Another Flying Objection

[LuMan]

I';m sure these stories are ten-a-penny with us lot, but this one does involve a flying site that I have suggested in the past.

I was flying at the Weirfields (a local playing field) the other week, minding my own business, as we do, and maintaining a distance of at least 50 metres from the numerous dog walkers and other folk.

Normally when I fly, a few folk ask questions, nod, say "hello" and generally leave me alone. It';s one of the reasons why the field is popular with RC flyers.

However, I was interrupted by the shout, "Excuse me! What you are doing is illegal!"

I acknowledged the shout and landed before turning to face the individual, who then told me, in no uncertain terms, that the law states that I must be "500 metres way from people or buildings in order to fly." I attempted to set her straight and pointed out the current CAA ruling, but was shot down again, as she was "an expert in local by-laws, and there is a special by-law in place, specifically for this field, which states that [you] must be over 500 metres from anyone."

The field is about 250m x 200m, so getting a 500m radius may be tricky.

I checked the local by-laws previous to my initial flight some months ago and none exist to this effect. Other flyers have even contacted the local council and have been told that no specific by-law exists. However, this was cutting no ice with this "expert" who found it necessary to chuck in a personal insult before striding off.

I flew the rest of my packs before calling it a day, but decided to do the correct thing and I have emailed the relevant department at the local council. I';ve heard nothing as yet, but will update when I get a response.

So, if you are planning on using the Weirfield, you may want to hang on a bit! 

[Saleem]

" I attempted to set her straight and pointed out the current CAA ruling, but was shot down again, as she was "an expert in local by-laws, and there is a special by-law in place, specifically for this field, which states that [you] must be over 500 metres from anyone."

The field is about 250m x 200m, so getting a 500m radius may be tricky.

This made me giggle!

[mickbass]

We have the same problem at a local field. I fly light aircraft and a woman that live in a nearby cottage, and complains to the local council. The airfield has been there for 50 years and she has lived there for 10. The council received about 20 complaints from "different people" then discovered they were from the same women.

[Andy_R]

Invite the person to call the police if they think you';re breaking the law. If they do and the police turn up, file a formal complaint about the person for harassment.

[nate80]

It takes all sorts, doesn';t it?  Every town/village has at least one ';protector of the people'; (public nuisance) who alleges to know every law and spends their life campaigning for their own view of justice.   :roll eyes:

[Andy7]

So far, I';ve been largely ignored by the locals, groundsmen and dog walkers while out flying in my usual public field. Kids will usually come up and I get "Cool, mister!" type responses which is always nice - but kids will always do that, even if I was flying like a terrorist (perhaps more so).

But I';ve been wondering it it might be worth just writing a note to the parish council (with whom, I';m pretty friendly as I manage their website!) to get an official stance on whether they consider "safe, considerste, insured flying" permissable and legal. Then I';d have something to wave at anyone that wants to poke a stick at me.

Trouble is, I risk getting the usual, "well, if it MIGHT be dangerous we cant take any chances" type response. 

[Saleem]

Dogs are dangerous,especialy if not leashed,i see many dog owners throwing stuff for their dogs and letting them wander round,in fact a woman walked her friends pug things and one of them use to always come over making loads of noise (probably complaining in dog language about flying quad) and once proceeded to urinate on my bag i carry my stuff in.to make matters worse her own dog,an der dog wanted to have a wee also on my bag.

At the end of day i see many dogs,all that could/can be dangerous,leashed and unleashed but i dont complain,unless they wee all over my gear.

I have been lucky realy as i have been pretty much accepted where i fly but i do fly safely (in my opinion) although faulty esc and weather has kept me away for nearly 2 weeks,they probably wander why they dont see me.

[Revs]

I actually keep a bit of paper with the rules on with me at all times incase someone like this comes along. Fortunately all the attention me and my buddies have ever had has been 100% positive. Some like to stand and watch for a bit. Others come over for a chat and a look through the goggles. We always land as people approach and get their approval to fly before taking off again if they want to stay within 50m.

[Elmattbo]

I was walking back to the car after a flight and was chatting to a local dog walker who asked that I stay away from her dog (nothing to do with the quad). She said the dog was from a shelter and didn';t like men, so if I see the dog don';t approach! The lady was pleasant enough, but given the dogs propensity to randomly attack 50% of the population, I was amazed she let it off the lead! And people think my hobby is antisocial and dangerous! [emoji848]


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Hands0n]

Invite the person to call the police if they think you';re breaking the law. If they do and the police turn up, file a formal complaint about the person for harassment.

That is actually a good suggestion.  It is the Police who will consider and apply the law, not the CAA or anyone else.  So asking the person to call 101 or even 999 if they consider it an emergency, is a rather good tactic.  That is, providing what you';re doing is within the CAA regulations that the Police will use to assess the case.

[insx]

I thought I was going to have my first dispute recently when someone shouted something that sounded like "turn the drone off". I landed and it turned out that the guy was about to lock the car park and just didn';t want me to get locked in. He said it was OK to park outside and carry on, he was from the council.

[hoverfly]

I was walking back to the car after a flight and was chatting to a local dog walker who asked that I stay away from her dog (nothing to do with the quad). She said the dog was from a shelter and didn';t like men, so if I see the dog don';t approach! The lady was pleasant enough, but given the dogs propensity to randomly attack 50% of the population, I was amazed she let it off the lead! And people think my hobby is antisocial and dangerous! [emoji848]


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Most bylaws require dogs to be on a lead and  under control. If the woman knows the dog is aggresive it should be muzzled.

[shawdreamer]

i see many dog owners throwing stuff for their dogs..

...in fact a woman walked her friends pug things and one of them use to always come over making loads of noise .

next time she "throws" something for the dog

complain about her un-manned drone flying dangerously.

ps........ I refuse to call a PUG a "dog", at best its a form of rodent

[hoverfly]

[quote
ps........ I refuse to call a PUG a "dog", at best its a form of rodent
[/quote]

Speciest!!!! Rodents are far more evolved than "pugs"

[Andy7]

Rodents are far more evolved than "pugs"

... well, technically yes you';re right given that they';re a product of human breeding (that didn';t come out right).

[shawdreamer]

... well, technically yes you';re right given that they';re a product of human breeding (that didn';t come out right).

so thats why boris johnson reminds me a small pointless dog like creature!

[kilby]

ps........ I refuse to call a PUG a "dog", at best its a form of rodent

A pug is what you get if your dog chases parked cars

[shawdreamer]

A pug is what you get if your dog chases parked cars

a small mercy killing is what you get when it chases reversing ones.

[hoverfly]

Organic wire cutter, also doubles as a hand warmer.

[LuMan]

Some good responses. Thanks, chaps 

I did email the local council, but they';ve not responded yet. If they do respond negatively, then I';ll ask them for the actual by-law reference and check it out. It would be too easy for them to say, "ooh. That sounds dangerous. Oh, no. We forbid anything like that.."

WRT pugs - my wife is crazy about the damned freaky things! She';s adamant (not ';Adam Ant';, but really keen!  ) she';s getting one. I told her she could, as it could be useful for testing the thrust capability of my S550!!

On the bright side, if it fails and the hapless beast plummets, the impact won';t make it any uglier!

[Bad Raven]

 A fair while ago (before quadgate!) I was flying in a council park that specifically had a flight permission bylaw.  It was early one summer morning and we (three) were alone centrally in a mile square shrubbery/tree free flat space. We flew centrally as nobody could possibly sneak unseen into danger, and only two of the three were ever in the air together. We were flying specific own design ultralights, less than 150g.

This one morning a large gentleman with flouro yellow jacket came marching (literally) from the distant car park, so we landed as he entered our zone.

He promptly laid into us with all sorts of accusations of the dangers we were causing, ending with "You might hit and kill a child, you must stop".  Friend 1 made a show of eyes sweeping the field twice round 360 degrees, hand over brow ancient maniner style, then said "I';m sorry, I cannot see a child, would you mind pointing one out to me?"

This prompted a greater diatribe and a statement that he was the Head of Parks and Gardens, we were acting illegally, and he was going to phone the Police.

I replied very politely that there was no danger he was intimating was evident and imminent, or we would not have been flying, and that I would welcome him phoning the Police, as then I could show them this.............and produced a copy of the Bylaws with the section highlighted in marker pen proving we were legally flying, fully within the times and place permitted.

Spluttering furiously, he marched off stating over his shoulder that he';d soon get that bylaw altered.  We were apparently a great danger to the one crow on the field, as we were still apart from him alone.  Once he was out of our flying area we resumed.

That was about 2006 or 7...............it';s STILL specifically written into Bylaw that it is legal to fly there today. The name he gave is still Head of Parks and Gardens, too.

I strongly suggest you always carry a copy of the Bylaws for the places you fly, you never know when a prat who';s forgotten he serves the wider public and his manners might need to read it to catch up with his own job !!!   

[Bad Raven]

NOTE, to be legal, Bylaws have to be visible at the site they apply to, notice board, etc.  These days they are usually Online on council websites, too.

Even sites banning "powered flight" have to have a qualifier statement in appendix as to what constitutes "power", and that is often identified as "engine powered by liquid fuel", as they were mostly written before electric power became viable.

[LuMan]

Well, the council finally got back to me, and there has been an update to the bye-laws governing the Weirfields park.

Bye-law 16 states:
"A person shall not in the recreation ground fly any power-driven model aircraft."

It goes on to say:
"Power driven means driven by the combustion of petrol vapour or other combustable vapour or other combustable substances or by one or more electric motors."

So, that';s fairly cut and dried. While the marry old battle-axe from my first post may have got lucky with her bye-law comment, I feel vilified that there was no mention of a 500 metre ruling.

Part of me is considering printing the bye-law out, highlighting the section about "powered aircraft," and flinging a DLG about while she';s there  :evil

[guest325]

Looks like they have taken the same stance as National trust and Forestry commission with their ruling.
DLGS rock, great fun once you get the knack and keep you fit ::)

[Bad Raven]

Great, so my JW 60 (the model holding the Dynamic Soaring Foamie Glider world record at over 240 mph) is OK then......................  There';s a hilly park just near the council offices............... :evil :evil

[GdLookinMingeR]

Well, the council finally got back to me, and there has been an update to the bye-laws governing the Weirfields park.

Bye-law 16 states:
"A person shall not in the recreation ground fly any power-driven model aircraft."

It goes on to say:
"Power driven means driven by the combustion of petrol vapour or other combustable vapour or other combustable substances or by one or more electric motors."

So, that';s fairly cut and dried. While the marry old battle-axe from my first post may have got lucky with her bye-law comment, I feel vilified that there was no mention of a 500 metre ruling.

Part of me is considering printing the bye-law out, highlighting the section about "powered aircraft," and flinging a DLG about while she';s there  :evil

By Law if I am not Mistaken
the council have to provide you with a space in order to pursue your hobby.
If the law has changed in that area they must provide you with details of a suitable local site in which to fly your model aircraft.
Good Luck
Jay

[Digit]

Bye-law 16 states:
"A person shall not in the recreation ground fly any power-driven model aircraft."

It goes on to say:
"Power driven means driven by the combustion of petrol vapour or other combustable vapour or other combustable substances or by one or more electric motors."

The byelaw in Southampton is similar. You can';t fly anything powered by flammable vapour, however it says nothing about electric motors. So whenever someone says I can';t fly there I';ll just present them with said byelaw.

[LuMan]

By Law if I am not Mistaken

You say "by-law" and I say "bye-law"...etc... 

Of course, you';re right. But, seriously, Google the damn thing...! I used to think my English was good, until I managed to today bamboozle myself with the correct spelling of bi-law!

I have emailed back to the council chappie, asking for suitable sites. I won';t hold my breath....

By-Buy....