MAAC and Transport Canada issued a safety alert today.
I am reminding all members please that anyone operating unmanned aircraft (that's us) for any purpose, must not interfere with manned aircraft operations (full size!)
We have a good protocol and safety rules at our field as a result of potential issues that were identified a few years ago. As a reminder, if there is a full size aircraft heard or seen to be approaching TEMAC you should:
- Call out a warning to other members at the field - we usually call "full size!"
- Reduce altitude to at least 400ft, preferably lower
- If possible, land
Of course you should also never fly out of sight, which means above clouds.
The recent issues that have prompted this new warning occurred in British Columbia, where unmanned aircraft interfered with fire-fighting operations. I didn't know this but there is a rule that states "no unauthorised person shall operate an aircraft within 5 miles (9km) of a forest fire or within any associated restricted airspace."
We have adopted our club safety rules as they relate to manned aircraft very well. Please help keep our club, our hobby and manned aircraft pilots safe by continuing to adhere to them.
Just a reminder that this post is still relevant today and all pilots should continue to call out full size aircraft near the field, and reduce altitude or land.