WMAC – Health and Safety – Indoor

 

Wellington Model Aeroplane Club

HEALTH AND SAFETY PLAN

FOR OPERATING MODEL AIRCRAFT

AT

Expressions Hall, Expressions Arts & Entertainment Centre, 836 Fergusson Dr, Upper Hutt Central, Upper Hutt

 October 2017

Wellington Model Aeroplane Club Committee

Date: 11/10/2017

Introduction

Wellington Model Aeroplane Club conducts model aircraft flying activities at Expressions Hall, Expressions Arts & Entertainment Centre, 836 Fergusson Dr, Upper Hutt Central, Upper Hutt 5018 for club members and invited members of other clubs affiliated to Model Flying New Zealand.

Members of the public are not admitted into the hall when the Wellington Model Aeroplane Club is undertaking flying activities there.

Safety is of paramount importance in all of the flying conducted in this hall.

Rules and Procedures

Rules governing the safe operation of radio controlled model aircraft at this location are listed in the following publications:

1. CAA Regulations Part 101
2. Model Flying New Zealand Members Manual
3. This Club’s safety rules and guidelines

MFNZ has approved this site for the flying of all types of indoor model aircraft.

Hazards and Risks

A Risk Assessment has been undertaken and a Register of Hazards established. Both the severity of a risk and the frequency of the risk occurring are taken into account to give a final score by using the methodology recorded in MFNZ’s “Risk Assessment Procedure”.

Mitigation of identified risks is undertaken by a number of control methods to lower the final score to an acceptable level.

Should a serious accident occur, a post-accident audit will be conducted to capture any additional actions to make model flying at this site even safer.

Any queries regards this document should be directed to the Club’s President.

Proximity to Personnel

The approach adopted to ensure the safety of members and observers is one of lateral separation and flight direction limitations. This is a similar approach to that taken when considering safety at aviation locations and events. The logic is based on accepting a low risk of an aircraft accident, and following this occurrence, trying to ensure the aircraft is as far away from any people as possible.

The layout of the hall and establishing safety lines makes best use of this approach.

First Aid

Some members carry their own first aid supplies.

Fire Hazard

Radio controlled model aircraft flown at the hall are generally powered by Lithium polymer batteries which may combust in the event of a crash or use of incorrect charging procedures.

Fire Mitigation

Fire hose reels and dry powder fire extinguishers are located around the hall.

Attachments:

1. Key Contacts List
2. Hazards Register
3. Flight Line Guidelines

Attachments: Separate Electronic Documents

1. Risk Assessments and Control Measures
2. Aircraft Inspection Form
3. Club Safety Rules and Guidelines

.

Attachment 1: Key Contacts List

List of Contacts	List name of contact	List phone numbers
Club Committee	Leo Duflou Phil Bolton Jonathan Du Preez Michael Cuthbert Chris Murphy Paul Bealing Lee Kleynhans Gavin Rhodes	04 235 6925 or 027 444 1233 027 440 7967 021 482 832 027 660 6556 027 3386 383 04 970 7268 021 026 76572 021 029 86529
Club Safety Officer	Michael Cuthbert	See Above
Trentham Fire Station	Emergency Call	111
Upper Hutt Ambulance Station	Emergency Call	111
Upper Hutt Council		(04) 527 2168
Model Flying New Zealand	Jonathan Shorer	06 362 6313

Attachment 2: Hazards Register

 

Environmental
Airspace		Model aircraft may fly anywhere in the hall other than over the flight line and pits area.
Airfield	Runways	Model aircraft may take off and land anywhere in the hall other than over the flight line and pits area.
Flight Envelope		Model aircraft may fly anywhere in the hall other than over the flight line and pits area.
Surrounding Area		N/A
Grounds Layout	Take off/landing Pilots’ Box Pits Spectators	Personnel close to flying aircraft Hall constructed with some flammable materials – fire hazard Pits/spectator area adjacent to flying area
Radio Spectrum		Use of MFNZ approved frequencies only with most pilots using 2.4 Ghz.
Meteorology		Visual contact with aircraft No wind effects in hall
Fire		Spread of fire through building.
Mechanical
Aircraft		Failure of aircraft
RC system		Failure of aircraft
Fuel		Fire Hazard – covered above
Accident/Failure		On ‘airstrip’ Off ‘airstrip’
Collision		On circuit
Human
Pilot Qualification		Control of aircraft
Operational Limitations		Operating within hall airspace.
Pilot Awareness/Co-ordination		Loss of awareness of operating environment
Safety Management		Co-ordination of safety response.
Medical		Unexpected medical event affecting ability to control aircraft. Minor and/ or major injuries

 

Attachment 3:

FLIGHT-LINE GUIDELINES FOR FLYING AT

Expressions Hall, Expressions Arts & Entertainment Centre, 836 Fergusson Dr, Upper Hutt Central, Upper Hutt

 

When more than one pilot is present, the following matters are to be discussed and agreed: –

Runway:

• In Use
• Circuit Direction
• Entry
• Exit
• Queuing

Startup Area:

• Positioning

Take Off:

• Once airborne move to flight line
• Takeoff run, down the hall and away from the pits/spectator area.

Circuit:

• Limitations: height, width and length of hall
• No flying over the pits/spectator area

Emergencies:

• Fire extinguishers and hose reels in several locations throughout the hall
• Five emergency exits located around the hall
• Anyone going to recover aircraft MUST have approval of active pilots
• No one on the hall floor unless specifically cleared by active pilots