Guidelines

We'd prefer not to call them rules, but experience has taught us that if the following guidelines are stuck to by all members, visitors and guests we will all have a good time and enjoy our hobby.

Field Access

A few simple rules apply;
Drive on the track at all times! Don't take detour's cross country please.
Keep your vehicle speed down to 20 Kph MAX please.
Fire Ban: the field will be closed for the duration of total fire ban declarations within the ACT.
Extended rainy conditions: In extremely wet conditions the access gate will be locked. This is to protect the access track as it can deteriorate very quickly in poor conditions.

Noise
The new BMAC field is noise sensitive and requires that ALL models are noise checked before flying them. BMAC members are required to fill in the noise and structural form that is signed by another club member. Visitors are asked to have their models noise checked before flying.
The required noise limit is 96db at 3 meters. You will find this is easily obtainable by most current motor/prop combinations.

Safety in the Pits

We all need to conscious of safety in every aspect of our hobby, but it is perhaps in the pits that we should be extra vigilant as many accidents occur when starting and tuning our models.
Before anything.. confirm that your transmitter key is in the keyboard. If there are other flyers on your frequency, identify them and make yourself known to them. Share the slot with consideration. NEVER remove another flyers key from the board, even if you know that they are not flying. ALWAYS ask them politely if the slot is free and ask them to remove their key so you can fly.
Check and recheck your throttle position before starting. Modern well behaved motors will spring to life very quickly and if your throttle is set wide open (maybe you had a dead-stick landing previously and forgot to reduce throttle?) there is a good chance that your motor will go from stopped to flat-out in seconds... a potentially dangerous event if you are not ready for it...
Is your model adequately restrained before starting? It is a BMAC policy that a mechanical restraint be used. It can be as simple as a secured rope around the tail or use a restraint from the club house. Perhaps the best type of model restraint is a friendly hand. Having a fellow flyer hanging onto your model with both hands leaves you free to concentrate on starting the motor safely.
Don't run your motor full-chat in the pits. The danger of a blade flying off is very real and no-one wants to be in the vicinity of a 5 inch razor sharp plastic dagger spinning through the air at high speed. The most likely time for a prop to shed a blade is the first time your start the motor after an 'arrival' and the stress of a high speed run is when it will occur. Standard practice is to start your model in the pits with your model restrained and if you need to tune the motor, move out of the pits toward the flight line and point the nose of your model away from people. Tune there. (ps: some flyers are in the habit of holding their model nose-high while tuning, not a great idea as the danger band has just increased from the plane of your prop to 360 degrees around you!)
NEVER taxi your model in the pits. ALWAYS carry or roll it into and out of the pits area.

Flight Line Etiquette
The secret to a harmonious time on the flight line is simple. Communicate with your fellow pilots and everyone will know what is happening!
Before approaching the strip stop and use your eyes and ears. Do you know where all the currently airborne models are and what they are doing? It's the model that you haven't seen that is going to catch you unawares! Also, if someone is on landing approach or has maybe gone dead-stick they are not going to appreciate your barging in.

Before your model gets onto the strip (either by taxiing or by hand) announce your intentions to the other pilots on the flight line. Call "Take Off - Ok?", then wait until you have received acknowledgement from all before proceeding.
While flying, stand in the pilot’s box. It is designed so that all pilots are close together so they can communicate while flying and as protection from stray planes.
If you feel the need to fly low, let people know before you come buzzing past. A call of 'Low, left to right' (etc) will let your fellow pilots know what to expect and will give them a chance to clear the air (or to say 'Hang on!') before you come through.
A clear 'Landing' or 'Touch and Go' call will also let people know what to expect and to give you space.
A pilot who has called 'Landing' has right of way. No other aircraft should be in the vicinity of the strip while a landing is being conducted.
Similarly, if a pilot calls 'Dead Stick' they have immediate rights to the strip. Other airborne models should clear the strip area immediately.
Before venturing onto the strip to retrieve your model, again, call clearly and receive acknowledgement from other pilots. Make sure they understand you (or an assistant) is about to go onto the strip before leaving the pilots position.