R/C Model Aeroplanes at Real Airfields

[Dave Homewood]

When I was at Masterton recently for a week, I was quite shocked to see that model radio control aircraft are flown within the boundary of Hood Aerodrome. In this day and age where the danger of drones at an airport is such a big issue, how can it possibly be that r/c aircraft which are much faster and in the case of many of those I personally saw being flown are much heavier than a UAV drone, I just cannot fathom it.

I talked with several local pilots. They all said that the r/c club flies there only because they always have done and have some ancient claim to the place. Yet they are apparently only meant to fly on Wednesdays and Saturdays, both days of which i saw flying, and I also witnessed r/c flying there on the Sunday. Some of the models were huge aerobatic types and were up and down all over the sky. one pilot who was operating on one of the days i was there said they're only meant to fly up to 400 feet in a small box but he was in the circuit at 600ft and saw a model above him.

All the pilots I spoke with said it is only a matter of time before a serious accident takes place. From the little that i witnessed I sadly think that is true. Given the massive expanse of flat farmland in the Wairarapa that would be perfect for R/C flying, I cannot understand how the club has not shifted elsewhere out of the airspace of the very active airfield. There are recreational, aero club, topdressing, skydiving, gliding and helicopter flights in and out all the time, not to mention TVAL's historic aeroplanes. It's not like the place sees no aerial traffic.

So why has CAA not acted here to ensure pilot and passenger safety? If there was a drone hovering around in the airspace they'd be all over it. (Incidentally there was a drone flying there o the Sunday I was there too!! I did not see it on the day but have just realised from my photos!)

And are there any other airports who also have this archaic and dangerous situation?

Modellers, I am not having a pop at you. Aero modelling is fine, just not in the same place where real aeroplanes and helicopters are operating please!

[thebrads]

May 17, 2019 15:04:19 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

When I was at Masterton recently for a week, I was quite shocked to see that model radio control aircraft are flown within the boundary of Hood Aerodrome. In this day and age where the danger of drones at an airport is such a big issue, how can it possibly be that r/c aircraft which are much faster and in the case of many of those I personally saw being flown are much heavier than a UAV drone, I just cannot fathom it.

I talked with several local pilots. They all said that the r/c club flies there only because they always have done and have some ancient claim to the place. Yet they are apparently only meant to fly on Wednesdays and Saturdays, both days of which i saw flying, and I also witnessed r/c flying there on the Sunday. Some of the models were huge aerobatic types and were up and down all over the sky. one pilot who was operating on one of the days i was there said they're only meant to fly up to 400 feet in a small box but he was in the circuit at 600ft and saw a model above him.

All the pilots I spoke with said it is only a matter of time before a serious accident takes place. From the little that i witnessed I sadly think that is true. Given the massive expanse of flat farmland in the Wairarapa that would be perfect for R/C flying, I cannot understand how the club has not shifted elsewhere out of the airspace of the very active airfield. There are recreational, aero club, topdressing, skydiving, gliding and helicopter flights in and out all the time, not to mention TVAL's historic aeroplanes. It's not like the place sees no aerial traffic.

So why has CAA not acted here to ensure pilot and passenger safety? If there was a drone hovering around in the airspace they'd be all over it. (Incidentally there was a drone flying there o the Sunday I was there too!! I did not see it on the day but have just realised from my photos!)

And are there any other airports who also have this archaic and dangerous situation?

Modellers, I am not having a pop at you. Aero modelling is fine, just not in the same place where real aeroplanes and helicopters are operating please!

There is already laws governing this.
I do not know the details of the situation at Masterton, but i would expect it complies with the law. If some people are not complying, they should be brought into line lest it have consequences.
Very simply, you need permission of, and communication with the authority controlling the airfield. This might be the tower if one exists, or notifying all and sundry if uncontrolled, e.g. by airband radio.
The model pilots also need their Wings badge issued by MFNZ.
It isn't uncommon, I know the same happens at Waharoa, Whitianga, Tokoroa, Mandeville, Whenuapai at least because I've flown at all of these under this arrangement.
I think you will find responsible model flyers will always put human lives first, and will try hard to make it work to suit all.

To put the shoe on the other foot I have personally witnessed:
GA aircraft fly directly through a model aero club's airspace, reserved to 1000ft, (marked on aerial maps to be kept clear by fullsize)
GA aircraft arrive at, and and land during the middle of a model aircraft event. Airfield was restricted at the time. When the pilot was questioned by the event organiser there and then about it, and asked if he had read the NOTAM pertaining to, he stated that "he didn't bother reading NOTAMs".
In both cases, all model flying in the area was immediately ceased until the fullsize was clear of the area.

Unfortunately, with urban sprawl and NIMBYs, model sites are getting harder to find and keep. Ironically, fullsize airfields are becoming more suitable candidates as the site is already suitable for aviation activities!

There is more than combined aero club in NZ already, where you are a member regardless of your chosen plane's scale. As GA becomes more expensive (so less pilots to support clubs) and less land available so combined clubs/sites may become more common, not less.

[lesterpk]

Off the top of my head RC clubs that fly on airfields or within very close proximity are in Auckland, Mercer, Matamata, Tokoroa, Taupo, Palmerston North, and there's bound to be more in the south.
There are rules that govern it and normally user agreements with other airfield users to avoid conflict. Also model aircraft ops are listed in the airfield charts with likely areas and heights.
To add to brads list above we've had GA and microlights land on a runway when closed by white crosses, when asked they didn't know what they meant.

[madmax]

Dave, I recall r/c aircraft operating on Hood Aerodrome when I was living there around 1970

[lumpy]

RC planes have operated out of both Omaka and Woodbourne in the past too ( not for a number of years now though )

I remember gliding from Omaka as a teenager and hearing the RC planes flying beaneath me . They were in a corner of the field not required for real aircraft , but the gliders did circuits in the other direction, so flew over the RC planes .

[Dave Homewood]

I honestly think in this day and age when authorities think drones, which generally move a lot slower and have less mass than a lot of r/c models, coupled with the "I don't give a shit about rules" attitude of so many people these days, CAA should look at this again.

There are thousands of paddocks that r/c clubs could use away from airspace. They do not need to be at an airport, there's no reason at all.

If the CAA is going to jump all over UAV drones flying at an airport, why not r/c model planes? As far as I am concerned they're exactly the same level of hazard to an aeroplane should they collide, and some will have a larger impact.

In the olden days when these clubs got the right to be there at airfields they would mostly have been flying control line and small light balsa planes; not massive, jet powered of chainsaw engine powered fast aerobatic fibreglass guided missiles. Today these models can go higher and faster than the planes of the 1950's-1970's. Some of them are faster then the actual real planes in the circuit.

Just because "it's always happened that way" does not mean these days it is still right.

And yes, so the real aircraft do bust airspace occasionally, they do that occasionally at aerodromes where there's not models too. Mistakes get made, people get distracted, people miss NOTAM's, not every pilot is ultra experienced and some are novices in training who do not really need the extra safety hazard, etc - all more reasons to reduce the risk and remove the models from the active aerodromes. The fact is if a collision happens and a life or two are lost, that will be extremely detrimental to both activities.

Just my view, as someone who is neither a pilot or a modeller but as someone who'd hate to see or be in the receiving end of a collision with a model.

[planecrazy]

There are a few RC plane flyers who hate being alotted with drone flyers,
rc plane flyers always fly when they can see their model, drones often fly
where the operator often can't see the drone.

This is a big difference, if a plane showed up when you are flying your
plane you would land, if a plane showed up near your drone you may not
even know! It can take years to learn how fly rc planes unlike a drone
from the shop to the air up and down in an afternoon, not the case with
an rc plane, well in my experience at least.

Don't get me wrong I am not condoning rc planes or drones flying when
aircraft are close just pointing out there is quite a difference!

Also a drone can just sit there you can put down the controler and walk
away, if you do this to an rc plane it will crash rc planes must be watched
and flown where as drones don't need to be!

Last year I was at Old Warden, Keth Skilling took off in a Hurricane with a
Harvard with Gavin Conroy off for a photo shoot, after their departure a
large scale rc SE5a took off across the same strip. I was so surprised this
was allowed, had a chat with the pilot, he told me rc planes and real jobs
have been co-existing at Old Warden for many years with no issues!

[johnnyfalcon]

Generally, RC enthusiasts are aircraft enthusiasts too. Often they have an awareness regarding airfield and aviation published procedures. Also, RC enthusisasts are usually flying for the sake of aviating, not unlike NORDO microlights, gliders etc - unlike the many "drone" w.....rs who do their thing for all sorts of nefarious, self-serving reasons without giving a sh.t about aviation, or others' personal privacy.

[ZacYates]

Whanganui's RC community has had a patch of turf on the airfield (the red shape I've drawn) for as long as I can remember but I'm sure has been around longer:
RC at NZWU by Zac Yates, on Flickr
(the photo is more than a decade old but there's no change that really impacts this discussion)

I've been to several open days and displays by the aeromodellers - and been fortunate to fly once or twice - and everyone is well briefed about being aware of traffic etc. As I grew up with this location I figured all Kiwi aeromodelling clubs operated from their local airfield.

From memory Hawera is another field where the RC and full-size aircraft share operating space.

[30sqnatc]

Whenuapai base orders allow for flying of model aircraft. Our air combat force is smaller than others in many ways

[Brenton]

The Far North Radio Control Club flies at the Kaikohe Airfield. Built during WW2 it's not used much these days by full sized planes however we always have at least two of us if flying. One doing the flying and the other to keep an eye out for planes etc. It's my understanding that the pilots of the real planes are keeping clear of us as well because our presence is officially noted and they should keep out of our airspace. There is also a full sized glider club based at the field often flying at the same time as us. We have never had any problems working together. We all just love flying.

[shorty]

If you really want the dinkum oil on this you should talk to Barry Lennox, he is the immediate past president of Model Flying NZ (was the NZMAA) and helped draft the rules.

[neil55]

May 18, 2019 13:21:50 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said: