Pilot Briefing

From: E/xpo Contest Director

To:  All Pilots and assistants

The "Official AMA National Model Aircraft Safety Code" for 2010 will be enforced at this event.

All fixed wing aircraft must have a flying weight of less than 25 ounces. (Combat and Pylon Race aircraft must be less than 20 ounces.)  Helicopters must have 450 mm or smaller main rotor blades.

2.4 GHz spread spectrum radios do not need a frequency pin.

Pilots using the 72 MHz, 53 MHz, 50 MHz, 49 MHz or 27 MHz radio frequencies must checkout a frequency pin before turning "ON" their transmitter.  Leave your AMA card in the slot behind the frequency pin when you checkout a pin.   Frequency pins are to be returned as soon as a flight is completed, so that other pilots my fly.  Pilots flying on these frequencies are reminded to stand at least 10' apart while flying to avoid intermodal interference.

There is a 72 MHz frequency analyzer available to check for clear frequencies.  There's a unidentified interference problem on channel 58.  If you suspect an interference problem, please check with the Contest Director.  If a frequency pin is unavailable and you cannot find the pilot with the pin, check with the Contest Director.

120 Volt AC outlets available - Tables are not provided but are permitted on the floor of the UNI Dome, so bring your own table.

R/C Pilots must stand in one of the designated "Pilot Station" areas when flying.  Free-Flight aircraft must be launched from the designated Free Flight area.

Do not cross the Flight Safety Line onto the field of flight except to retrieve downed aircraft.  Always announce your intention to go onto the field before crossing the flight line.

Fly your aircraft in it's designated area.

• The "racetrack" or circular flying patter is a counterclockwise or left-hand turn pattern.  Take-off toward the South end of the field.

• All aircraft should takeoff in a direction that takes the aircraft away from the flight line.

• Helicopters and 3D flying areas have a "box" in front of each Pilot Station.  Close-in flying is only allowed in the box in front of your Pilot Station.  Do not fly through the close-in flying areas of other pilots.

• Helicopters should liftoff and land in the "box" in front of their flight station.

• The term "takeoff" applies to both hand-launch and ROG (roll-on-ground) takeoffs.

• The Contest Director may change the size or location of the respective areas during the day to fit the needs of all the pilots present.

The Safety Officers will enforce over-flights of R/C aircraft over the Flight Safety Line.  Pilots flying on the spectator side of the Flight Safety Line will be asked to land immediately.  Repeated or willful violation of the Flight Safety Line will result in revocation of flying privileges for the weekend.   If you have difficulty keeping your aircraft in front of the Flight Safety Line, ask for help.  There are many skilled pilots who are willing to help other pilots trim-out an aircraft or learn to safely fly in a restricted airspace.

The area near the Video Screen on the Southeast wall is a No Fly Zone.  Anyone flying in this area will be asked to land immediately.  A second violation of the No Fly Zone will result in your flying privileges being revoked for the weekend.

Buddy boxes are allowed, but the primary pilot is responsible for safe operation of the aircraft and compliance with the Safety Code at all times.

The Contest Director and Safety Officers are the final authorities on unsafe operation.  Any activity deemed to be unsafe by the Contest Director or Safety Officers is prohibited.

The UNI Dome has a very high ceiling.  Aircraft that land or become stuck in a location that cannot be reached from the main floor, stands or mezzanines become the property of the UNI Dome.  There are no provisions for the retrieval of aircraft stuck in inaccessible locations.

Make sure your vehicle is parked in a marked parking space.  Vehicles not properly parked will be ticketed and towed by the University Police.  Do not park vehicles in the Loading Zone outside the garage door at the North end of the field.  This area is for loading and unloading only.  Move your vehicle out of this area as soon as you have loaded or unloaded.

There is free parking in the West UNI Dome parking lot.  The pilot & spectator entrance is the "NW Entrance" to the UNI Dome, across the road from the West Parking Lot.  Parking in the loop in front of the NW Entrance is short term parking and drop-off only.  The North Parking Lot may also be used but it is further from the UNI Dome than the West Lot and is shared parking with UNI students.

Handicap parking is in the front row of the West Parking Lot.  Handicap access to the UNI Dome floor is through the "NW Entrance", then follow the mezzanine walkway to the north end of the UNI Dome to the elevator.  (The elevator is new this year and provides full handicap access to the UNI Dome floor.)

Drawings for prizes will be held at 1PM each day.  You must be present to win.

Please keep the UNI Dome as clean as possible.  Put trash in the proper receptacles and immediately clean up all spills.  The UNI Dome charges the Black Hawk R/C Pilots a facility clean-up fee after the event.  Keeping the facility as clean as possible will minimize the clean-up fee and will help make it possible to hold this event again next year.

The ATM Machine is located on the South Mezzanine below the Video Screen.

Bathrooms are on the Mezzanine level and on the floor level through the NE door.

Fly Safe and Have Fun!