The following are the key flying rules with a full list of the club rules below :

If in any doubt contact a member of the Committee.

Rules at a Glance

No flying above 300ft from the surface of the runway.

No solo pilot can undertake unsupervised (meaning : without the presence of an authorised club instructor) flying of any aircraft or helicopter, without the relevant discipline A certificate (Helicopters / Fixed Wing) and being a current member of the BMFA.

No drones (mutli rotors ie more than two rotors) permitted to be flown from the flying field without express written permission from the club Committee.

No autonomous drones are permitted to be flown at all.

No gas turbine aircraft are permitted to be flown.

No aircraft above 7kg dry unloaded weight  (7.5kg in fully loaded weight incl fuel and batteries) are permitted to be flown.

No flying beyond visual line of sight permitted.

Flying times to be adhered to at all times.

No flying West of the runway centre line or extended centre line in both directions, to the North or West.

No more than 4 aircraft permitted to be in the air at anytime.

No unrestrained models under engine power within the pits.

No taxying of models in the pits.

No guests permitted to fly without express permission of two Committee members and accompaniment by one Committee member. Any permitted guest must be a member of the BMFA and hold an A certificate unless under supervision of an authorised instructor.

Club risk assessment and fly away procedure to be followed at all times.

All Biggin Hill FRZ flying rules to be followed (If in doubt contact the Vice Chairman for clarification on these).

Full rules list

Flying rules
1. Club members shall observe all aspects of the Safety Codes, Operating Guidelines and general regulations
as published from time to time in the BMFA Handbook.
2. Members shall not fly solo at the power field unless they hold an appropriate BMFA Achievement Scheme ‘A’,
‘B’ or ‘C’ certificate (Power, Helicopter or Multirotor as appropriate).
3. Any person under 18, or who is classed as a vulnerable adult, who is attending the club field or a club activity
must be accompanied by their legal guardian or by an adult previously authorised in writing as taking this role
during the attendance. This authorisation must take the form of a letter signed by the legal guardian and must
be to the Club secretary provided prior to the attendance, who must inform the club committee of the proposed
guardian within 10 days of receipt.
4. Any member who has concerns over the welfare of a person under 18 or who is classed as a vulnerable adult,
should report their concerns to the Club Chairman or Secretary.
5. The Club Chairman and Secretary, and all Club members who have close dealings with juniors must be
cleared under the BMFA scheme through the ‘Disclosure and Barring Service’ (or current equivalent
organisation).
6. Members may invite guest fliers to use the club facilities. Only invited guest flyers are allowed to fly a model
and only if they are insured by the BMFA and only if permission is given by two members of the Committee,
one being present during all flying. The committee members giving permission must declare to the Secretary
(or Chairman in his absence) at the next committee meeting to whom and for flying on what day, permission
was given… No guest may fly from the club’s facilities on more than 3 days per year. Visiting flyers shall comply
with the club rules. The invitee of the guest must assume total responsibility for the actions and safety of the
guest. Failure to comply with any stipulation herein will at least cause the erring member to be liable to be
suspended from membership of the club until the next committee meeting.
7. Joint Club Meetings, Fly Ins and Open Days – these may only occur after having been voted on at a club
committee and a written invitation to another club or class of model flyers has been issued by the committee.
Before any attendees may fly, their name and address must be recorded on a register on the day along with
details of their current BMFA membership, including insurance. Any person found to be flying in contravention
of this rule may be required by a committee member to cease doing so and leave the flying field immediately.
At least 2 committee members must be present at the flying field when non members are flying at these events.
8. At the power field, flying is not permitted North or West of the extended line (in both directions) of the prepared strip nor deliberately near
any person, animal or vehicle.
9. Models shall not conflict in any way with full-sized aircraft. At the power field, whenever it is a Civil Aviation
Authority requirement, models may not exceed a height of 300 feet above the flying field ground level as per
CAA ruling when flying within an active (ATZ) Air Traffic Zone.
Note: the power field is in the Biggin Hill Aerodrome Traffic Zone, so no models 7kg and over can fly when the
zone is active.
10. Aeroplanes with petrol engines may not intentionally prop hang at any time [ ie: use engine thrust for lift whilst
remaining nearly stationary].
11. Slope soarers and gliders may not be flown at the power field.
12. ‘Pilots of models weighing more than 7kg dry weight shall are not permitted to fly notwithstanding any future
changes in CAA rules regarding weight limits for exemption. Models of dry weight 7kg or more are not permitted
to fly.
13. At the power field operation of IC engines or gas turbines is strictly limited to; on Sundays the period between
1000hrs and 1800hrs; on Saturdays the period between 0900hrs and 2000hrs; and weekdays the period
between 0800hrs and 2100hrs. Earlier cessation may be required on occasion. On Sundays electric powered
models may be flown from 1000hrs until sunset.
14. At the power field, pilots shall cease flying temporarily at the proper request of the shooting syndicate that also
leases the field.
15. Members wishing to fly or make a test radio transmission shall hang a tag bearing their name and channel
number on the appropriate hook on the “pegboard”. ‘Note, this rule does not apply to 2.4GHz radios.’
16. Not more than four power models may be airborne at any one time.
17. Fixed wing models must take off or be hand launched from the prepared strip.
18. Helicopters, Drones and Multi-rotors shall be operated as follows: –
a) Trimming – only at the prepared patch at the eastern end of the pits area.
b) Circuit flying – from the prepared strip with the agreement of all members present.
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c) Helicopter, Drone and Multi-rotor pilots are permitted to fly their models in a 10 minute slot on the hour
on those occasions when the operation of fixed wing models precludes their gaining access to the
prepared strip.
d) Operation of drones i.e. multirotor aircraft are now allowed from our Beech Farm Road flying site
subject to the following additional rules at all times.
a) Operation of drones i.e. multirotor aircraft are now allowed from our Beech Farm Road flying
site subject to the following additional rules at all times.
a. Line of sight flights only, FPV is not currently authorized to our members.
b. No autonomous flight capable multi-rotor’s are allowed to be flown, to be clear any multi-rotor
that uses a GPS to set home, position hold, head free mode or return to home features or any
other GPS flight assisted mode must not currently be flown and have a temporary ban. Racing /
Freestyle drones are permitted which may have any mix of the following equipment or trait -:
stabilization, Magnetometer, Barometer or optical flow sensors. If in any doubt of the drones
suitability please contact a member of the Committee.
c. Cameras if fitted may be left on the multirotor but use of FPV goggles or monitors at the flight
line is forbidden.
d. Failsafes must be set to drop the multirotor, in the event of any signal interruption the model must
not have autonomy to land or return to home.
e. As required under BMFA rules, competent spotters are required to accompany the pilot at the
flight line for every flight. The spotter must acknowledge their responsibility for safe operation of
the multirotor. The spotter can be anyone who has been briefed on their role and need not be a
current older of a multirotor “A” Achievement.
f. Models shall not conflict in any way with full-sized aircraft. At the Beech Farm Road field,
Multirotor models may not exceed a height of 100 feet above the flying field ground level OR tree
top height, whichever is the lower.
g. Multi rotors must carry their CAA identification regardless of size or weight.
h. As noted in rule 2, you may not fly a multirotor without holding at least a multirotor “A”
achievement. Any senior member holding a BMFA Achievement Scheme ‘B’ or ‘C’ Certificate
may act as an instructor (in the same discipline for which he is certificated). In addition, any
member holding at least a BMFA Achievement Scheme ‘A’ Certificate in the same discipline may
act as an instructor with the agreement of a Committee Member or BMFA Examiner.
i. Members intending to fly a Multirotor must initially be approved to fly by the committee. No
multirotor flights may be made without initial approval by the Committee.
19. Pilots shall have available a suitable fire extinguisher that should be readily visible within the pits area when
operating petrol engine or gas turbine models,
20. A Club member wishing to fly a specified gas turbine powered model must obtain a prior written permit to do
so from the Committee for that model. Permission may not be given, or an existing permit may be temporarily
suspended, at that time of the year when pre-harvest crops adjacent to the power site present a potential fire
risk.
21. Any senior member holding a BMFA Achievement Scheme ‘B’ or ‘C’ Certificate may act as an instructor (in the
same discipline for which he is certificated). In addition, any member holding at least a BMFA Achievement
Scheme ‘A’ Certificate may act as an instructor with the agreement of a BMFA Examiner
22. When flying gas turbine powered aircraft it will be mandatory for a spotter to accompany the pilot. There is a
temporary ban on the flying of a gas turbine fixed wing aircraft from the Beach Farm Road flying site.
23. Models shall be restrained at all times when under power in the pits area and on the taxiways. Taxiing on the
runway shall be done with caution. The engine shall be stopped on entering the taxiway at the end of a flight
and the model carried or wheeled back to the pits.
24. Whilst flying, pilots should stand in the appropriate delineated box situated at either end of the runway.
25. Except for approach and landing, including touch and go, low level manoeuvres shall not be flown over the
runway if other pilots are present in the box.
26. All members’ models may be noise tested at any convenient time.
Any model with a noise level over 90db may only fly with committee approval. This approval may include:
restricted hovering time, flying with due regard to noise levels and the use of the quietest propellers and
silencers available. Models under 90db should be operated with due consideration to noise nuisance. The
committee retains the right to ground any model that in their opinion is excessively noisy.
27. From 30th November 2019 All pilots of model aircraft or drones (small unmanned aircraft, SUA) with a
mass of 250gm or more flown outdoors, cannot fly the SUA at the clubs’ outdoor fields unless the CAA has
issued the member with an acknowledgement of competency valid for the flight or the member is in
compliance with the BMFA exemption for members holding “A” or “B” achievement awards or Remote
Competency Certificate. Members must display their operator number somewhere easily accessible on or
within your aircraft once issued.
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Conduct rules
1. Cars at the power field shall only be parked in the designated area along the northern boundary.
2. Field gates must be closed and locked immediately after passing through at the power field.
3. Access to the designated parking area excepted, Club members, apart from the Field Upkeep Officer or his
nominee, are not permitted to drive motor vehicles on the flying field or its immediate environs
4. Dogs are not allowed at any Club field, except at the discretion of the committee (an accord by any number of
committee members at a club flying facility on the day, does not constitute committee discretion) .
5. Children shall be kept under supervision at all times at the flying fields. Ensuring this supervision is the
responsibility of the legal guardian or the person authorised as such by them.
6. It is not permitted to remove produce, either cultivated or wild, from any Club field.
7. Members attending any Club field shall remove all litter, avoid injuring animals and behave with due care
and consideration towards other persons and property.
8. Members shall take all possible precautions to protect the prepared strip at the power field.
General rules
Membership Cards must be carried to identify members flying at the fields.
Notes
March 2016 , relating to the Constitution, Members (7.13), the Committee voted that: A joining fee will not be
charged to ex members up until the end of the month of the second AGM after their membership lapsed,
although this is on the condition that a donation of £20 is received for administrative costs.