The BMFA Chairman, Chris Moynihan and Chief Executive, David Phipps will both be present on the day.

Transcription

1 BMFAFreeflight tech committee news. Issue 77 All correspondence re this news to the FFTC Secretary: Chris Strachan, 56 Way Lane, Waterbeach, Cambridge, CB25 9NQ. The FFTC met at the Leicester office on 6 January ADDRESSES Please ensure that the address on the FFTC mailing list is your current address and the one you regularly use. To add or amend your address please notify Ken Faux at ken.faux@btinternet.com FUTURE OF FREE FLIGHT MEETING IMPORTANT REMINDER The Free Flight Technical Committee is holding a conference on the Future of Free Flight at Husbands Bosworth airfield, the headquarters of the Coventry gliding club located about 10 miles South East of Leicester, on January 31st The address is Husbands Bosworth Airfield, Lutterworth, LE17 6JJ. Recent changes in the requirements for military land use will have radical implications on its future use for Free Flight. These changes may also impact on civilian land use. The details of these changes and their impact on Free Flight will be explained at the meeting. The huge impact of mass market Drones have also raised awareness of unmanned aircraft to airspace authorities all around the World. For the current BMFA position on Drones please see below. The FFTC realises that these changes will alter the way that Free Flight is organised and operated and is evolving a plan to ensure the continuance of Free Flight in the UK. The BMFA Chairman, Chris Moynihan and Chief Executive, David Phipps will both be present on the day. At the conference the FFTC will outline some thoughts it has put together for consideration. The FFTC wants input from as many members as possible from the free flight community with respect to this future planning. If you have thoughts and ideas be there and make your voice heard.

2 For more details and to book your place at the conference (there is no charge to attend but we need to know numbers for catering reasons - if you have not registered do not expect food to be provided) contact the FFTC Chairman Mike Woodhouse at MichaelWoodhouse1942@g or CONFERENCE AGENDA 10:00 10:15 Mike Woodhouse -Welcome and outline 10:15 11:00 Presentations Chris Strachan History and context Dave Phipps The BMFA perspective Trevor Grey Future possibilities 11:00 11:15 Coffee and comfort break 11:15-12:30 Presentations Phil Ball Current models and adaptation John Carter Organisation of activities Ken Faux The FAI paradox John Jacomb Space modelling and sponsorship Mike Woodhouse Summary of key points 12:30 13:30 Lunch 14:00 15:30 General discussion Forum of all presenters taking questions and giving feed back. 15:30 15:45 Closing Mike Woodhouse - Summary and thank you. Note that the timings are not absolute and we may need to flex as circumstances dictate. We will ensure that we cover all aspects and give all a chance to input their thoughts and ideas. DRONES There has been considerable discussion over recent days regarding the effect on model flying of recent EASA proposals for the regulation of 'drones'. From the BMFA perspective, the situation as it stands is that the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued some draft regulations for consultation in August which outlined their thoughts on the regulation of unmanned aircraft. The requirement for this had clearly arisen due to the surge in the use of multi-rotor

3 aircraft (drones) by both leisure and commercial users. A meeting was called by Europe Air Sports (EAS) to discuss the draft EASA regulations and this took place in Cologne in early September. BMFA CEO Dave Phipps attended this meeting both as 'Aeromodelling Adviser' to EAS, but also as the UK representative. A response to the draft was submitted on behalf of all model flyers within Europe, essentially arguing that model flying should not be subject to any additional regulation and should instead be left to each European Member State to regulate (as per the current situation). The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) also submitted a response to the draft EASA regulations which was also very supportive of the existing arrangements for model flyers. Dave Phipps also submitted a response directly from the BMFA to re-state the case. In total, the consultation received 3400 comments from 250 different contributors. The EASA Technical Opinion on the results of the consultation was issued just before Christmas and has taken into consideration the long and excellent safety record established by model flying throughout Europe with a clearly stated intention to 'develop rules which will not affect model aircraft flying'. In addition, model flyers operating under the umbrella of model flying associations will benefit from 'grandfather rights' for their existing arrangements. It is also proposed that the regulation of model flying will remain within the Member States, so in our case it will remain with the CAA who are supportive of model flying. As such, we don't envisage any major changes as a result of the EASA proposals which are unlikely to be implemented until 2017/18 regardless. We understand that the UK Government will be conducting its own public consultation on 'drone' operations later this year. We will again take steps to ensure that BMFA Members are well represented, but depending on what transpires, we may at that point call for the direct input of members. This issue will be covered in greater detail in the next issue of the BMFA NEWS which will be posted out to members at the beginning of February. However, in the interim please be assured that the BMFA is very much involved in on-going discussions and we are doing all that we can to preserve the established rights of model flyers in the UK with the support of the CAA. CONTEST CALENDAR This is the current calendar V2a. It supersedes all previous versions. There are only minor changes from V2; these being typographical errors. BMFA FREE FLIGHT AND SPACE CALENDAR 2016 Publication Ver. V2a

4 Please note that Space events appear on this calendar as they are the responsibility of the FFTC. They are not part of the Overall British Free Flight Championship Please also note that ONLY Team Selection events are subject to postponement due to unsuitable weather DATE COMPETITION & VENUE CLASSES/TROPHIES (N.B. Non British FF Championship events are shown in Bold Italic) PROVISIONAL CONTACT 14 February 1st Area. 6 March 2nd Area. 25 March Northern Gala. (Good Friday) North Luffenham 10 April 3rd Area. 17 April 1st F1E (Team Melton 23/24 April London Gala. Salisbury Plain. 24 April 1st Space Meeting. Salisbury Plain. 30 April/1 May 1st Team Selection. Salisbury Plain. 14 May 2nd F1E (Team Near Melton 15 May 4th Area. F1A(SMAE), F1G(Plugge), C/P (White), E36(Plugge), Mini Vintage(Plugge). F1H, P30(Plugge), F1J(Plugge), BMFA 1/2A, CE(Plugge), HLG-CLG. C/G (CMA), C/R (Caton), B/P (Hamley); [Club Champs], C/E, SLOP (Falcons), F1H, P30, BMFA 1/2A, Mini-Vintage, HLG-CLG. Vint' G(Plugge), C/R (Gamage), F1C (Halfax/Plugge), F1Q, HLG-CLG (Plugge). 23rd: C/G, C/R, C/P, C/E, P30, CO2. 24th: F1H, F1G, F1J, BMFA1/2A, Mini Vintage, E30, HLG-CLG. G.Warburton Mobile: T.Grey S1, S3, S4, S5, S6, S7, S9 F1A, F1B, F1C. N.B Pre-entry only, for 1st & 2nd Team Selection, prior to 16th April. Plus on May 1 (Sun) Classic Glider, SLOP, Mini Vintage. C/G, F1B(Gutteridge), C/P Team (Keil/Plugge),Vint R/P(Plugge), Mini Vintage, E30(Plugge). Phil Ball phil.ball@ntlworld.com Mobile:

5 28/29 May Space National Championships and 1st Space Team Trials. Barkston Heath. 28/29/30 May National Championships. Barkston Heath. 12 June 3rd F1E (Team Near Melton 26 Jun 5th Area. 24 July 6th Area. 30/31July East Anglian Gala. Sculthorpe. 31 July 3rd Space Meeting & 2nd Team Trials, Sculthorpe. S1, S3, S4, S5, S6, S7, S8E/P, S9, S11 28th: B/G (Thurston), B/R (Model Aircraft), B/P (Shelley), B/E, E36, Tailless (Lady Shelley), Women s BG/BR/BP (SAA), Junior BG/BR/BP (Frog Junior), CLG. 29th: F1A (Ronytube), F1B (Fred Boxall), F1C (Eddie Cosh), F1Q(Astral), Vintage R/P (Jubilee), SLOP (Peter Harris), HLG (Nats), P30, Novice Glider & Rubber (J) (junior kit glider & junior kit rubber), Bowden. 30th: F1H (BA), F1G (308), F1J(Quickstart), BMFA1/2A(Hales), Mini-Vintage (Weston), CO2 (Sparklets), E30, Vintage Glider, Classic R/P, Classic Glider. Plus Junior and overall category championships. Also Non Championship: FF Scale, Lulu/Golden Wings and SAM 35 events. Mike Woodhouse, phone: , SMC Trophy. Mob: F1H(Plugge), F1G, F1J, E36, BMFA 1/2A Power (Plugge), CO2 (Plugge). F1A(KMAA/Plugge), P30, Vint R/P, F1Q(Plugge), SLOP, Tailless(Plugge). 30th: B/R, Vint R/P, Classic Glider, E36, Tailless, HLG-CLG, P30. Michael Marshall: st: B/G, B/P, C/E, Vint G, Classic R/P, Mini Vintage, CO2, Bowden. hiver666@aol.com S1, S3, S4, S5, S6, S7, S8E/P, S9.

6 14 August 4th F1E (Team Near Melton 20 August Southern Gala. Salisbury Plain 3/4 Sept 2nd Team Selection. Sculthorpe. 11 Sept 7th Area. C/G (Pilcher), C/R (Flight), C/P (Short), B/E, F1H (Ripmax), F1G, F1J, BMFA1/2A, E30, HLG/CLG. F1A, F1B, F1C. N.B Pre-entry only, for 1st & 2nd Team Selection prior to 16th April. Plus on Sept 4 (Sun) Vint' Glider, Classic R/P, P30. Classic Glider (Plugge), C/R Team (Farrow s/plugge), F1C(Buskell), C/E, Classic R/P (Plugge), HLG-CLG. Mob : Dave Greaves Phil Ball phil.ball@ntlworld.com 24 Sept Stonehange Cup. Salisbury Plain. 25 Sept Equinox Cup. Salisbury Plain. 25 Sept 4th Space Meeting & Team Trials Reserve, Salisbury Plain 1 October 5th F1E (Team Near. Melton 2 October 6th F1E (Team Near. Melton 8/9 October Team Selection (Reserve Date). Salisbury Plain 16 October 8th Area. F1A, F1B, F1C/P, F1Q. World Cup Free Flight events. F1A, F1B, F1C/P, F1Q. World Cup Free Flight events. J.Carter J.Carter S1, S3, S4, S5, S6, S7, S8E/P, S9. F1A, F1B, F1C. N.B Pre-entry only, for 1st & 2nd Team Selection, prior to 16th April. CG Team(M Engineer/Plugge), F1B(Duce/Plugge), SLOP(Frog Senior/Plugge), Mini Vintage, E30. Mobile: Mob : Phil Ball phil.ball@ntlworld.com 22/23 October 7th F1E (Team (Non Team

7 (May be either or both days, ring contact before travelling.) 29 October 29 October Selection Reserve Date). Near Sheffield, or Melton Midland Gala. North Luffenham. 5th Space Meeting. North Luffenham. Selection if date not needed) Mob : F1H, F1G, F1J, BMFA1/2A, E36, P30, SLOP, Mini Vintage, HLG-CLG. Phil Ball phil.ball@ntlworld.com S1, S3, S4, S5, S6, S7, S CAL PUB V2a SEASON TICKET - REMINDER The cost of the Season Ticket for 2016 has been set at 50. It represents great value covering entry fees to all contests on the Calendar apart from the Nationals. It includes both open internationals, the two trials events, centralised and area centralised contests. If you buy one the only other contest fees remaining will be the Site Access Charge for Area Centralised contests (if applicable) and the Nationals. To purchase a season ticket for 2016 please write to John Carter at:- La Petite Maison, 45 Grindley Lane, Meir Heath, Stoke on Trent Staffs, ST3 7LN Please send John your BMFA membership number, name and address, a cheque for 50, your mobile and home telephone numbers. Please also include a stamped addressed envelope for the return of the card. John will have some Season Tickets available at the Future of Free Flight. SITE ACCESS CHARGE FOR SALISBURY PLAIN The Site Access Charge of 5 shall be paid by everyone entered to fly at Area Centralised competitions at Salisbury Plain even if you hold a Trimming Season Ticket. This is due to the licence for the competition days being charged separately based on

8 the number of entries. If you hold a Salisbury Plain Season Ticket you can still trim on those days at no additional cost. FREE FLIGHT NATIONALS The Free Flight Nationals will take place on 28/29/30 May at RAF Barkston Heath, the final clearance was granted two days after the FFTC meeting. There will be some building works on the eastern edge of airfield that we will have to take into consideration with our competitions. This may result in us having to amend the max to avoid landing in the Contractors Compound Area and could even lead to flying being postponed or cancelled if circumstances demand that action. Without an alternative suitable venue we have to accept these limitations. The August Nationals has already been cancelled, we are fortunate to have use of the site at all, so please be considerate to the organisers during the event, they will do their absolute best to provide a meaningful competition. It is imperative that we all act responsibly to avoid losing this site for future Free Flight Nationals. The situation is acute and extremely fragile. TEAM SELECTION FOR 2016 FF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS FOR JUNIORS - REMINDER The Championships this year is to be held in Prilep (Former Yugoslavia Rep. of Macedonia) between 1 7 Aug Team selection will be based on the results of juniors in F1a, F1b and F1p (to be flown alongside F1c) at the Nationals. The BMFA and the FFTC are very keen on sending a Junior Team to the World Championships so if you are interested or know of a junior that may be interested they will receive all the support and encouragement they require. This could include supply of models to fly at the Championships. Alan Jack has once again offered and been appointed the Team Manager for the Championships. Alan would like to discuss the wonderful experience of competing at these events with any interested juniors or their parents. Please contact Alan at alan.jack@newcastle.ac.uk SALISBURY PLAIN Free Flight Trimming and Sport flying on Salisbury Plain Area 8 will be available for most weekends in 2016, from February to mid December.

9 To use this great site on the available days all users must be in possession of a current permit and fully comply with its requirements. An application form to obtain a permit is available from the BMFA office, with the conditions of use attached. This must be completed and returned with the fee before a permit will be issued. The cost will be 15. Note that this permit is for Trimming and Sport flying only. Those participating in Contests will be required to pay the normal site access fee (see Entry Fees above) even if they hold a Salisbury Plain Permit. NORTHERN AREA VENUE The Northern Area has nominated a new venue to fly Area Centralised events. There is a limitation of 25 people on the site at any time so if you are interested in using this venue you must contact Joe Northrop before the event. Joe will provide location details and confirm that you can be accommodated on the day. Joe s address is - joenorthrop@g INSURANCE COVER WHEN FLYING IN COMPETITIONS ABROAD The BMFA Personal Injury Insurance cover can be extended to include when you are competing in official competitions abroad. For details of the cover that can be provided please contact the BMFA office or look at the following page on the website.