News and Events
26-08-2009 President's Page
Please click here: Presidents Newsletter for August 2009
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13-02-2009 President's Page
Please click here: Presidents Newsletter for Febaruary 2009
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22-01-2009 CMAC Interference Incident Report
Please click here: Radio Interference Cover Letter
Please click here: Radio Interference Incident Report Form
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22-01-2009 Notice to Members - CMAC Field Re-Opened As of Saturday 24 January 2009, the CMAC Flying Field will be fully open to normal flying operations. During the past week, in response to its inquiries, the Committee has received advice that no signals are radiated from or within the new Canberra Gaol on frequencies in either the 2.4 Ghz band or the 36 Mhz band. This advice, combined with the results of monitoring carried out at the Field on 2.4 Ghz channels, has convinced Committee members that recent "incidents" involving models using 2.4Ghz control systems, are unlikely to have been caused by external interference. This view was reinforced by an initial examination of the Radio Interference Report sheets which have been returned by some members. Incidents involving the loss of control of models depending on 2.4 Ghz control systems, appear to have been caused by faulty equipment, flat or inadequate on-board batteries, or faulty installation of receiver components. The Club is to produce a "Best Practice Guide" for 2.4 Ghz systems, to distribute to members. In the meantime - Pilots are reminded that it is vitally important to meet or exceed the Manufacturers recommendations regarding the installation, operation and battery requirements for 2.4 Ghz systems. Pilots flying models which depend on control systems using channels in the 36 Mhz band are advised that, while initial measurements carried out across the 36 Mhz band have revealed no source of interfering signals, a significant number of members have reported serious one-off "hits" - causing large control-surface deflections - while flying at the Field. Investigations in to this matter are continuing, but models depending on 36 Mhz control systems should continue to be fully range-tested before taking off, each time they are bought to the Field. Any pilot experiencing a "hit" or "hits", or any loss of radio control over their model - regardless of operating on 36 Mhz or 2.4 Ghz, should report the incident to the Secretary asap using a Radio Interference Report sheet. Your report should include details of the model, radio gear, date, time, channel involved, location at the Field and severity of the interference. CMAC Management Committee.
Attention CMAC Members
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19-11-2008 President's Page
Please click here: Presidents Newsletter for November 2008
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06-10-2008 Notice to Members - Field Development
To All CMAC Members.
The next time that you visit the Club's Flying Field (hopefully tomorrow), you will find that work has started on top-dressing and seeding of the Southern Half of our new runway. This has been done because the best grass-growing season is upon us, and because we are now hopeful of making significant progress with the Field Development project before the end of this year.
Because the Southern Half of our new runway runs through the area that has traditionally been our Pits, we have had to make alternative arrangements for the Pits - that is, we have set out an area (behind the new Pilots Mound) that is to act as interim Pits until such time as we are able to commission the new "linear" Pits.
We have also taken the opportunity to open-up the northern area of our Members carpark. So, as you drive through the inner gate-way, instead of turning left towards the old shed, you now need to turn right and pass behind the area set out for our new shed, and park behind or beside the new (interim) Pits.
These changes will initially involve some inconvenience for members, but they are an important step towards achieving the improved Field Layout we all want and will enjoy, in a way that will actually reduce the Club's impact on the local environment - and hence keep us in good stead with our Landlords. Hence, the Committee seeks your co-operation and patience, and hopes that you will bear with us, while we complete the changes and the new arrangements settle in.
Regards,
Vic Jones
Secretary.
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25-09-2008 "IMPORTANT" Message Re: Celing Height at CMAC
WARNING
The maximum height for any model being flown from the CMAC Flying Field is 400 feet above local ground level.
On Wednesday morning, 24 September 2008, a Police mobile unit visited the Club�s Flying Field. The Officers explained that they had received a complaint from the Canberra Airport Control Tower, to the effect that � earlier that morning, a model or models had been detected flying at a height in excess of 400 feet above the CMAC Flying Field.
This incident has very important implications for CMAC�s tenure at the Flying Field.
While CMAC members have been flying models from this location for some 25 years, it is only recently (and after a great deal of effort) that the Club has secured a 25 year lease over the site. Your Management Committee currently is working to implement long awaited improvements to member�s facilities at the Flying Field.
Despite the fact that the lease was issued on behalf of the ACT Government, the Club�s ongoing tenure depends on all members being prepared to comply with various requirements set out or implied in the lease. Of immediate concern is the CASA restriction on flying height � which is a maximum of 400 feet (123 metres) above ground level, and the absolute ban on flying any model off our lease in the direction of the Monaro Highway.
Members are reminded of the CMAC Flying Rule which prohibits any model being flown at any height to the East of the Flight Line (that is, to the East of an imaginary line extending to infinity in either direction from the near edge of the runway).
Members are advised of an additional CMAC Flying Rule which will require that, whenever any full size aircraft is operating in the vicinity of the Club�s Flying Field, any airborne model is to remain below a height of 100 feet, or land, until after the full size aircraft has left the area.
CMAC Management Committee
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04-09-2008 President's Page
Please click here: Presidents Newsletter for September 2008
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27-08-2008 2008 AGM President's Report
Please click here to read the 2007-2008 President's Report
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27-08-2008 Canberra Airport Open Day
I am writing to you to bring your attention to the fact that the Canberra Airport authorities have invited CMAC (and the other Canberra model aircraft clubs) to participate in the Airport Open Day, later this year.
This is an excellent opportunity to promote our sport and our Club, at an event which will attract a large number of our fellow Canberrans. Details are provided in the attached document, which has been produced by the ACTAA, who are co-ordinating the involvement of the Canberra Clubs.
The CMAC Management Committee would like to hear from members who would be interested in participating in the static model display, or who would like to be invited to participate in one or more of the flying displays. Even if you do not wish to participate in a display, we would like to see as many CMAC members as possible attend the model displays (and other Open Day events).
Please see here for more info: "Canberra Airport Open Day"
Regards,
Vic Jones
Secretary
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01-07-2008 Membership Renewal
Dear Club Members,
Your CMAC and MAAA membership is due for renewal during this month; that is, before 1 July. The good news is that the MAAA has been able to achieve a small reduction in its costs and related charges, and this has allowed your Committee to determine that there will be no increase in the total cost of renewing your full Club membership for the coming year. For Junior Members, there is in fact a small reduction.
In reviewing the fees to be paid by new members seeking to join the Club, the Committee determined that the Joining Fee components should be as follows: Senior Members - $100; Pensioners - $50; Juniors - $10 and Senior Associate Members - $100. These fees recognise that each new member is gaining access to significant facilities operated by the Club.
An Application for Membership and a Schedule of Fees for 2008 - 2009 have been included on the "Join CMAC" Page of this site. To preserve the continuity of your MAAA insurance cover, please ensure that your completed application, accompanied by the relevant fees, is returned to the Club Secretary via Post Office Box 387 Woden, or at the flying field, before 1 July.
Be sure that all details on the Membership Application form are completed before you return it. In addition to your current address, telephone and email details, it is important that you provide the details of each transmitter that you may wish to use at the Club�s flying field. This includes having a committee member sign to confirm that he has sighted the test certificate or MAAA compliance sticker for each transmitter � unless you have already lodged a test certificate with the Club.
So that you can continue flying after 30 June, please get your completed application to the Secretary as soon as possible.
Regards,
Secretary
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Club Flying Rules
The CMAC Flying Rules were developed with the intention that Club members, visitors and the general public, should be able to attend our Flying Field (and all areas immediately adjacent to the Field), without having their physical safety put at any increased risk.
At the same time, the Rules are not intended to limit the enjoyment that Club members gain from their modelling and flying activities. On the contrary, the Flying Rules specifically seek to establish an operational environment within which all Club members are easily able to enjoy our sport in a spirit of co-operation with their peers.
For the CMAC Flying Rules to be effective, it is first essential that all Club members have read and are familiar with the Rules. Secondly, it is vital that each and every person operating a model at the CMAC Flying Field does so in accordance with the requirements of those Flying Rules.
While acting in accordance with the published Rules is mandatory for any member or visitor who wishes to operate a model at the CMAC Flying Field, Management Committee members are more than happy to receive queries from any member about the established rules, and the Committee will consider any written proposal for an addition to, or an amendment of those rules.
Secretary,
on behalf of the management Committee.
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Fail Safe Set Up
In a recent incident a model went into �fail safe� most probably due to the glow driver being left attached. The operator of the model now recognises that, had a fail safe parameter been set, which could have be easily done as the model was operating on 2.4GHz, this could possibly have saved damage to a vehicle and the model. If your radio has a failsafe capability it is very important that you know what it is set to.
There are different views on what is best for the control surfaces and none are perfect for every situation. If your club has a rule then you should follow that or just decide what you think is best. The most important thing is that the fail safe position for the throttle is not full power. This can happen if you do not set it up yourself particularly if you have used servo reversing. When the fail safe operates the engine should either go to idle or stop.
Regards,
Ken McDonald
Secretary ACTAA Inc.