EFA Club Rules version 2026-10
Change Record
Baseline Rules Document– Web December 2019
2020-01: 6. add CAA registration
2026-01: 7. periodic review; add disciplinary procedure; use of “they” for “he/she”; update of hyperlinks; East Fortune specific rules updated following closure of the Sunday Market and addition of gate rule; horse precautions for Mount Lothian.
General
All rules shall apply to all Members & Guests.
Adherence to these rules shall be a condition of continuing Membership.
Only paid up Members of the Club and Guests accompanied by a Member of the Club shall fly models at EFA flying sites.
Both Member and Guest shall be insured with the SAA or BMFA but when the Guest is a “first time inexperienced flyer”, who has visited for not more than 3 days, then they are insured provided flights are personally supervised by a BMFA/SAA insured Member and a record kept of the Member and Guest names.
Members and Guests shall fly with due regard to safety at all times and with due regard to their own flying abilities.
Members and Guests shall if requested by a Committee Member provide evidence of their current Insurance, Club Membership, flying qualification (SAA Bronze or BMFA “A”) or CAA registration.
All gates shall be closed immediately after use unless found open. The site gate closes itself after 30 seconds so does not require to be closed.
No litter shall be left on any part of any flying site.
No unrestrained animals of any kind shall be allowed on any land used by the Club.
Models shall not be flown close to or over any person(s) or property other than as permitted under BMFA or SAA Safety Code (https://www.saaweb.uk/documents/SAA-Members-Handbook-Safety-Code-and-Guidance-v1.2.pdf) guidelines.
In particular:models shall not be flown over houses or parked cars and flying shall be restricted to the designated areas at all times
models shall not be flown over the pits nor behind the pits
models shall not be flown between the runway and the pits
models shall not be taxied between the pits and the runway except in the case of a model which is restrained by a person other than the pilot in such a manner as to be able to restrain the model in the event of the engine being operated at full power
there shall be no low passes over the runway when more than one model is flying
models shall not be flown directly over the transmitters of any other pilot or group of pilots
models shall not be flown at or near livestock
Pilots flying shall stand no closer than 3 metres to the edge of the runway except during take-off.
In the event that a Committee Member or Contest Director appoints a look-out to warn the fliers of the approach of any full-size aircraft and the look-out shall subsequently wish to fly, a stand-in shall be appointed BEFORE they commence flying.
Members or Guests shall not fly aircraft unsupervised unless they hold at least the Bronze SAA Achievement Award (https://www.saaweb.uk/documents/SAA-Achievement-Scheme.pdf), or BMFA A certificate (https://achievements.bmfa.uk/), for the type.
Hovering by beginner rotary wing flyers shall be personally supervised by a competent Helicopter pilot until they attain their SAA Hovering Competency Certificate or SAA Bronze Award (https://www.saaweb.uk/documents/SAA-Achievement-Scheme.pdf) or BMFA equivalent (https://achievements.bmfa.uk/).
Practice hovering of Helicopters shall be carried out only in the areas designated by the Committee so as not to prevent others flying.
Equipment
Only Type Approved radio control equipment shall be used.
Models shall be constructed and equipped according to current SAA / BMFA / LMA regulations.
Any model exceeding 7.5 kg in weight (including fuel) shall only be flown if it has at least a throttle fail-safe in working order and the operator has reasonably satisfied himself that the flight can safely be made.
Any model exceeding 25 kg in weight (including fuel) shall have CAA certification obtained through LMA membership, adequate insurance cover, and shall be operated in accordance with the Air Navigation Order.
Running-in of engines or prolonged ground testing shall be carried out away from the pits and flightline, and at a location minimising noise to neighbours.
No engine shall be run unless fitted with an effective silencer.
Models shall not be flown unless they satisfy the noise requirements of 82dBA at 7 metres. Exact methods of measurement are set out in the Department of the Environment “Code of Practice on Noise from Model Aircraft”, linked from the BMFA Members’ Handbook (https://handbook.bmfa.org/annex-b/6-the-noise-code).
Frequency Control
35 MHz
Members and Guests shall insert their Name Card in the frequency control board and take the relevant frequency peg before their transmitter is switched on.
When sharing 35MHz frequencies, the transmitter(s) not currently in use shall be placed in the transmitter pound.
Any Member or Guest causing damage by switching on a transmitter without ensuring that the above conditions are complied with shall be liable for any and all damage caused as a result of their actions.
2.4 GHz
1. There are no frequency control requirements for 2.4 GHz as the communication protocol is digitally coded and synchronised between individual transmitters and receivers. A 2.4 GHz receiver will ignore any transmitter that it is not “bound” to.
27 MHz
This system is considered unsafe as it is widely used by toys.
(https://handbook.bmfa.org/annex-b/7-rc-technical-info)
Care of children and vulnerable adults
A child is defined as a person of less than 18 years of age.
A vulnerable adult is defined as a person of 18 years of age or over but who through mental or physical attributes requires a higher level of supervision than would be normally commensurate with an adult member.
A responsible adult is defined as the authorised parent/guardian/carer of a particular child or vulnerable adult.
An instructor is defined as a Club member qualified according to SAA Safety Scheme guidelines and Club rules to instruct in the discipline in which instruction is being given. The minimum qualification is SAA Bronze or BMFA A flying competency award.
All Club members and responsible adults shall comply with SAA policies and guidelines and Club rules for the promotion of welfare and care of children and vulnerable adults. Where there is a difference between SAA and Club policy necessitated by local circumstances the Club requirement shall apply.
A child or vulnerable adult shall be supervised at all times by their responsible adult. This includes when receiving instruction from an instructor. The level of supervision shall be commensurate with the person’s age, maturity, capabilities and level of experience.
A child under the age of 14 years shall not start an engine of any type including electric or carry a model with the engine running unless supervised by an instructor and with the agreement of the child’s responsible adult.
Every child and vulnerable adult shall be supervised and protected such that they shall be at no greater risk from carrying out or being in the presence of any activity than would an appropriately competent able-bodied adult in the same situation. The child’s or vulnerable adult’s responsible adult shall be the arbiter if there is any doubt of the child’s or vulnerable adult’s abilities to undertake a specific activity.
No Club member shall assume full responsibility for a child’s or vulnerable adult’s welfare unless that Club member is also that person’s responsible adult.
Notwithstanding the requirements of the previous paragraph, if a Club member discovers a child or vulnerable adult who is unsupervised then the member shall assume responsibility for that person’s safety in the first instance. The situation shall then be rectified as soon as possible by seeking out the responsible adult. Any instance of such an occurrence shall be reported to the club committee as soon as possible and a record made of the occurrence.
Club members shall avoid placing themselves in a position that could be open to misinterpretation or question in accordance with this policy.
If any Club member, responsible adult or the person themselves have concerns about the welfare of children or vulnerable adults then he or she shall contact the Club’s Welfare Officer (welfare@ef-aero.org.uk) or any of the help lines noted in the SAA Policy & Guidelines .
All Club members shall respect the rights and dignity of children and vulnerable adults and shall promote their welfare.
Specific to East Fortune flying site
Maximum speed through the approach lane shall be 10mph
Models shall not be flown at East Fortune in contravention of a restriction notice whenever posted in the hut window or listed on the calendar circulated to members.
Fixed-wing flying shall be from the tarmac part of the runway and any adjacent grass area designated for that purpose and regardless of wind direction the pits shall be situated in front of the Club Hut and concrete plinth up to the full width of the mown area provided.
Whenever any Member of the Melville Motor Club is within the designated area at risk models shall not be circuit flown but instead flown back and forth only above the tyre wall with turnaround manoeuvres such as Procedure Turns beyond the occupied area in order to maintain separation from Melville Motor Club personnel and their visitors.
I.C. Helicopters shall not take off from nor land on the tarmac runway.
All aircraft exhausts shall output horizontally or above, otherwise Members and Guests shall use the runway protection sheets.
Members and Guests shall not permit their model to leave a visible oil stain on the motorcycle race circuit.
Smoking is not permitted in the Club Hut.
Specific to Mount Lothian flying site
Currently there are no specific restrictions regarding Mount Lothian however every care shall be taken to avoid damage to crops and farm animals and to act sensibly and safely and in observance of all club rules not specific to East Fortune.
When the electric fence is in use the last person to leave a session shall ensure that it is operating and that all posts are secure and that no tapes or wires are drooping into or close to the ground or long grass.
The gate shall be closed immediately after passing through.
I.C. engines are not to be started or revved when horses are within 100 metres.
Aircraft should not be flown low, including take-off and landing, when horses are within 100 metres.
Additional rules for First Person View (FPV)
The Pilot must have the appropriate certificate for the model type.
The Pilot must use a competent observer.
The observer must maintain direct unaided visual contact with the model, to monitor its flight path in relation to other aircraft, persons, vehicles, and structures for the purpose of avoiding collisions and advise the pilot accordingly.
Maximum take-off mass is 3.5 kg for all FPV aircraft types.
Maximum flying height is 400 ft (120 m) from ground level.
Minimum flying distance is 50m from livestock, vehicles, structures and people, and 100m from horses.
Complaints and Disciplinary Procedure
1. All members shall adhere to these Rules as stated and maintain the aims of East Fortune Aeromodellers as stated in the Constitution. If anyone has cause for complaint against a member, or the Club Rules or Policy, then they should discuss this with the Chairman or the Secretary. If the complaint relates to either of these two persons then they may instead contact their relevant organisation – the SAA or the BMFA.
2. If a complaint is brought to the attention of a Committee member then the Committee member should advise action as 1. above. It is inappropriate to expect the Committee member to act as a go-between other than to instruct any member to cease and desist with immediate inappropriate behaviour and take over control of an event. Immediately following this it must be reported to the Chairman or Secretary, certainly the same day.
3. In the first instance the Chairman or Secretary should try to resolve any issue informally and amicably with the aim of avoiding lasting injury to pride or trust.
4. If this is insufficient then complaints will be reviewed by the Committee and the relevant persons questioned in private; a supporting person and a second member of Committee must always be present for this and the session minuted to the satisfaction of all parties. This will form part of the Club archive. If it cannot be shown that actions have contravened the Club’s Constitution or Rules then the matter must be closed out as unresolved and no further action taken. This result will be recorded in the Club’s archives.
5. Depending on the nature of the complaint, the matter may have to be referred to the SAA, BMFA, CAA or the Police.
6. Where a member of Committee is involved that member shall not be part of the review process.
7. Committee may decide to amend the Constitution at the next AGM, or the Rules through a Committee Meeting.
8. The matter will not be circulated to the Club, but learning points may be sent out if there was a shortcoming in the Club’s Rules or Constitution, and these documents corrected in time to be ratified by the next Committee Meeting, or AGM, or EGM as appropriate.
East Fortune Aeromodellers Committee, October 2026.