Flying Field Rules

Rock River Aeromodelers Society Field Rules

The Rock River Aero Modelers (RRAMS) field rules are in place to ensure we operate a safe, courteous and fun flying environment for its members, guests and spectators. We require that all members and guest pilots adhere to the following rules. Members failing to willfully comply with the rules will be subject to progressive discipline in accordance with the Club’s By Laws. Guests failing to willfully comply with the rules will have their flight privileges immediately revoked. Everyone’s cooperation and support is greatly appreciated.

• Dial 911 for any emergencies

• For any emergencies the field address is: 6806 South County Road J Beloit, WI

• Pilots must be an AMA member and must operate their model in accordance with the "OFFICIAL AMA SAFETY CODE”

• RRAMS members whose AMA license has expired are only permitted to fly on a buddy box with another RRAMS pilot that has a current AMA membership. A ‘Park Pilot Program’ AMA membership is not sufficient to be eligible to fly at the RRAMS field.

• Non-AMA members are not permitted past the spectator area unless invited and accompanied by a member.

• Local guests of club members, who are also AMA members, are granted a two (2) visits to use our field. After 2 visits guests must join the club if they wish to continue to use our field. This excludes AMA members who are non WI/IL residents traveling on an extended visit.

• NO CHILD UNDER 10 YEARS OLD is allowed on the field without the supervision of an adult member. All other children need to be restricted behind the spectator fence. Please make sure to pick up after your children.

• Pilots are expected to fly responsibly at all times. If at any time a person’s safety or property is at risk, a pilot is expected to sacrifice their model to avoid causing injury or property damage. 

• No flying over the pit, spectator area, roads or field boundaries.

• All pilots will take off and land from the designated runway.

• All pilots are required to fly from behind the designated pilot fences.

• Pilots will call out or announce intentions for take off, touch and go, low fly by, and landing to other pilots.

• Landing aircraft have the right-of-way over all other aircraft. A call for dead-stick or problem landing has priority Landing in any desired SAFE direction.

• Larger sized helicopters should use the grass (a tip over on takeoff or landing on the runway could tear up a large section of fabric)

• 72MHz transmitters may not be turned on, for any reason, without verifying that no one else is using 72MHz. Anyone using 72MHz is responsible for awareness of other pilots on 72MHz.

• No aircraft is to be retrieved from the runway without first notifying other pilots that are flying. Pilots engaged in flying are to be notified when the field is clear again. Pilots flying aircraft will keep aircraft clear of the runway until it is announced clear.

• Free flight aircraft pilots please announce you are launching and everyone needs to be aware that free flight aircraft are flying as they are uncontrolled.

• All FPV flying must follow the AMA guidelines

• All FPV flying must maintain Visual Line of Sight operations (VLOS) 

• No Turbines allowed

• In accordance with the AMA there will be no operation of any model aircraft while under the influence of alcohol or any drug that could adversely affect the ability to safely control the model.

• Pets are welcome at the field under the following conditions:  

  • Pets must be leashed at all times and under the control of someone, or the leash anchored as to restrict pets running uncontrollably.

  • Pets must stay on the spectator side of the fence.

  • Pet waste must be picked up and disposed of as soon as possible.

  • Those not adhering to the pet policy may have their pet privileges suspended.

NOISE ORDINANCES

• The RRAMS field is open 24 hours a day for flight activity. 

• No running of gas engines prior to 9am or after 8pm

• Electric aircraft with proper illumination may fly before 7am or after 8pm

• Mufflers are required on all two cycle and four cycle engines over 0.049 cubic inches

FLIGHTLINE OPERATIONS

When you have multiple planes in the air at the same time everyone flies the pattern. The pattern is defined as low to medium altitude oval track style laps in the direction based on wind. Aerobatics and such can be done while pattern flying as long as it keeps you moving in the direction of the pattern or you call out anything that will not keep you "in the pattern"

• Maximum of 6 planes in the pattern at any given time. At events we may exceed this for organized gaggles where spotters are utilized.  

• Gliders or anyone soaring (those that will not be in the pattern) do not count towards the 6 plane maximum. An example of an acceptable scenario would be 6 pilots flying props/jet planes in the pattern and 2 glider pilots sailing way above the pattern for long durations that only need to be "in'' the pattern for takeoff and landing. This allows gliders to fly high for long durations while not holding up other pilots wanting to use the pattern. Glider pilots do need to communicate when they are coming down into the pattern so others can account for them. 

• Communication is 100% critical to having multiple planes in the air safely so everyone needs to be flying from "pilot box" This is the imaginary "box" from behind the flying stations and in between the taxiways. This allows everyone to communicate with each other but more importantly everyone knows where all the pilots are. You can guarantee there are no pilots located from anywhere outside this area. This also keeps the grass open to the north and south for glider/belly landing planes and ensures that there will not be people flying in those areas. If you hand launch from outside the box please move to the box once you are safely able to. The exception of pilots in the box is for Free Flight (see below)  

• Free Flight pilots should make any active pilots aware that they will be flying and where they will be located prior to launching aircraft. If in close proximity  to the pilot box they should call their takeoffs

• If you are flying alone then you may fly anywhere in the airspace (do not need to hold a pattern)

If you see anyone not following these rules please politely ask the other member to follow the guidelines the club has provided. If you are the person being asked to follow them please understand it is purely for safety and nothing more. 

For any questions on safety of the field or if anyone sees any of these rules being broken please contact the club Safety Officer, Jon Seese 

A printable version can be found here: Rock River Aero Modelers Society Field Rules

UPDATED 6/23/2023      Version 1.5