NPA 2017-05(A) Introduction of a regulatory framework for the operation of drones The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) began the process to create a regulatory framework for the operation of drones in 2015, when in August they published the A-NPA 2015/10 – “Introduction of a regulatory framework for the operation of drones”.  This document appeared to offer a number of concessions and safeguards to avoid a negative impact on the long established activity of model flying.  Europe Air S...

The new National Visitor Centre and Model Flying site opens at 9am on Monday 8th May for model aircraft flying. See the National Centre website at http://nationalcentre.bmfa.org/ for further details. Check the status box on the front page of the website for the proposed activity over the coming three days (continuous update). But the aim is to run sport R/C as the primary activity for the first three days with control line circles also in operation and to accommodate season ticket holders as ...

Team Silver and Individual Bronze medals!

If using any of the mentioned receivers please download and read the Recall notice at https://www.spektrumrc.com/ProdInfo/Files/Spektrum_PowerSafe_TRX_Recall-Notice.pdf  

Born in Southend, Martyn was an aviation enthusiast since childhood, becoming an experienced designer of model aircraft at the age of eighteen for Contest Kits of Leigh-on Sea. His particular interest was free-flight rubber competition, an interest he pursued all his life.   After a degree in aeronautical engineering from London University, he trained as an airframe structures engineer at Handley Page, working in the stress office on the Victor programme and other projects. He chaired Hert...

European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Prototype Rules The second of four scheduled EASA ‘Expert Group’ meetings to discuss and refine the ‘Prototype Rules’ took place in Cologne on 14th December.  Areas covered included possible differentiation of commercial/recreational operations, requirements for registration, electronic identification and age restrictions.  The next meeting will take place on the 23rd & 24th January and will focus on the requirements for operations within their pro...

The Royal Aero Club Trust bursary scheme closing date for 2017 is the 31st March 2017.  Young aero-modelling enthusiasts, including those who have received a previous award and wish to apply for a follow-on award, and who are still eligible, should look at the details of the scheme on the Trust website (www.royalaeroclubtrust.org) and send their application to arrive as soon as possible.   In 2016 a total of 50 young sports-aviation enthusiasts received an award from the Trust to enable them to ...

  Robin Sleight, Honorary Secretary of the BMFA and Chairman of the British Association of Radio Control Soarers, died on December 2nd, 2016. Robin had been a member of the BMFA for nearly sixty years starting like so many others with Keil Kraft models and ED engines; he grew up in Scotland and has in the distant past been a member of the Scottish Free Flight team and a control line finalist at the Nationals. Since the advent of radio, he gravitated to competitive thermal soaring as a primary...

At a meeting on 10th November, the Transport & Tourism Committee (TRAN) of the European Parliament backed plans for the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to be granted the competence to regulate unmanned aircraft below 150Kg, including model aircraft. The TRAN Committee also backed plans requiring some form of mandatory registration and identification for all unmanned aircraft above 250 grams. Further details of their plans can be found here: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news...

The rulemaking team at EASA have asked me to notify members that the deadline for feedback on the Prototype Rules was 15th October.  We understand that they are still receiving dozens of emails per day, mainly from the U.K!  Thank you to all those members who provided constructive feedback. The formal feedback response submitted to EASA on behalf of FAI & Europe Air Sports has been published here: http://www.fai.org/news/42436-eas-fai-response-easa-unmanned-aircraft  The level of response ...