Public Fields

[Dean Pappas]

Hi Richard,
As I first read your note, I thought that there must be a dozen different flavors
of working arrangement with public entities, when it comes to flying fields. As we
are seeing from the responses, that is so. 

I've got another flavor.
Washington's Crossing State Park in Jersey has provided the local club with a lovely site,
and an excellent working relationship. But ... they have limited our membership to fifty "active"
members and with their blessing we have instituted a 92 dB at 3-meters rule.
This is to limit our noise impact, and is combined with meaninful flying hours restrictions.
There are no night-flys at this field! In mid-summer, there is still a 45-minutes of sunlight
left at curfew time. Still, our waiting list is very long! We maintain and administer the field
at our own expense. The most the park does is run a brush-hog through the non-wooded far
reaches of our overfly, whenever they think of it. Being right on the border with Pennsylvania,
we have a percentage limit as to how many members may be from out of state. That's a bit of a shame.
Oh yes, at the bottom of the hill, just a 1/4 mile away is the very spot where Washington
landed his boats and launched the battle of Trenton.

Regards,
	Dean P.

-----Original Message-----
From: Richard Lindberg [mailto:rclindberg at comcast.net]
Sent: Thursday, December 11, 2003 9:43 AM
To: NSRCA List
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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