Currently we are only allowed the following and listed are specific rules.

> Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (mRPAS) in the under 250 gram category;

> Control Line;

> Surface Vehicles (land and water).

Pilot designation areas

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These rules are available in print or online. The club will endeavour to keep a copy at the modelling site and provide all members with a copy.

RPAS operation (RPA with an all-up flying weight between 250 grams and 25kg) is prohibited at this site because the field is located within 5 NM of CYAM, a certified class D airspace.

Sault Ste. Marie Radio Control Model Airplane Club, allows the following modelling categories mRPAS, Tethered (control line), surface vehicles. Space models (rockets) or Free Flight are not permitted.

Administrative

The Sault Ste. Marie Radio Control Model Airplane Club, #86 is located at Leigh’s Bay (46.513806, -84.424361)

All persons using this modelling site must:

  1. Be MAAC members in good standing.
  2. Be members of the Sault Ste. Marie Radio Control Model Airplane Club, #86 or an invited guest and
  3. Agree to follow the MAAC Safety Code and all club rules.

In an emergency, phone (911) and the civic address for first responders is Leigh’s Bay Road, south of Base Line

General Site Rules

  1. Surface Vehicle Specific
    1. All surface vehicles must yield to mRPAS.
  2. A fire extinguisher must be present for all powered model operations.
  3. Tethered flight must be centered such that the pit area and flight line fence is not overflown.
  4. Flying/modelling is not permitted if non-modellers occupy the site. DO NOT breach this rule – wait for others to finish or come back another time.
  5. The site is limited to operation starting at 8:00 am and ending at ½ hour before dusk
    1. No flying/modelling will commence until half an hour after sunrise and end half an hour before sunset, the time of which is available on the Weather Network App for the town of Sault Ste, Marie. Night flying/modelling is prohibited unless your model is brightly lit. The entire flying circle and buffer area must also be well-lit for tethered aircraft.
  6. Members can only hold events or competitions if the club has received additional green space permission.
  7. Clean up after you leave – do not leave any garbage or crashed airplane parts behind.
  8. A copy of the filed lease/license agreement is available from the club executive if needed.

mRPAS Specific Rules

  1. Members are responsible to ensure their models do not exceed the weight limitations for mRPAS.
  2. Members not complying with these, or any club /MAAC rules, will be subject to disciplinary actions including permanent expulsion from the club, as well as potential sanctions from MAAC.
  3. All participants must have proven competency following the club’s Wings program.

Normal operating procedures and Club safety rules

  1. All members shall follow the applicable Canadian Aviation Regulations.
  2. All pre-flight inspections or model assembly shall be done in the designated area away from the active modelling area.
  3. Members shall ensure cooperation between mRPAS and Control Line activities,
  4. Batteries shall not be connected to electric-powered models unless the model is restrained in the designated start-up area – no exceptions.
  5. Tethered (control line) Gas/glow models must be restrained and started in the start-up stands or similar, located in the start-up area. Do not conduct prolonged tuning if other members are modelling.
  6. The direction of launches, take-off landing, and vehicle traffic pattern will be determined by prevailing conditions and following discussions by participants.
  7. Hand launching and bungee launching shall be done in agreement with all participants.

mRPAS Site rules

  1. MAAC members conducting mRPAS activities shall give way or otherwise immediately get out of the way of all full-scale aircraft – no exceptions.
  2. Our flying area is as defined on the attached diagram
    1. No-fly zones is the area north of the safety fence.
      1. NOTE – MAAC and CAR rules are NO FLYING with 30m of any non-MAAC person, property, or “thing” of value.
      2. The field is in Controlled Airspace. Members shall use the NAV CANADA NOTAM portal or the RPAS Wilco app to ensure there are no notices prohibiting operations. If you are the first pilot of the day and have printed an RPAS Wilco site survey, please leave it at the site for fellow modellers to reference.
  3. No mRPA flying will occur below the MAAC-mandated weather minimum:
    1. If cloud is present below 1000’ above the model flying area
    2. a horizontal visibility requirement of less than 3sm around the flying area, and
    3. If there are other obscuring conditions (fog, smoke, haze etc.) which could make spotting full-scale aircraft difficult.
  4. This site is located within Sault Ste Marie (CYAM) Class D control zone and is 3.8nm east of the airport (CYAM). In the event of any type of model “fly-away” towards the airport, members must call Sault Ste. Marie Air Traffic Control emergency number (705) 779-3707 and advise them of the issue.
  5. NAV DRONE airspace approval tool limits drone operation at this location to 200’AGL. Per MAAC policy no member shall operate a mRPAS above 200’AGL.

In the event of an emergency, such as a fire, injury to any person or any other type of event requiring emergency services, call 9 -1-1 and give them our location.

  • The site is in controlled airspace, visual observers are mandatory. The following are club procedures for ensuring full-scale aviation safety:
    1. At least one visual observer shall stand (no sitting allowed) within arm’s length of any pilot flying.
    2. The sole role is to scan for approaching full-scale aircraft – do not watch the mRPA.
    3. When the visual observer or any other member spots/hears a full-scale airplane that might come near the site, they are to yell out “AIRPLANE” loudly.
    4. Upon hearing this notification, ALL Pilots must immediately descend to as low an altitude as possible and then land as soon as safely able.
    5. When the full-scale airplane is no longer a threat, the person who gave the warning shall yell “ALL CLEAR,” or the pilots may make that determination themselves and resume flying.
  • If there is any type of near miss or safety concern between a full-scale aircraft or a bystander and our models, ALL modelling SHALL cease immediately. The members involved should fill out a MAAC reportable occurrence report and submit that to MAAC and the Club executive and follow MAAC policy with the following exceptions:
    1. If the member(s) involved believe the risk was very minimal, they may complete their own self-declaration or risk assessment using the MAAC form. Submit a copy of the form to the club executive when able, and you must keep this form for one year. Resume modelling when done.
    2. If the member or Club executive deems the event serious, modelling will not resume until members are given permission by the Club executive – in writing.
    3. If there is actual contact between an aircraft, bystander and a MAAC model – all modelling will cease until MAAC confirms we may resume operations.
    4. This process is for your protection.

Operations within 3nm of an Aerodrome

  1. The field is 3.8 nm of Sault Airport CYAM as listed in the CFS/CWAS and the Club provides all members with the following information:
  2. The aerodrome’s name is Sault Airport CYAM and it is located 3.8 nautical miles west from our modelling site,
  3. The airport is home to Sault College Aviation School, MNR Air Operations base (water bombers), general aviation and commercial traffic.
  4. There are/no CFS RPA procedures and no other CFS PRO comments that affect our modelling site,
  5. There is one Visual Flight Rules (VFR) route (east route) that passes immediately south of our modeling site with an expected minimum altitude of 518’ AGL – mRPAS pilots must exercise caution. The 863’AGL antenna located immediately east of our site should help mitigate full-scale flight directly over our modelling site.
  6. The club executive has contacted the operator (OPR) and they have expressed no issues with our site.
  7. There are no other risk mitigating strategies required,
  8. The Club executive will review these rules at least once a year.

Tethered/Control line Spotter Rules

  1. MAAC “spotters” are mandatory at our site. The following are club procedures for ensuring by-stander safety:
    1. When any member or other person spots a bystander approaching the flying area that might present a safety concern, they are to yell out “BY-STANDER” loudly.
    2. ALL control line Pilots must immediately climb the model to as high an altitude as possible (above head height) OR land immediately. This may require an intentional forced landing/crash away from the approaching bystander.
    3. The spotter or pilot should endeavour to warn the bystander to remain clear of the flying area and outside the safety buffer distance. Yelling in a firm, loud voice, “STOP – stay back,” and waving your arm(s) is suggested.
    4. If you perceive the bystander to be in danger and do not have a reasonable expectation to ensure their safety, “ground/crash/stop” you model by any means possible away from the bystander and in a manner that is as safe as possible.

Space Models (Rockets)

Space models – rockets are not allowed at this site.

Free-Flight

Free flight models are not allowed at this site.

Surface Vehicles – Cars/Trucks or Boats

MAAC “spotters” are optional at our site for surface models. The following are club procedures for ensuring by-stander safety:

  1. When any member or other person spots a by-stander approaching the model area that might present a safety concern, they are to yell out “BY-STANDER” in a loud voice.
  2. ALL members must immediately stop their vehicles or steer them to an area away from the where the bystander is approaching from.
  3. If the bystander is in immediate danger, the spotter or modeler should YELL in a firm loud voice “STOP – stay back” and waving your arm(s) is suggested.

There are no other risk mitigating strategies required at Leigh.

The Club executive will review these rules at least once a year.

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