Flying field notifications?

[Guest]

We're not allowed to fly solo at our club. Twice now I've ended up sitting in a deckchair in the middle of a field for an hour and no-one else has turned up. And twice now just one other person has turned up, and would not have been able to fly if I had not already been there.

I can't just ring a couple of numbers as there's no "usuals" - I rarely see the same person twice, especially at odd hours like 12-2pm.

It's quite the paradox - I want to go to the field, but only if someone else is. And that other person would only want to be there, if I was there too. Or one of the other 85 members. If there's no-one there, it might only be because a dozen people thought, "Nah, doubt anyone else is there so I won't chance it".

I can't work out what system of signalling would solve my problem. There's a full range of ages, and I can't see many of them wanting to use Facebook or Twitter. I think group emails and texts would be a nuisance (although I would certainly accept that). A web cam installed at the site (if it were possible) wouldn't work that well as it would only show a picture of me sat in a deck chair with a fading look of optimism.

Is anyone else in a similar situation, and what's the best way solution for you?

Is there even an opportunity here for a unique "flying field dating site" feature on HeliAddicts?

[Paulice]

I know how you feel, At my clubs the rule is not there, but it's a safety aspect not to fly on your own, There have been many stories of people getting hurt from models being planks or helis, Even a small counter rotating heli could hit you in the eye and blind you, So i do understand the ruling.

I set times with fellow modelers as to when we meet up, I'm lucky as a work with one i fly with on Saturdays, and sundays i fly at another club but we text each other to set times.

[Mikej]

Detritus,

Where do you fly ? I'm in Henley and fly at a school field, but if you're not far I would be interested in possibly joining - I can fly at strange times as I work from home.

Cheers,
Mike

[LaurenceGough]

That's true, where do you fly?

[mole hunter]

We're not allowed to fly solo at our club.

Has the world gone mad? Does the person who made that rule up realise that you had to travel by road, to get to the field, on your own and could have been killed in an RTA? How many flyers are hit by their own models anyway? Maybe it's better to go to a local park or field, risk life and limb practicing, so that you won't ever have an accident.
Does this rule apply to holders of A or B certs as well?

PS - Message to the rule makers. Don't ever take a shower alone, you may slip and bang your head - again

[tiddler]

You would be welcome to use the calendar section on my little web site Home - Helimad
You could enter a date, flying field and time on the calendar so anyone logging on could see who's flying where and when.
Thinking about it, I could probably create a dedicated site for this purpose alone if necessary

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[1chris]

You need to get on the committee and get the rather draconian rule changed!!

I understand the possible ethics of it, but somebody needs to be realistic in this modern age

[Guest]

Where do you fly ? I'm in Henley and fly at a school field, but if you're not far I would be interested in possibly joining - I can fly at strange times as I work from home.

That's true, where do you fly?

I fly at RADMAC, which is at the Thames Valley Drive Park, at the end of the A329M (opposite end from Bracknell). It's not the best field for heli flyers, but it's very friendly and suits me. Why not visit there on a Saturday morning, Mike, there's always interested people making similar enquiries. (google maps). I'd certainly like a lunch time flying buddy!

You need to get on the committee and get the rather draconian rule changed!!

Has the world gone mad? ..
Does this rule apply to holders of A or B certs as well?

Yes. The world has gone mad.. and it does apply to A/B cert holders. It's partly safety, but more so that there's a witness if something goes wrong - I think there are actual occasions where that has helped and the club has been able to present a defence against some lying members of the public. It would be the end of the flying field if someone got hurt and complained to the land owner.

So, the debate aside, I just want to find a way of getting along with the rule in the most convenient way possible

[Capello1986]

Our club isn't as bad as that but it was supposed to be that as of the 1st of April you were only able to fly solo if you had your Bronze certificate otherwise you needed to wait until someone else was there that had theres.

Generally at weekends its not a problem but through the week there was alot or people saying that because they work shifts or are retired they are unable to fly.......think most of them just did anyway but now those guys use the club form, we have a thread called "Midweek Flying" that they all use to plan meets. Is there not away your club could do something like that or change the rules to if you have your certs you can? I do understand why they're doing it but would annoy me too buddy.

Martin

[sacko]

It is quite a good idea in my opinion, but can see the situation you are in.

I have seen it a few times where someone has come up the field and it bordering on un-safe to fly.

The only downside is the pressure it puts you under to ask people you dont know to come and watch you fly every flight. The exam is also a personal achievment scheme, and shouldnt really be a pre-requisite, BMFA examiners will be non stop too :s

How about suggesting a club safety log? Where you have to get it signed by 6 people over to say you are safe? Just an idea...

[igottomanyhelis]

dont understand that rule as thier is plenty of poeple walking around that field,you can never get a parking space thier

[Guest]

You would be welcome to use the calendar section on my little web site Home - Helimad
You could enter a date, flying field and time on the calendar so anyone logging on could see who's flying where and when.
Thinking about it, I could probably create a dedicated site for this purpose alone if necessary

Well that's the interesting thing, it's not really a "Where I am" or "Where I'll be", or even really proposing a particular event. It's a bit more dynamic than that, a process of forming an increasingly concrete plan over time, starting off tentative and then ending with the notion of an actual event with a known start and end time.

Step 1: People indicate general availability for certain time periods over the next few days
Step 2: Software determines which people's available intervals coincide in the right way (however many people someone indicated they wanted to fly with, for whatever period of time they indicated they wanted to fly for).
Step 3: Software sends out proposals
Step 4: People acknowledge proposals
Step 5: An event is born.

Does that sound like too much engineering, tiddler?

In this era of online social media and "crowd" this and that, it seems a fairly reusable idea - it would apply to going for a drink after work as much as flying helicopters. However, I don't care about that, I just wanna fly my chopper!

[barryorbik]

Ours is quite a big club with nearly 200 members, so there's normally someone around and it has its own airfield well away from dog walkers and other such safety hazards but we have now introduced a no-fly rule if you are on your own and also a BMFA 'A' cert is required if you wish to fly unaccompanied fixed wing and possibly in the future this may be the rule for heli's also (when more of us have got our A's).

Seems pretty sensible and 'most' members abide by the rules although some of the older none certified guys complain about suddenly needed to be certified after probably 40+ years of safe flying. Heli flyers are still allowed to use the set aside small 'green' field for heli hovering practice on your own, providing there is someone else present on the site at the time.

When you join our club you are assigned a mentor to guide you through the site rules etc and ultimately to help you gain your BMFA certification, so I normally text my fixed wing mentor to tie up flying times with him, as an additional 'insurance' but it may be you just need to find someone else in the club who lives locally and is available to accompany you when you find you have a spare lunch hour etc.

Barry

[PeteStewardson]

I enquired with RADMAC and never got a response on joining so never bothered going to them. I have my own little private site at work so use that.

As for the original topic, maybe a shared google calendar would work? You could add when you want to be there and if someone else adds the same time you both know you wont be there on your own?

[tiddler]

Well that's the interesting thing, it's not really a "Where I am" or "Where I'll be", or even really proposing a particular event. It's a bit more dynamic than that, a process of forming an increasingly concrete plan over time, starting off tentative and then ending with the notion of an actual event with a known start and end time.

Step 1: People indicate general availability for certain time periods over the next few days
Step 2: Software determines which people's available intervals coincide in the right way (however many people someone indicated they wanted to fly with, for whatever period of time they indicated they wanted to fly for).
Step 3: Software sends out proposals
Step 4: People acknowledge proposals
Step 5: An event is born.

Does that sound like too much engineering, tiddler?

In this era of online social media and "crowd" this and that, it seems a fairly reusable idea - it would apply to going for a drink after work as much as flying helicopters. However, I don't care about that, I just wanna fly my chopper!

Lol, well its only a straight forward calendar/upcoming event app and cant be made to match/notify members of up and coming events. But it would give you one common place to enter a flying site and time of your choice. Then anyone looking would be able to see who will be where and when.
Not much I know but hey better than nothing.

Perhaps someone that's good with spreadsheets could do something more in line with what your looking for.