PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE NO. 5: VIGILANT FLYING

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE NO 5-AUGUST 2010

There is a video circulating on the web regarding a collision between a full scale aircraft and a giant scale model.  I hesitate to recommend that you search out this video, because of the language may be objectionable to some.  However, the incident deserves our consideration because it is the first documented incidence of such a collision (as far as I know) and is no doubt receiving the full attention of the FAA. Since I cannot recommend the video, I thought I would summarize what I took away after viewing it:

A rather large model meet was being held at an air field which was apparently had not been completely closed to full scale traffic. It appeared that coordination between full scale and model flying was being done by a meet official using a hand held radio.  The model was in 3-D flight over the runway and very close to the pilot and perhaps others. The full scale aircraft, a bipe, appears to have aborted a landing attempt and collided with the hovering model over the runway at low altitude on the runway centerline. Debris from the model can be seen pelting down the runway. Luckily, no one on the ground appeared to suffer injury and the bipe landed safely.

What does this all mean to us, other than interesting reading?

                1. The current on-going FAA interests in regulating model flying as part of the National Airspace System will be further encouraged. The recent closure of our field due to the Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) issued in conjunction with President Obama’s visit to Seattle indicates we are already considered, absent any formal rule making, to be under U.S. Government/FAA jurisdiction.

                2. The obvious fact is that operation of full scale aircraft and model aircraft in the same airspace can and will produce conflicts. We have low flying float planes over our field, and therefore the potential for conflict exists. I have observed the float planes on occasion to be lower than necessary, in my judgment. In these cases, the altitudes at which we fly could result in a collision, so we must be vigilant.

What can we do to reduce the risk?

1. The use of spotters can help as well as vocal alerts from the pits when a full scale aircraft is sighted.

2. Be sure that you are aware of the full scale activity around the field and get down to a lower altitude if there is any chance of conflict.

This is yet another subject which we must deal with successfully as part of the process of protecting our privilege to fly at Marymoor. Once again, it is up to us.

Jack