Starting a club ?

[smithysamrc]

I suppose i do have a few Potential Members, i have a friend who also flies with me sometimes, but not knowledgable of heli's, i have a few plank flyers in my area, i know someone who wants to learn to fly, i know someone who flys massive turbine jets and helis up in Merriot i think, sometimes, his names Andy Parsons, some of you may know him. so yeah, all these people are just from my small village, i expect there's loads more in the town areas outside of my village.

I know plenty of fields nearby to where i live that we could use, i just need the farmers permission to use them, luckily my Dad's friends with a few of the farmers, and he may be able to twist their arm's and let me use their fields (Not litterally ).

Regarding the Bmfa, i would like the club to be bmfa affliated, because then it'll feel like a proper club.

I'm all up for the responsiblitly of owning a club because thats what kinda things i like doing, i have actually started a few 'odd' clubs myself when i was alot younger, i used to be into all the 'hunting' kinda things, and i started my own hunting club , had approx 8 members, which paid 50p a week to be a member (Sad i know, but thats the kind of responsiblitly i liked, and still do).

Im all up for the paperwork i'd have to fill out every so often.

Just thought i'd let you all know how serious i am about this.

Thanks

[spunkmyer]

I suppose i do have a few Potential Members, i have a friend who also flies with me sometimes, but not knowledgable of heli's, i have a few plank flyers in my area, i know someone who wants to learn to fly, i know someone who flys massive turbine jets and helis up in Merriot i think, sometimes, his names Andy Parsons, some of you may know him. so yeah, all these people are just from my small village, i expect there's loads more in the town areas outside of my village.

I know plenty of fields nearby to where i live that we could use, i just need the farmers permission to use them, luckily my Dad's friends with a few of the farmers, and he may be able to twist their arm's and let me use their fields (Not litterally ).

Regarding the Bmfa, i would like the club to be bmfa affliated, because then it'll feel like a proper club.

I'm all up for the responsiblitly of owning a club because thats what kinda things i like doing, i have actually started a few 'odd' clubs myself when i was alot younger, i used to be into all the 'hunting' kinda things, and i started my own hunting club , had approx 8 members, which paid 50p a week to be a member (Sad i know, but thats the kind of responsiblitly i liked, and still do).

Im all up for the paperwork i'd have to fill out every so often.

Just thought i'd let you all know how serious i am about this.

Thanks

Sounds like this sort of thing will be easy for you.

[smithysamrc]

Sounds like this sort of thing will be easy for you.

I am based in a village called 'Tatworth' which is on the outskirts of a town called Chard.
The village has plenty of useable fields, but i just need to get the farmers permission.
I will be putting an ad up in the local newagents asking if any farmers have a field we could use, and the conditions i'd like the field to be in e.g no powerlines, no trees etc

Thanks

[spunkmyer]

You could try calling all the local farmers and asking?. Maybe try your local council to see if they would set something up in a local park like our club Slough Rc model club Slough RC Model Club Forum

Just a few ideas. Also when you have found a site the if you contact the BMFA they can send down somebody to help you asses the site and layout etc it explains more in the BMFA handbook.

[smithysamrc]

Ok, i have just recieved my information pack from the bmfa with info on starting my own club.
The paperwork all looks very confusing, ill have to phone them for abit of help i think.

[Mike W]

A few of us last year started our own club and TBH it was not as hard as we thought ... first you need the land to fly on ... then you need a contract with the farmer for both parties involved to have some protection . You dont have to be bmfa afilliated just make sure everyone has insurance to fly ... My club is with bmfa and you only need 5 members to join it and it gives you some more protection .. I think being 16 is going to be a little draw back as most farmers wont want someone young touting to use land, so see if someone older can do it ... Explain to the farmer what you want to fly and how many people will be there and always be polite even if they are not .... I fly off a microlite runway so the planning side of it was already taken care of , which is another issue for having a flying site .. if its just a few getting together to fly then you can just rent the land on your own and dont run it as a club but as say a group ... make sure you get on with other people that live/work around the area as well as this can be a great help in keeping the club up and running ... If you need n e more info just ask ....and go for it

[smithysamrc]

Ok

I kinda think that i might do a club that isnt bmfa affiliated.

I think i might say the members just need bmfa insurance to join the club, and pay to actually join the club.

Can a club that isnt bmfa affiliated still run club events and club competitions?

Is there a downfall to not being bmfa affiliated ?

Do i still need to fill out bmfa forms even if im not going to do a bmfa affiliated club?

Thanks

[jamiem]

Being affiliated does give the club commitee protection against any accidents that may halon to people "working" on your behalf, ie cutting grass etc. It's definately worth the hassle of filling out the paperwork. Give them a call if you need help.

[Jamin_00]

If you are not going to be affiliated then you dont have to do a thing with the BMFA but as Jamie says it is well worth filling out the few forms just incase.

It is not that bad trust me.

Get the forms and I will even tell you what you need to fill in and what you dont.

When I first started my club I looked at all the forms and just drew a blank but after speaking to our now club seceratery it really was simple.

[BaRoN30s]

ive also been looking into trying to find a local field close to barnsley that we could use for flying, at the moment im still waiting to hear back from our local council to see if there's anywhere they can find us thats suitable to use...

but what do you call suitable to use...?

has it to be so far away from a main road, houses, motorway...???? as not long ago i came across a post on here inviting members to a fly-in & when looking at the directions to the field it looked just a few hundred yards from a motorway.. now i would have thought that BMFA wouldn't passed anything so close to something like that for if the obvious happened.. if a heli goes a stray & goes towards the motorway this could cause a multiple pileup ????

so whats the rules on a suitable field when looking for one...??? can you use one thats just at side of the motorway or not.?

CHEERS....

[Jamin_00]

My field is about 500yds away from a 6 lane carriageway and around the same to some houses.

Maybe a bit longer tbh but its there

[JohnJ]

Being affiliated does give the club commitee protection against any accidents that may halon to people "working" on your behalf, ie cutting grass etc. It's definately worth the hassle of filling out the paperwork. Give them a call if you need help.

Sam - I would reiterate this advice, the minefield of litigation and liability in law could cause all manner of problems for you and the club, worth the hassle of getting legal cover for that alone!

The landowners you approach would also be assured if you were able to prove you are covered by a regulating body which stands by stringent safety regulations!

Good work though mate

John