Flying RC Airplanes - SAFETY TIPS

Whether we are drawn to them out of a fascination with flight, or because we enjoy relaxing, getting outdoors and spending time with friends, for many of us, building and flying RC airplanes is the perfect hobby. Chief among its rewarding aspects is the sheer thrill of flying, but it’s important not to get carried away and let enthusiasm rule over common sense. Your own personal safety and that of others should always be at the forefront -- failing to follow the guidelines for safe flying is at best irresponsible and at worst puts people and property in harm’s way. Be smart and courteous -- learn the rules of RC safety before you fly and apply them when you do.

What follows is a basic checklist of things to always do and things never to do when flying RC airplanes. While many of these apply to RC helicopters as well, there are safety considerations specific to helicopters and those are addressed in a separate article. Before moving on to the checklists, here’s a general observation: the better your preparation before that first flight, the better off you are going to be. For beginners, one of the best ways to prepare for flying is learning from an experienced pilot; another is to put in significant practice time on a flight simulator. Both are highly recommended and taken together will help ensure a safe experience flying RC airplanes.

First, some safety “do’s” --

Always check your plane out thoroughly — once before you leave the house, and again before take-off. Have a pre-flight checklist in writing and follow it to the letter. Make sure your model is properly balanced, not tail-heavy, and make any necessary adjustments. Check for correct alignment of wings and tail and test for proper movement of all control surfaces. Secure all connections, tighten any loose screws, nuts, and bolts, and see that batteries are fully charged.

If not flying at a club field, make sure the site you choose is adequate and appropriate — not too small an area and not too close to people, animals, trees, power lines, buildings, roads, etc. Also find out if there are any local ordinances that prohibit flying RC airplanes in public spaces.

If flying anything approaching hobby-grade models, do have liability insurance. This is offered through the Academy of Model Aeronautics and unless you want to leave yourself open to a lawsuit, don’t fly without it.

Unless your radio system is 2.4GHz, use a frequency checker or some other method of frequency control before turning on your transmitter. Having two or more people flying RC airplanes on the same frequency does not work; if you interfere with another pilot’s frequency, you will cause an accident. If you are at a club field, use their peg board and adhere to club rules. The newer 2.4GHz radio systems eliminate the interference issue and you can skip this step if your system is 2.4GHz.

Perform a range check and be sure you are putting out a strong enough signal so that your plane won’t go out of radio range within normal flying distances. This is actually one of the pre-flight checks but is so important it deserves its own bullet

And now a few safety “don’ts” --

Don’t try flying RC airplanes in “adverse” wind conditions. Depending on your model, that could be anything over 10-15 mph. Know your plane’s limitations and if unsure about wind speed, wait for another day.

Don’t fly with batteries at low levels. Don’t push them to the limit -- if they’re running down, land and switch to a fully charged spare.

Don’t take off with the wind or fly behind you. Take off against the wind and keep the plane in front of you.

Don’t start with a plane that’s too hard to control or try advanced maneuvers you are not yet ready to pull off. Learn on a stable, easy to fly model and work your way up to faster, more aerobatic ones.

Numerous books, DVDs and CD-ROMs address RC safety, and free videos on the subject are available on the Internet. Take advantage of these resources and commit the safety precautions to heart. And one last “do”--consider joining a flying club; it’s not only a great way to learn to fly safely, it’s also a great way to make new friends in the sport. Hobby-grade models can inflict serious injury as well as property damage, so be responsible, use commonsense and always make safety your first consideration when flying RC airplanes.

Have fun, keep it safe and Keep Flying!

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