Insurance??

[S1roudy]

I've been with the bmfa all my life, i fly at two bmfa clubs so it go's without say that im insured whilst flying there, but i fly glider's of a popular slope which i believe is national trust people have been flying glider's there for 20 years plus! And its open to the public so you get a lot of dog walker kite flyer's ect are we insured to fly there?? I also see and hear of a lot of people flying helis and planks in public parks and random fields! Are we insured to fly there??

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[Andy from Sandy]

As long as there is not any bye laws that prohibit the flying of rc models you are covered by your BMFA insurance.

[Mark_T]

Just to add to that, for the 'random fields' part of your question you would need the permission of the land owner or you would not be insurred.

[chugga-bug]

As long as there is not any bye laws that prohibit the flying of rc models you are covered by your BMFA insurance.

That's not strictly correct. You need the land owners permission for the insurance to be valid.
There may not be a bye law prohibiting flying, but does the land owner allow it?

[S1roudy]

Ok so private fields, we are insured as long as the owner gives permission, but how about public playing fields? I've never seen a sign saying no rc flying but surely we can't be insured to fly there?? Can we?

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[milly0812]

Ok so private fields, we are insured as long as the owner gives permission, but how about public playing fields? I've never seen a sign saying no rc flying but surely we can't be insured to fly there?? Can we?

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I have a field close to me with council signs prohibiting the flying of model aircraft of any type

[Mark_T]

Ok so private fields, we are insured as long as the owner gives permission, but how about public playing fields? I've never seen a sign saying no rc flying but surely we can't be insured to fly there?? Can we?

Somewhere there will be a sign posted with the local bye-laws for the use of the field. Some do prohibit the flying of models completely, some just models with an engine and some have no limits at all. In some areas where there are multiple playing fields you may find one is designated for model flying but it is banned at the others.

[S1roudy]

Im not planing to fly in a park its just i see increasing amount of videos of people flying helis including big 90 size in parks and i was talking to a friend earlier and we didn't know where we are insured to fly?? We never really thought about it? But its something we should know really! I was just wondering if its just me that's not very clear on this!? Also came up was i fly planks at shows, if i stick my panic in to some ones 20k jet in the pits will that be covered? Im guessing not! But imagine that!! Again this came up because at a show once we saw a plane have a mid air and lost all control and it crashed flat out in the pits!

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[pchristy]

Unless there are clear signs at ALL the entrances to a public field specifically prohibiting model flying, you are free to do so, and will be insured. That does not necessarily mean that it is wise to fly there!

Even on private land, where you may not necessarily have specific permission, unless you have been informed by the land owner that you may not fly there, your insurance should still cover you. An example of this would a a place I know where the land owner doesn't mind people using his land for any aviation connected activity (its an old historic airfield), walking their dogs, horse riding, or anything else. He doesn't give specific permission unless you ask for it, but is just a benevolent land owner. You would be insured to fly there even without specific permission, as it is a generally recognised area for flying.

The ONLY time your insurance will not cover you is if you specifically *and wilfully* break the law. Ignorance can be a defence, for example if bye-laws are not clearly posted or if there is no other indication that you may not fly there.

The BMFA insurance is pretty tolerant of human error - that is its purpose, after all, and you have to do something pretty stupid to have that cover withdrawn or refused!