TVSF Safety

FROM TVSF HANDBOOK

2.2 SAFETY AND FLYING DISCIPLINE

The latest BMFA Handbook is our primary reference for safety and flying discipline at TVSF. Although some parts may seem irrelevant to silent and electric flight we do not live in a vacuum and a general knowledge and understanding of other disciplines, for example when attending aero-tow meetings, is strongly recommended.
Safe flying must be our prime consideration; the future of our hobby depends on it. Before flying think of any potential risks and plan accordingly, every time.
IF YOU DON'T THINK IT'S SAFE - DON'T DO IT
No sport flying is allowed whilst a competition is running. During competition breaks the Competition Director may permit sport flying.

Pilots should always stand together when flying to minimise radio interference and in the interests of personal safety
IGNORANCE IS NO EXCUSE.

BMFA Policy on Mobile Phones, from the 2021 BMFA Members Hand Book Annex B - Technical, page 10, is as follows

3.15 Mobile Phones
Although mobile telephones operate on frequencies far removed from our model control frequency bands they are a major addition to the increasing background radio ‘noise’ that our equipment has to filter out. In addition, there is some evidence that there may sometimes be an interaction between mobile ‘phones and microprocessor controlled transmitters.
Many mobile ‘phones transmit powerful signals regularly even when on standby and BMFA recommends that they are not taken into the pits area and especially not on to the flying area.
Many ‘phones also emit a powerful signal pulse when switching off, which is also something you may have to consider. Your radio equipment has a hard job to do filtering out background RF radiation and you could make it much worse with your mobile ‘phone.

The BMFA News Magazine - June 2022. contained an article To phone or not to phone? .This article postulated that Mobile Phones when operating in close proximity to a modern computerised RC Transmitters are capable of corrupting the stored operating program. It goes on to say that this is most likely to happen when the mobile phone receives an incoming communication which can trigger a burst of Electro Magnetic Pulses (EMP).

The TVSF Safety Policy on Mobile Phones, in line with the BMFA recommendation, is that Mobile Phones must not be taken to the flight line [unless turned off or in Flight Mode] and care should be taken to ensure mobile phones are not placed in close proximity to RC Transmitters when preparing your model for flight.

Don't forget your SWEETS

18.2 A Safer Flying Field and You (from BMFA Handbook)
When you arrive at a flying field and before you start flying, we recommend that you take a few
moments to consider the surroundings and the flights you will be making.
Think S.W.E.E.T.S.
S - Sun
W - Wind
E - Eventualities
E - Emergencies (Inc. Failsafes)
T - Transmitter Control
S - Site Rules
Sun – Where is the sun in relation to where you will be flying? Will it affect your flight patterns? What
actions will you take if you accidentally fly ‘through’ the sun? Should you be wearing sunglasses?
Remember that low sun in winter can be a particular problem.
BMFA Members’ Handbook 43 Effective August 2018
Wind – Consider the wind strength and direction. How will this affect your flights? Will you have to
modify your normal take-off and, especially, your landing patterns? From your local knowledge, will
there be any turbulence with ‘this’ wind direction and strength? And how bad might it be?
Eventualities – What will you do if you hear or see a full size aircraft or helicopter flying at low level
near the field? What if the landing area is suddenly obstructed when you are on finals to land? What
will you do if a nearby footpath or bridle path suddenly has walkers or horses on it?
Emergencies – You may have an engine cut at any part of a flight so consider where your deadstick
landings might be safely made and which ground areas you should definitely avoid. How will you warn
other field users if you have an emergency? You may also have a complete loss of signal and
therefore before every flight you should check that the failsafe is working how you expect it to.
Transmitter Control – Is the site pegboard in operation? If not, why not? Where has the pegboard
been placed? Are you familiar with the system and understand how it works?
Site Rules – Are there any specific site rules you should be aware of? Most importantly, where are
the no-fly zones or dead airspace areas on the site?
The answers to most of these questions are contained within these Safety Codes and your local Club
rules but you will be making the final decisions as to whether flights can be made safely. If conditions
are poor or a site is unsuitable remember that a decision not to fly can be both valid and sensible. We
would also recommend that you review the sections on the sun and wind throughout the day as they
obviously change over time and this may affect some of the decisions you will be making.

Mobile Phones

Don't forget your SWEETS

Or your SMART .....ies

REMEMBER THE PILOT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SAFETY