Public Fields

[Gray E Fowler]

Richard,

I was  Pres of the Richarson Radio CC for three years. We have a field 
that Collin county decided should be developed into a model airplane 
flying site. They approach my club to develop and manage the site using a 
20 year virtually no cost lease. They expecte dus to develop this empty 
field including shelters and a paved runway. All the county did was supply 
the land and install a road ($20K).
So we had to submit plans, get them approved by the county and manage the 
field, including acess, safety etc.  Problems quickly arose when we were 
supposed to allow anyone with an AMA  membership access. This was the rule 
when we had our previous field also leased by the county. It is impossible 
to manage the site as the county wanted, that is be "responsible" when we 
had non club members who had no regard for rules and regulations or club 
repercussions flying unsupervised at the site.  AFter investing in excess 
of $30K at teh site, we had people flying there for over a year who were 
not and never were going to be club members. Included in this group were 
1/3 scale 106 db planes, 6:00 am iceholes trying to beat the Texas heat, 
flying "sideways" over houses (at 6 am) to avoid the sun, and a crowd with 
no investment nor any regard for the club.   So we introduced into the 
club rules a guest policy and put the word out that unlimited non club 
member flying would not be tolerated, but a person could fly 5 times a 
year as a guest. This allowed anyone seriously considering joining the 
club lots of opportunity to check the field out and allowed pattern dudes 
like Wayne Gallligan to drive up from his place (1 hour drive) and fly 
with us. In a period of 2 months all the  freeloaders disappeared with 
only minor grumbling-and from me that was fine!
I also was adament in meeting with teh county that for our club to be in 
control and manage the site, we had to be the authority on who flys and 
who does not. Surprisingly after detailing the above situation the county 
100% agreed, which was a 180 degree turn around or in our case ...a split 
S.  I actually have had more grief for club member old guys who cannot 
seem to understand that the rule has changed. I think my club's ability to 
get this control came from the fact that we had a good, solid story 
coupled with the desire of the county to have an open flying field "under 
control" without any county people having to control or manage it. So now 
the field is open...under limited circumstances, and the county only need 
to deal with the far and few complaints generated by those pesky things we 
call "neighbors".  Two people who complained violently for a year about 
the planes. Club abatement included overfly zone education AND  installing 
a 101db noise rule that eliminated the 108db main culprit plane....No 
complaints in about a year now...it setlled down after the planes got 
reasonably quite. Even if there is an accidental overfly...the neighbors 
do not hear it.



Gray Fowler
Principal Chemical Engineer
Composites Engineering




"Richard Lindberg" <rclindberg at comcast.net>
Sent by: discussion-request at nsrca.org
12/11/2003 08:42 AM
Please respond to discussion

 
        To:     "NSRCA List" <discussion at nsrca.org>
        cc: 
        Subject:        Public Fields


Perhaps those of you that fly at publicly owned fields (city, county, 
etc.)
could answer a few questions I have concerning administration, maintenance 
and
safety at such facilities.

Does the city/county allow anyone to use the facility, regardless of club 
or
other (e.g., AMA) affiliation?  Who sets the safety rules?  How are they
enforced?

If a club uses that field as their 'home' field, what is the relationship 
with
the city/county?  Does the club rent or lease the facility?  Typical cost? 
 As
before, who sets the safety rules, and who enforces?  Does the club 
restrict
usage, and if so, how?

If a club 'controls' the field, who is responsible for the maintenance?
Insurance?

Can you make a comparison with 'private' clubs and their facilities?

TIA

Richard


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