Corrosion
3.11 Crystals
3.12 Failsafes
3.13 Frequency Identification
3.14 Mix and Match Tx and Rx
3.15 Mobile Phones
3.16 Module Equipped Transmitters
3.17 Neckstraps
3.18 Pacemakers
3.19 Servos
3.20 Switches and Wiring
3.21 Telemetry
3.22 Transmitter and receiver issues
4. Radio Control and Your Club
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Cellphone Masts and Microwaves
4.3 35 MHz Transmitter Interaction Problems
4.4 Frequency Control at Club Sites
4.5 Pegboard Recommendations
4.6 35 MHz Synthesised Frequency Equipment
4.7 35 MHz Frequency Allocation at Club Sites
4.8 Lone Flyers
5.1 Individual Cases
5.2 Club Cases
6. Introduction to the DoE Noise Code
6.1 Introduction
6.2 BMFA Advice on the Noise Test
6.3 Helicopter Noise Testing
6.4 Gas Turbines and Electric Models
7. Radio Control Technical Information
7.1 Official Radio Control Frequencies
7.2 The 27 MHz Band
7.3 The 35 MHz Band
7.4 The 40 MHz Band
7.5 The 49 MHz Band
7.6 The 433 MHz and 434 MHz Bands
7.7 The 459 MHz Band
7.8 The 900 MHz Band
7.9 The 2.4GHz Band
7.10 The 5.8 GHz Band
7.11 72 MHz Equipment
7.12 R/C Equipment Type Approval
7.13 Synthesised Frequency Equipment
7.14 Grey Imports
7.15 R/C Licenses
