<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">Richard,</font>
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<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">I was Pres of the Richarson Radio CC for three years. We have a field that Collin county decided should be developed into a model airplane flying site. They approach my club to develop and manage the site using a 20 year virtually no cost lease. They expecte dus to develop this empty field including shelters and a paved runway. All the county did was supply the land and install a road ($20K).</font>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">So we had to submit plans, get them approved by the county and manage the field, including acess, safety etc. Problems quickly arose when we were supposed to allow anyone with an AMA membership access. This was the rule when we had our previous field also leased by the county. It is impossible to manage the site as the county wanted, that is be "responsible" when we had non club members who had no regard for rules and regulations or club repercussions flying unsupervised at the site. AFter investing in excess of $30K at teh site, we had people flying there for over a year who were not and never were going to be club members. Included in this group were 1/3 scale 106 db planes, 6:00 am iceholes trying to beat the Texas heat, flying "sideways" over houses (at 6 am) to avoid the sun, and a crowd with no investment nor any regard for the club. So we introduced into the club rules a guest policy and p!
ut the word out that unlimited non club member flying would not be tolerated, but a person could fly 5 times a year as a guest. This allowed anyone seriously considering joining the club lots of opportunity to check the field out and allowed pattern dudes like Wayne Gallligan to drive up from his place (1 hour drive) and fly with us. In a period of 2 months all the freeloaders disappeared with only minor grumbling-and from me that was fine!</font>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">I also was adament in meeting with teh county that for our club to be in control and manage the site, we had to be the authority on who flys and who does not. Surprisingly after detailing the above situation the county 100% agreed, which was a 180 degree turn around or in our case ...a split S. I actually have had more grief for club member old guys who cannot seem to understand that the rule has changed. I think my club's ability to get this control came from the fact that we had a good, solid story coupled with the desire of the county to have an open flying field "under control" without any county people having to control or manage it. So now the field is open...under limited circumstances, and the county only need to deal with the far and few complaints generated by those pesky things we call "neighbors". Two people who complained violently for a year about the planes. Club abatement included overfly zone!
education AND installing a 101db noise rule that eliminated the 108db main culprit plane....No complaints in about a year now...it setlled down after the planes got reasonably quite. Even if there is an accidental overfly...the neighbors do not hear it.<br>
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Gray Fowler<br>
Principal Chemical Engineer<br>
Composites Engineering</font>
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<td><font size=1 face="sans-serif"><b>"Richard Lindberg" <rclindberg@comcast.net></b></font>
<br><font size=1 face="sans-serif">Sent by: discussion-request@nsrca.org</font>
<p><font size=1 face="sans-serif">12/11/2003 08:42 AM</font>
<br><font size=1 face="sans-serif">Please respond to discussion</font>
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<td><font size=1 face="Arial"> </font>
<br><font size=1 face="sans-serif"> To: "NSRCA List" <discussion@nsrca.org></font>
<br><font size=1 face="sans-serif"> cc: </font>
<br><font size=1 face="sans-serif"> Subject: Public Fields</font></table>
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<br><font size=2 face="Courier New">Perhaps those of you that fly at publicly owned fields (city, county, etc.)<br>
could answer a few questions I have concerning administration, maintenance and<br>
safety at such facilities.<br>
<br>
Does the city/county allow anyone to use the facility, regardless of club or<br>
other (e.g., AMA) affiliation? Who sets the safety rules? How are they<br>
enforced?<br>
<br>
If a club uses that field as their 'home' field, what is the relationship with<br>
the city/county? Does the club rent or lease the facility? Typical cost? As<br>
before, who sets the safety rules, and who enforces? Does the club restrict<br>
usage, and if so, how?<br>
<br>
If a club 'controls' the field, who is responsible for the maintenance?<br>
Insurance?<br>
<br>
Can you make a comparison with 'private' clubs and their facilities?<br>
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TIA<br>
<br>
Richard<br>
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