WMAC – Safety Plan – Trentham

 

Wellington Model Aeroplane Club Inc.

HEALTH AND SAFETY PLAN

FOR OPERATING MODEL AIRCRAFT

AT

Seddon Range, Alexander Road, Trentham

October 2017

Wellington Model Aeroplane Club Committee

Date: 11/10/2017

Introduction

Wellington Model Aeroplane Club conducts model aircraft flying activities at Seddon Range Alexander Road Trentham Upper Hutt for club members and invited members of other clubs affiliated to Model Flying New Zealand.

Whilst flying model aircraft at this location does not constitute a public event, spectators are welcome to attend and observe.

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

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. NZJMA’s Jet Turbine Code of Practice
4. This Club’s safety rules and guidelines

MFNZ and NZJMA have approved this site for the flying of all types of model aircraft including jet turbine models in terms of the above listed publications.

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, observers and nearby residents 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 airfield and establishing safety lines makes best use of this approach.

First Aid

A comprehensive first aid kit is located on site and some members also carry their own first aid supplies.

The location of the nearest Defibrillator. This should be posted on the club house for all members to see.

Fire Hazard

Radio controlled model aircraft generally fall into three categories: –

Diesel, Methanol and Petrol fuelled Aircraft

These types of model aircraft have been flown internationally for several decades with a very low incidence of fire.

Electric Powered Aircraft

Electric aircraft are powered by Lithium Polymer batteries which may combust in the event of a crash or use of incorrect charging procedures. The fire is of a very short duration and risk of environmental damage is low.

Jet Turbine Aircraft

Jet turbines use Diesel, Kerosene or Jet A1 fuel for their operation. The small fuel loads carried and the temperature of exhaust gases pose a small risk to the surrounding area.

Fire Mitigation

A commercial sized dry power fire extinguisher is located on site and is readily accessible to all club members. Charge stations should be a stand alone area that if fire develops fire damage is limited.

Each jet turbine pilot shall have his personal CO² fire extinguisher when flying at this location.

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 Officers	Lee Kleynhans,  Gavin Rhodes	See above
Trentham Fire Station	Emergency Call	111
Upper Hutt Ambulance Station	Emergency Call	111
Police	Emergency Call	111
Trentham Military Camp Guard House	Duty Officer	Via supplied Radio
Model Flying New Zealand	Jonathan Shorer	06 362 6313
CAA	Manager Special Flight Operations and Recreational Aviation	04 560 9400

Attachment 2: Hazards Register

<tdFailure of communications system

Environmental		(The following are examples of type of information to be recorded)
Airspace		CAA has a registered “Danger Zone” as per map attached with a flight ceiling of 1500 FASL (1350 FAGL). Full sized aircraft may only transit this airspace in an emergancy.
Airfield	Runways	North/South alignment – 75 metres with cleared and levelled approach area to the north and south. Other flying areas as per attached map.
Flight Envelope		North to the road, South to the hill top, East to Dante Road, South to the prison security boundary. Aircraft to be within line of sight at all times.
Surrounding Area	Prison Public roads Army Camp Reserve Bush Golf course	Prison = no fly Roads = no fly Army camp = no fly Reserve = over-fly is allowed Golf course = over-fly is allowed
Grounds Layout	Airstrips Pilots’ Box Area to the East	Grassed area – fire hazard Personnel close to runway Scrub-land – fire hazard Pits/spectator area 10 metres from runway
Radio Spectrum		Use of MFNZ approved frequencies with most pilots using 2.4 GHz.
Meteorology		Visual contact with aircraft Wind affecting model performance – crosswind
Fire		Spread of fire through grass and gorse.
Mechanical
Aircraft		Failure of aircraft
RC system		Failure of aircraft
Fuel		Fire Hazard – Fuel/Battery – covered above
Accident/Failure		On airstrip Off airstrip
Collision		Ground and air
Human
Pilot Qualification		Safe control of aircraft
Operational Limitations		Operating within airspace and geographical limits.
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. Sunburn Minor and/or major injuries

 

Attachment 3:

FLIGHT-LINE GUIDELINES FOR FLYING AT

Seddon Range Alexander Road Trentham

 

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

Flying Areas:

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

Startup Area:

• Positioning
• Jets – fire extinguishers present
• Safety barriers

Take Off:

• Once airborne move to Pilots’ Box
• Takeoff run, only 50m down mown runway.
• Aircraft not to be at full speed when passing the pits
• Assisted launches away from people and vehicles

Circuit:

• Limitations 1350 ft AGL
• No direct turns or manoeuvres directly towards any occupied areas
• No over-flying of residential properties, Army camp or Prison

Emergencies:

• Jet turbine pilots – personal fire extinguishers on hand
• Club Fire extinguisher and buckets of sand are located in the club hut
• Anyone going to recover aircraft MUST have verbal approval of active pilots
• No one on the active runway unless specifically cleared by active pilots

Engine outs:

• Verbally communicate immediately
• Control aircraft to runway, or if not possible, to any other suitable area away from people and vehicles