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On this page you will find the following
SAFE Flying is No
Accident
SAC Aircraft
Safety Checklist
SAFE FLYING IS NO ACCIDENT
Protect your right to fly!
Everyone is hurt when a careless act ion
causes an accident. SAC’s Officiers sincerely believe
our members will react favorably and will comply with
Safety Rules if given factual information. SAC Safety &
Flying Field Etiquette will be published in the Dope Can
on a regular basis, reviewed at least once a year at
club meetings and new members will receive a copy along
with their membership card. A copy of this document will
also be kept in the pin box for reference.
Follow the Rules for safe flying.
Follow these Rules and you will save your hobby, save
your airplane and maybe save someone from serious
injury.
In situations where specific guidance is not
provided, sound judgment must prevail.
SAFETY & FIELD USE RULES
THE SAFETY OFFICER OR ANY CLUB MEMBER SHALL
HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO ENFORCE SAC SAFETY RULES. IN MOST
CASES, A SIMPLE REMINDER OF THE
RULES WILL REMEDY A SITUATION.
HOWEVER, IF A FLYER DELIBERATELY REFUSES TO COMPLY WITH
A SPECIFIC RULE, THE SAFETY OFFICER OR A CLUB MEMBER MAY
REPORT THE FACTS TO THE CLUB PRESIDENT. THE INCIDENT
SHALL THEN BECOME CLUB BUSINESS FOR DISCUSSION AT A
BOARD MEETING AND APPROPRIATE ACTION, IF ANY, WOULD BE
DETERMINED.
EMERGENCY INFORMATION:
Both sides of the pin box should be opened for access
to frequency pins, 1st aid materials and fire
extinguishers.
Ambulance service can be obtained by dialing 911 and
requesting help at "The Flying Field Located on Flossmor
Road and Central Avenue".
Local hospitals:
 
Emergency information signs are posted .
Incident report forms are kept in the box. Reporting
injuries and near misses allows us to investigate and
determine what can be done to prevent re-occurrences.
REMEMBER,
field safety is a 24/7 job. If we follow
the safety rules and practice common sense we all have
fun and a more enjoyable experience.
FLY SAFELY; INSIST
YOUR FELLOW PILOTS DO THE SAME
The official AMA Safety
Code and all Safety Rules contained in the AMA
official Model Aircraft Regulations shall be
applicable to all flying at the field.
While on the field, all flyers must have in
their possession their current AMA License, Club
Membership Card, and FCC License (if required).
Student pilots must be accompanied by a licensed
pilot until they have obtained their AMA
license.
Any club member may sponsor a guest flyer(s).
Open events involving fliers sponsored by the Club,
and guest fliers must have in their possession their
current AMA and FCC License (if required) and must
comply with all Safety & Field Use Rules.
Spectators are only allowed in the pit area or
on the flying field when escorted by a Club Member.
Children shall be allowed in the pit area only if
closely supervised. Children shall not be allowed on
or near the runway at anytime, unless they are
trained and qualified fliers. Do not allow children
to wander unescorted at anytime.
Animals must be restrained.
No flying of any sort shall be performed
from, into or over the hazard area. The hazard
area includes the pit, heliport, spectator, and
parking areas. Deliberate flight over the
pit, spectator, or parking area is prohibited.
The proper flying position is behind the high
grass (south side). Do not stand in the taxi
ways!
For an additional margin of safety, east/west
take offs, landings and flying should be done 25
feet north of the high grass barrier.
Pattern flying – Most pilots don’t want any
restrictions. The only pattern requested is to
take off and land into the wind. Once above 50
feet you’re on your own. On busy days it is
advisable to fly with a Spotter.
A supervised transmitter impound shall be
employed during contest activity or other
activity when so designated by the Contest
Director.
Glider/sailplane launching devices may be
utilized only in full cooperation and full
cognizance of all flyers at the field.
During periods of field maintenance, every
consideration for safety must be given. All
flying must be terminated and equipment must be
relocated away from areas being worked on. Grass
cutting shall have priority.
Do not litter the field. Pick up ALL crash
debris and place in provided barrels.
Cutting down forest preserve trees to
retrieve aircraft is strictly forbidden.
PIN BOX:
Under no condition shall a transmitter be
turned on before you have taken the frequency
pin and replaced it with your membership or AMA
card.
Place the clip on your transmitter. Your
transmitter should also display its frequency
flag.
When you are finished for the day return the
pin and retrieve your card.
When frequency sharing is necessary, flyers
exchange the pin and cards are exchanged in the
pin box.
FLYING (GLO / GAS / Electric models ):
All airplanes should be physically restrained
when the engine is running while the airplane is
in the pit area before taxiing to the runway.
Taxiing onto the runway is allowed forward from
the pit area. When retrieving an airplane from
the runway, the engine shall be stopped in the
taxiway or before returning to the pit area.
Do not stand in line with a spinning
propeller.
Prolonged ground running of engines, e.g.,
break-in, will be conducted away from the pit
area.
Engines started and/or operated in the pit
area must be positioned to prevent exhaust, oil,
dust and dirt from being blown on spectators,
other models, or equipment.
All runway activities including takeoff,
landing, touch-and-goes and model retrieval
shall be clearly and loudly announced to the
other pilots on the pilot's line. (i.e. "on
runway", "runway clear", etc.)
When an approaching model appears to be
potentially hazardous to flyers or spectators,
any observer(s) will loudly and clearly warn
others of the danger.
The flyer of a "dead stick" model shall
loudly and clearly warn other persons of the
situation.
When a model experiences trouble, the pilot,
or his/her helper, shall loudly and clearly warn
other flyers of the situation. Landing
priority shall be given immediately to the
flyer/model experiencing the difficulty.
All gasoline powered aircraft should have a
properly rated fire extinguisher in the pit
area. A fire extinguisher can be found in the
south portion of the pin box stand.
Airplanes should not be flown over the
helipad
Helicopters:
Helicopters practicing hovering and low speed
maneuvers should use the HELIPAD at the east end
of the pit area.
To prevent mid-air collisions good judgment
should be used when hovering over the runway
when regular aircraft are airborne.
Rockets:
NAR Model Rocket Safety Code should be
followed.
The launch site must be in a cleared area
free of brown grass, dry weeds, or other
easy-to-burn materials.
All persons in the launch area must be aware
of the pending rocket launch and able to see the
launch before beginning the audible countdown.
All launches must be conducted in a manner that
insures the safety of people or property.
SAC-Aircraft
Safety Checklist
Before Your First Flight....
Balance
(
_)
_Is the center of
gravity within the range shown on the plans? (fore and
aft)
(
_)
_Is the model
balanced side to side? (right and left wings of equal
weight)
Alignment
(
)
_Are all the
flying surfaces at the proper angle relative to
each other?
(
_)
_Are there
any twists in the wing?
(
_)
_Are the
wings at the proper incidence as shown on the
plans?
(
_)
_Is the
engine set at the proper thrust angle as shown
on the plans?
Control Surfaces
(
)
_Are all control
surfaces securely attached? (i.e., hinges glued,
pinned). Pull on each one to test.
(
_)
_Are the control
throws in the correct direction with proper amount of
deflection (as listed in the plans for your plane)?
(
_)
_Rudder: Left stick
should move rudder to the left.
(
_)
_Aileron: left stick
should move left aileron up.
(
_)
_Elevator: Pulling
back (toward you) on the stick should move elevator up.
(
_)
_Throttle: With trim
set fully forward, pushing the stick forward should open
throttle fully. With trim set fully backward, pulling
stick back should fully close the throttle.
(
_)
_Are the control
horns secure? (screws been attached to servo horns)
Control Linkages
(
_)
_Have all the
linkages been checked to be sure they are secure?
(
_)
_Are all the snap
links closed? (clevises usually have keepers or fuel
tubing to ensure they stay closed)
Engine
(
_)
_Are all engine
screws tight?
(
_)
_Is the prop nut
and/or spinner tight?
(
_)
_Is the engine
securely mounted to the fuselage?
(
_)
_Does the throttle
work without binding?
(
_)
_Does the throttle
trim tab shut down the engine?
(
_)
_Has the propeller
been balanced and checked for damage? (cracks and nicks)
(
_)
_Are propeller tips
painted white?
(
_)
_Has the engine been
thoroughly test run? (engine idle and throttle up
properly)
(
_)
_Has the engine been
run at full throttle with the plane¹s nose straight up
in the air? (to make sure it won¹t stall when full power
is applied on climb out)
(
_)
_Is the fuel tank
installed correctly? (i.e., carburetor at the same
height as fuel tank, fuel tank clunk in proper position
and moving freely, fuel lines in good condition and
connected to the engine correctly)
(
_)
_Does your gasoline
engine have a kill switch?
(
_)
_For gasoline
engines, a fire extinguisher should be included in
flight box.
Radio And Servos
(
)
_Are the
radio and battery securely mounted and have they
been padded with foam to protect from vibration
and shock?
(
_)
_Are all
screws in servo trays?
(
_)
_Are all push
rods firmly secure in servo arms?
(
_)
_Are servo
arms firmly attached with screw in place?
(
_)
_Are all
electrical connectors secure?
(
_)
_Is the
receiver¹s antenna fully extended and in good
condition?
(
_)
_Are the
batteries charged and checked with a volt meter?
(
_)
_Has a full
range check been performed? (see below)
Landing Gear
(
)
_Is landing gear
firmly attached to airframe? (wheel attachments secure)
(
_)
_Does aircraft taxi
in a straight line? (does nose wheel turn in the correct
direction)
General
(
)
_Is the covering
tight with no visible signs of damage?
(
_)
_Are wing bolts in
place and secure? (fuselage/wing form a tight bond)
(
_)
_Is the engine cowl
secure?
(
_)
_Is the canopy
securely mounted?
(
_)
_Are all components
structurally sound?
(
_)
_The aircraft must be
labeled inside with your name and AMA number.
Range Checking The Radio
(
)
_Verify
frequency is available and put membership card
on frequency board.
(
_)
_Turn on
transmitter and receiver.
(
_)
_Walk about
30 yards from your plane .
(
_)
_Do all
surfaces respond to controls?
(
_)
_Do surfaces
start to "flutter"? Do surfaces move from the
middle, neutral position without touching the
sticks? In either case, it is imperative that
the radio problem be fixed before trying to fly
the plane. Check to see if any wiring crosses or
runs alongside the antenna wire (arrange all
wires as far from antenna as possible). Re-check
all batteries. Check the transmitter antenna is
not loose. Check the receiver switch is
operating correctly. The plane must pass this
range test before attempting to fly.
Before EVERY Flight
(
_)
_Secure
transmitter frequency at frequency control
board.
(
_)
_Check the
receiver and battery pack with a voltmeter to
insure enough charge.
(
_)
_Check the
control throw direction of all surfaces.
(
_)
_Check your
transmitter to be sure switches were not
accidentally thrown to the wrong position. If
you have a multi-model transmitter, check is set
to correct model.
(
_)
_Start the
engine and test the entire throttle range.
Know The Safety Calls / Runway Communication
"Coming out"
As you prepare to
place your aircraft on the runway.
"Taking Off"
Is pretty much self explanatory.
"Setting up to land"
As you begin your
downwind leg gives others time to clear the area
for you.
"Landing"
As you are on final
approach.
"On
the runway"
If your aircraft
stops dead on the runway.
"Off
on the far side"
If your aircraft veers off on the side away from
the pilots stations.
"Crossing the runway"
Anytime you have to
cross the runway (in either direction).
"Runway clear"
After you have retrieved your errant aircraft,
or if it has been taxied off the runway on the
pit side.
"Dead
stick"
When your engine
dies while in the air. Other pilots will pass
this announcement down the line as it is a
signal for everyone to immediate clear the
landing zone.
"Touch and go" or "Slow fly-by"
Note that high speed
low passes and acrobatics in the landing zone
when other pilots are on station are
forbidden-these may only be performed at least
50' on the other side of the runway.
"Aircraft down''
Followed by the general area.
"I do
not have it!!"
If a pilot will announce that he has a problem
as soon as possible, other observers may be able
to get a fix on the plane if it goes down. If
you do get a fix, such as a certain tree, etc.,
do not move. CalI for another person to come
stand beside you and show them the point you
fixed on. Even turning around and back can lose
the fix.
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