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I did the following research a year or so ago when the club I was flying at, about 30 miles from me, was thinking about having a sailplane contest...didn't happen though. I now fly at a farmer's private grass strip that is closer. What worried me about the airport is once when I was praticing I had landed to refuel. All of a sudden some guy in a Lancair came down the centerline at about 50ft doing 200 knots. I never even heard him coming until he was on me. NOTAMS only help if they are checked. I know what the FAR's say about them but I'm a pilot and I never checked them when I was just going to go out and smash bugs on a local flight. <BR>
The closing of the public airport isn't a choice the city has. If the airport has accepted federal funds they are legally forbidden from closing the airport to general aviation for a non full size aviation event. <BR>
All this being said I believe it can be done successfully. I know Todd has held his contest on airport property for many years and look how close Site 4 at Muncie is to the full size airport.<BR>
Good luck!<BR>
JLK<BR><BR>> Subject: Flying models at an active airport<BR>> Date: Mon, 11 Dec 2006 19:08:37 -0600<BR>> <BR>> Here is what I found out:<BR>> <BR>> R/C flying at Ft Madison is noted in the "Airport & Facilities Directory".<BR>> It is not mandatory that a pilot check this publication before flying in to <BR>> Ft Madison nor will it be mentioned by the Flight Service Station briefer.<BR>> <BR>> Our 3 letter identifier for the airport is FSW. Runways are 8/26, grass, <BR>> 1200ft in length and 16/34, paved, 4,002 ft in length. To remind Mark the <BR>> runway number is the compass heading rounded up or down to the nearest 10 <BR>> degrees so 8/26 is compass heading 080 in one direction and 260 in the <BR>> opposite direction.<BR>> <BR>> What is the FAA's policy on models flying at an active airport?<BR>> 1- If the responsible parties (airport manager, airport commission, city <BR>> council, etc) says it's OK then it's OK with the FAA.<BR>> 2- If the responsible parties (airport manager, airport commission, city <BR>> council, etc) says it's not OK then it's not OK with the FAA and you can't <BR>> fly.<BR>> <BR>> What is the AMA's policy?<BR>> 1- they would like all "tenants" be informed of the activity and be made <BR>> aware of the rules and procedures that are followed by the model flyers. <BR>> Tenants means folks that rent hangars, the FBO, the line boys, anyone that <BR>> is involved in any activity at the airport.<BR>> 2- They would like to see the use of spotters, an aircraft frequency radio <BR>> present and monitored, all model planes landed immediately when a full size <BR>> plane is operating...that is taking off or landing.<BR>> The above from the AMA is recommended and not mandatory.<BR>> <BR>> What do we do if we want to have a fly-in, contest or other activity that <BR>> would require we close 8/26?<BR>> It would be wise to issue a NOTAM (Notices to Airmen). This is for <BR>> temporary occurrences or events in or around the airport...such as airport <BR>> construction, Navaid's being out of service and yes, unusual model airplane <BR>> activity.<BR>> In http://www.faa.gov/ATpubs/AIM/Chap2/aim0203.html#2-3-6, Chapter 2, part <BR>> 3-6 of the Airman Information Manual under "Other Markings", "Temporarily <BR>> Closed Runways and Taxiways" no specific dimension or even requirement is <BR>> noted.<BR>> So, as far as "X"ing the runway it doesn't look like we are required to do <BR>> it unless the airport decides or we decide we need it.<BR>> There is no known case of a model colliding with a full size aircraft except <BR>> for an RC plane that hit the Goodyear blimp in 1989. There have been a lot <BR>> of rumors and third hand stories but no recorded incident...ever! This <BR>> according to the AMA's FAA liaison.<BR>> <BR>> Hope this helps.<BR>> Let me know if I can check on anything further or you have any questions <BR>> about the above.<BR>> JLK<BR>> <BR>> _________________________________________________________________<BR>> View Athlete’s Collections with Live Search <BR>> http://sportmaps.live.com/index.html?source=hmemailtaglinenov06&FORM=MGAC01<BR>> <BR><BR></body>
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