UK ADDITIONAL RULES

1. PURPOSE

1.1 This document is primarily aimed at increasing safety when flying 1/12th scale Aircombat in the UK. It is to be used in conjunction with the formal ACES Aircombat International Rules and the BMFA Handbook guidelines.

2.0 SCOPE

2.1 These Additional Rules are only applicable for ACES 1/12th Scale Combat flying in the UK.

3.0 DEFINITIONS

3.1 Combat Flying - This is defined as where two or more aircraft are fitted with streamers and are flying together. This applies to Demonstrations, Competitions, Practice or any other situation.
3.2 NC - The UK National Contact (or 2nd National Contact)
3.3 GC - Group Contact (local).
3.4 BMFA - British Model Flying Association.

4.0 REFERENCES

4.1 ACES International Rules (Current Issue).
4.2 Task Descriptions for ACES UK events. (Appendix A)
4.3 BMFA Handbook (Current Issue).
4.4 ACES UK Website - http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Runway/9790
4.5 ACES EUROPE Website - http://welcome.to/aces
4.6 ACES Eurocup Guidelines.

5.0 GENERAL

5.1 All Combat Flying must be conducted in a safe and responsible manner, moreso than standard flying, due to the nature of the sport.
5.2 All radios shall use the 35Mhz FM band. PCM radios shall have the PRESET function set the throttle to minimum, where the receiver Failsafe engages.
5.3 Any pilot may join ACES. Active pilots should be registered with ACES UK. This is to a) increase the professionalism of the sport, and b) help with data on pilot's scores. Registration is arranged by a FREE one-off membership card, obtained at any time from the GC or NC.

6.0 EVENTS & COMPETITIONS

6.1 Any group of pilots can organise an ACES AirCombat event However, the event must be registered with the GC and/or the NC. This will assist with the gathering of data for pilot scores.
6.2 Organisation - As a minimum, all events shall have a designated:-

The Flightline Director and the Safety Officer should be non-contestants. Other Officers, volunteers and helpers can be drafted as required. See ACES UK Task Descriptions for more details. (Appendix A)
6.3 Events must be operated under these Rules, together with ACES Rules and BMFA guidelines where applicable.
6.4 All competitors, especially foreign visitors, must be made aware of the UK Additional Rules prior to flying.
6.5 The Event Officers shall check for entrant's third party insurance cover.
6.6 The organising group may be expected to use "standard" materials, eg streamers.
6.7 Where a Scanner is available, all transmitters should be tested to ensure that:-

a) they are set to the stated Frequency Channel, and
b) that their Centre Frequency is satisfactory (for a given Crystal).

6.8 A transmitter Pound should be set up. All transmitters are initially placed in the pound and tested when they are issued with the frequency control clearance. Where a given transmitter no longer has frequency clearance, it shall be returned to the Pound.
6.9 Transmitters (with frequency clearance) should be operated in the Pit area with the aerial DOWN.
6.10 Frequency Controls shall be established and recognised.
6.11 There must be an emergency signal (Whistle or Airhorn) that is understood by all pilots, and that will immediately stop combat flying. Pilots should then circle within the flying area at a safe height, depending on the nature of the hazard. A second signal (whistle) will be given if it is safe to land. Refer to section 8.

7.0 SITE

7.1 A flying site must be suitable for Aircombat events. This applies in terms of noise, location of nearby obstacles, duration of the event, and the possibility of unauthorised accessability by the public.
7.2 Where the flying site can be accessed by the public, Warning Notices are to be erected (if not already present) at the access points when Combat Flying is intended.
7.3 ACES pilots and organisers shall make any fellow club members etc, aware of all Safety Precuations while Combat Flying is in progress.
7.4 For the UK, the Safety Line is placed 10m in front of the Flightline.
7.5 A notice stating that "HARD HATS MUST BE WORN" shall be erected in the appropriate area.
7.6 Children under 12 years of age should remain in the Audience area.
7.7 A general layout is given in Fig 1 below:-

Figure 1 - Site General Layout

8.0 FLYING

8.1 No other aircraft shall fly while Combat flying is in progress.
8.2 No pilot or helper must position themselves under combat flying that is in progress. During a Combat Heat, aircraft that have landed are not to be removed from the field. It is the decision of the Main Judge and contest organisers as to whether the combat can be interrupted to allow aircraft retrieval. This will require proper planning (arrangment of signals, holding the time count etc) prior to commencement of all flying.
8.3 Aircraft shall not fly across the Safety Line, except for Take-off. Normal ACES rules apply.
8.4 It is recommended that for audible communication to pilots at small events, a whistle is used (first column). However, for larger events, the addition of an airhorn is better for safety warnings, and can be used in conjunction with the whistle:-

Where only a whistle is used:-

And where a whistle and Airhorn are used:-

NOTE 1 The posts of Contest Director, Chief Safety Officer and Flightline Director are mandatory. Where support is minimal, the other Officers can "Multi-Role", eg the Flightline Director also acts as the Main Judge, and the Chief Safety Officer can also be the Liaison Officer.

NOTE 2 The posts of Chief Safety Officer and Flightline Director are non-competitors.

CONTEST/ EVENT DIRECTOR (Mandatory)

This is the person that has overall accountability and is responsible for the setting-up and operation of the event:-

* Overall organisation and preparations for before, during, and after the event.
* Ensures that all systems, hardware and personel are in place and suitably briefed to make the event run smoothly.
* Solving any major problems during the competition, ie those that cannot be solved by the other officers.
* Brief all Pilots and spectators before flying on:-

a) Flight area limitations.
* Show boundaries.
* Show Site set up plan.
b) Safety rules and requirements, including UK Additional Rules.
* No walking across the Flightline when aircraft flying.
* No flying over the Safety Line (except for Take-off).
* Head protection to be worn in the appropriate areas.
* Transmitters to be placed in the Pound, before they are checked/issued by Flight Control.
* No Transmitters ON without Peg ON aerial/pegboard (depends on system in use).
* Aerials DOWN in Pits
* Point out First Aid Post.
c) Explain the timing and emergency signals available with the operation of the whistle. Also the Airhorn (where used).
d) Introduce the other Officers, and briefly explain remits.

CHIEF SAFETY OFFICER (Mandatory)

* In accordance with BMFA recommendations, the Chief Safety Officer is responsible for Safety for the whole competition or event. He/She co-ordinates closely with the Main Judge / Flightline Director.

* Ensures that the Perimeter Warning signs are in place, as are any on-site Hard Hat notices.
* Ensures that all vehicles are parked correctly in the allocated place.
* Monitors the PIT area for potential hazards or dangerous behaviour/practices.
* All protective headgear is used as required.
* Any audience/spectators must be 40m from the Flightline.
* Ensures that no members of the public or animals walk on the flying area. Should this be the case, the Whistle or Airhorn must be sounded accordingly (ref section 8), and all combat flying must STOP immediately (circle at a safe height).
* Checking airworthiness of aircraft that look unsafe (either in the air or on the ground), or have been involved in an accident, and are intended to fly again after repair.
* Although not part of the Safety remit, the scruteneering may also cover checking aircraft for compliance with ACES rules, eg not to the correct scale, or aircraft using oversized engines, tuned pipes etc.

MAIN JUDGE (FLIGHTLINE DIRECTOR) (Mandatory)

* This officer acts mainly at the Flightline where he/she is principally stationed during the competition. They are responsible for, and have control of all activities in the Flightline area, whether flying is in progress or not. He/she also ensures that all safety precautions are observed, and is responsible for heat timing.

Safety at the Flightline consists of ensuring that:-

a) Anyone between the Pits and the Flightline area must wear protective headgear.
c) Everyone conducts themselves safely, especially when in the proximity of running engines.
b) No-one steps over the Flightline while combat is in progress, eg to collect grounded aircraft.
d) No aircraft crosses the Safety Line (except for take-off). Where this occurs, the Airhorn is sounded, and the pilot should be reprimanded. (They will lose 200 points) A second occurrence results in grounding.
e) All combat flying is to be stopped immediately (ie circle at a safe height) should members of the public or animals walk into the flying area, or low flying full size aircraft appear. The whistle or airhorn is used (ref section 8).
f) Aircraft that appear to be problematic, eg fly erratically, or seem un-airworthy shall be scrutineered by the Main Judge, and/or referred to Chief Safety Officer for inspection.

Flying Duties are:-

* Starting, Timing and Stopping Heats. (Helped by Liaison Officer) The heats are started and stopped using a whistle. The heats last for 7 minutes total flying time.
* Referee in the case of disputes. This should be carried out with information gathered from Pilots and Pilot Judges, and other Officers as necessary. Normally, a Pilot's ballot is used to solve the dispute.
* Has the power to ground or ban pilots, should any un-sportsmanlike conduct or infringements of safety rules occur. (Co-ordinates with other Officers).
* The Main Judge can scrutineer any aircraft that seems not to be in compliance with ACES competition rules. This could include airframe dimensions, engine size or type, tuned pipes etc. This is best done by checking on the ground either in the pits or during the Readiness Period, or by observing in flight.

LIAISON OFFICER (Optional)

The main duty of this person is to ensure that everyone and everything is in the correct place, and that things happen at the right time. He/ she is therefore the main contact between the other Contest Officers and Competitors. This person should be aware of any problems, and solve them accordingly.

* Ensure that all other designated Competition Officers are in place so that the event proceeds apace.
* Ensure that all Pilots are aware of when they need to fly. Should carry a master copy of the flight schedule. (Co-ordinate with the Flight Controller)
* Double check that all pilots are using the correct frequency (written on scoresheet by Flight Controller), and of course, that they have the correct Frequency Peg. (Co-ordinate with Flight Controller)
* Ensure that Pilot's are aware if they are needed to act as Pilot Judges, and have the relevant Pilot's Scoresheet (Co-ordinate with Flight Controller)
* Ensure that streamers are available for pilots.
* Check that everyone wears hard hats where applicable.

FLIGHT CONTROLLER (Optional)

This officer is responsible for all flying and frequency controls. The Frequency Peg Board will be stationed with him/her. Also, this person will keep the competition scores up to date, and post them where applicable. There will be a high degree of co-ordination with the Liaison Officer.

* Registration of all competitors' names, addresses, nationality, insurance check, available frequencies, and the details of aircraft to be used.
* Controls the use of the Transmitter Pound.
* Arranging the pilot group for each heat, avoiding crystal clashes. The relevant pilot's names and frequency is entered onto the Pilot Scoresheet for clarity.
* Re-arranging the above as much as possible for each of the subsequent two rounds.
* Issue and receipt and control of all Frequency Pegs. This may change with each heat, depending on allocations.
* Arranging the Frequency Controls/changes for the seven pilots in the Final.
* Use any available scanner to check all radios. Monitor interference and frequencies as appropriate with the Scanner, especially before flying starts.
* Arrange for Competitors to act as Pilot Judges where necessary. (Co-ordinates with Liaison Officer).
* Keeping scores sheets up to date and posted.

PILOT JUDGES

Each Pilot has a Pilot Judge standing next to him/her while flying. Where there are not enough helpers to act as Pilot Judges, other competitors can be used. The Pilot Judges:-

* Record all streamer cuts or collisions for THEIR pilot.
* Record their pilot's airtime points using stopwatch.
* Record any instance where the pilot crosses the Safety Line.
* Check the Pilot's streamers after landing, and record details.
* Correctly enter all the above data onto Pilot Scoresheet.
* Return the Pilot Scoresheet to the Flight Controller.

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