WMAC – Health and Safety – TeWhiti Park

 

Wellington Model Aeroplane Club

HEALTH AND SAFETY PLAN

FOR OPERATING MODEL AIRCRAFT

AT

Te Whiti Park, Whites Line East, Lower Hutt

October 2017

Wellington Model Aeroplane Club Committee

Date: 11/10/2017

Introduction

Wellington Model Aeroplane Club conducts model aircraft flying activities at Te Whiti Park, Whites Line East, Lower 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 site.

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
4. Hutt City Council, Policy on flying drones (UAVs) in, on and around Hutt City Council parks and reserves

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

Some members carry their own first aid supplies.

Fire Hazard

Radio controlled model aircraft flown at the park 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.

Fire Mitigation

Some members carry dry power fire extinguishers in their vehicles and these are readily accessible to all club members.

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
Lower Hutt Fire Station	Emergency Call	111
Lower Hutt Ambulance Station	Emergency Call	111
Lower Hutt Council	Emergency Call	111
Model Flying New Zealand	Jonathan Shorer	06 362 6313
CAA	Manager Special Flight Operations and Recreational Aviation	04 560 9400

Attachment 2: Hazards Register

Failure of communications system

Environmental
Airspace		CAA has a registered “Danger Zone” with a radius of 2 kilometres centred on Te Whiti Park site with a flight ceiling of 1000 SGL. Full sized aircraft may only transit this airspace in the event of an emergency.
Airfield	Runways	Northern flying area:  650 metres open park to the south.  100 metres approach from the north to the northernmost edge of the park.  No flying beyond the northernmost perimeter of the park due to proximity to residential housing. Southern flying area: 700 open park to the north.
Flight Envelope		Northern flying area: From the designated take off / landing area the flight envelope extends to the south, east and west. Southern flying area: From the designated take off / landing area the flight envelope extends to the north, east and west. Aircraft to be within line of sight at all times.
Surrounding Area	Public Road Residential area Bush reserve	Roadway and houses to the North, East and South of park perimeter Bush covered hills to the East of the park perimeter
Grounds Layout	Airstrips Pilots’ Box Pits Spectators	Grassed area – fire hazard Personnel close to runway Bush – fire hazard Pits/spectator area 30 metres from runway
Radio Spectrum		Use of MFNZ approved frequencies only with most pilots using 2.4 Ghz.
Meteorology		Visual contact with aircraft
Fire		Spread of fire through bush
Mechanical
Aircraft		Failure of aircraft
RC system		Failure of aircraft
Fuel		Fire Hazard – LIPO batteries (covered above)
Accident/Failure		On airstrip Off airstrip
Collision		On circuit
Human
Pilot Qualification		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

Te Whiti Park Flying Area, Whites Line East, Lower 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 Pilots’ Box
• Takeoff run, only 80m down runway.
• Aircraft not to be at full speed going past the pilots’ box.

Circuit:

• Limitations 1,000 ft SGL, with flying to remain within the park boundary
• No flying over sports teams using other areas of the park, or within 20 metres of other park users
• No direct turns or manoeuvres directly towards any occupied areas
• No over-flying of residential properties outside the park or buildings within the park

Emergencies:

• A number of members carry fire extinguishers and first and kits in their vehicles
• Anyone going to recover aircraft MUST have approval of active pilots
• No one on the active runway unless specifically cleared by active pilots

Engine outs (electric models):

• Verbally communicate immediately
• Control aircraft to designated take off / landing area, or if not possible, to an area clear of sports teams and members of the public