The club bylaws are rules that are intended to apply indefinitely until withdrawn or amended by the president. The secretary shall maintain an up-to-date copy of the bylaws.

Club Dues:

The rights of membership shall terminate on December 31st of each year. The fee structure is as follows:

Pro-rated membership fees are based per quarter for a new applicant only.
Mail Dues To:

Ralph Tutor 8221 Tutor-Stephens Rd. Holly Springs, N.C. 27540

All members must have a current AMA membership card in order to fly.

The President and secretary will attempt to contact all non-paid members in January to ascertain their intentions, but the responsibility lies with the individual member to ensure his membership doesn’t lapse.

Once a member allows his membership to lapse he must follow the same procedures as those joining for the first time, no priority will be given to previous members.

Membership Role:

The secretary shall maintain a current list of members. When the membership reaches 50 open members, any additional member must be sponsored by a current member and approved by the executive board. Children under 18 and spouses of members that wish to fly R/C models at SWAMPS must be current AMA member to have flying privileges.

Guests & Visitors:

Members may have a flying guest 3 times during the year. The same flying guest may have 2 visits. Exception to these rules may be granted by the owner/president with proper prior notification. He or she must have a current AMA membership card. On busy days flying visitors may have to forgo their wish to fly, due to honoring club members their rights to fly. It will be up to club officers to make this decision at that time.

Non-flying visitors and guests are welcome, but must adhere to the following provisions:

1. Their safety and conduct will be the responsibility of the member who invited them.
2. Spectators must be informed of potential danger areas.
3. Children must be supervised and not allowed to enter pit area, flight line, or runway.

Entrance Gate:

Under no circumstance should the combination to the gate be given to non-members. Violation of this rule may result in loss of membership or other penalty as determined by the president.

The gate will be closed and locked by the last member exiting at the end of the day. Do not leave lock set on combination while gate is open. Please spin the dials.

Behavior at the Field:

The intent of this club is to foster a "family atmosphere" at the field and any behavior by members or their quests contrary to this intent may forfeit their membership.

Alcoholic beverages are NOT allowed on the property at all.

NO pets allowed leashed or not. This is for the safety of all.

Field Maintenance:

Smokers are required to pick up their cigarette butts prior to leaving the field. Butt can are provided near the shelter, do not place butts in trash can, or put paper in butt can.

Everyone is expected to pick up their debris: rubber bands, paper towels, broken props, drink cans, etc. Take all your trash home with you. There is no trash can at the field.

All pilots must use a fuel recovery system to prevent fuel spills in the pits. Raw fuel will cause permanent damage and contamination to the grass and soil.

Report any vandalism to the president or vice-president as soon as possible.

Flightline Courtesy:

Be aware of what is going on around you in the pits and don't "dust" your neighbors while adjusting your engine.

Avoid extended engine runs while others are flying.

Avoid talking to beginners while they are flying unless you are their instructor.

Be willing to assist others when needed or asked.

No more than three (3) planes should be in the air at any one time.

All flights shall be limited to 10 minutes each when there are more than 5 active pilots at the field. This applies to every type of R/C aircraft (glow, gas, electric, glider, and helicopters.)

Takeoffs, landing, and touch and go's shall be announced to any pilots at the flight stations when there are more than 5 active pilots at the field (for example saying: "Taking off", "Landing", "Touch-N-Go".) This announcement is preferred prior to any takeoff, landing or touch and go when any other planes are in the air but at a minimum must follow the 5 pilot rule.

All pilots must fly the same pattern when there are more than 5 active pilots at the field. The "pattern" is either an oval left handed flight path or oval right handed flight path. After takeoff the first turn is always in the opposite direction of the pit area regardless of the established pattern. Flying the established flight pattern is preferred when any other planes are in the air but at a minimum must follow the 5 pilot rule.

Pattern direction is always determined by the wind direction and established by the first pilot at any of the three flight stations each time. Takeoffs should always be into the wind.

If the wind changes predominately in the opposite direction of the established pattern, all pilots currently flying at the flight stations should communicate with each other and come to an agreement as to whether or not to change the flight pattern direction.

Glider pilots should be careful not to monopolize a frequency for extended periods of time while "catching thermals".

Frequency Control:

All pilots must place their membership card in the appropriate slot on the frequency board before turning on their transmitters. As soon as they are done they must remove their card from the slot to inform others the frequency is free.

If a member has misplaced his card he may use his AMA card. All visiting flyers will place their valid AMA card in the appropriate frequency slot.

All radios must be narrow band and gold stickered. (R/CMA-AMA)

Parking:

Please allow flyers to park next to the pits, all spectators should park behind the shelter leaving room for access to the flight line.

Safety:

All members and guests will abide by the safety code (see below) which is an amalgamation of AMA and SWAMPS rules.

Flying at the SWAMPS field is a privilege, not a right of membership. The intent of the rules that follow is to provide a safe and fun place to fly model airplanes. The SWAMPS Safety Officer, comprised of the Club Executive Committee, designated Flight instructors, and Safety Officer will assist members in following the rules by instruction and example.

SECTIONS OF THE AMA SAFETY CODE APPLICABLE TO SWAMPS:

All Categories:

1. I will not fly my model aircraft in competition or in the presence of spectators until it has proven to be airworthy by having been previously flight tested.
2. Where established, I will abide to the safety rules for the flying sight I use and will not willfully and deliberately fly my models in a careless, reckless, and/or dangerous manner.
3. I will not fly my model unless it is identified with my name and address or AMA number, on or in the model.

Radio Control:

1. I will have completed a successful radio equipment ground range check before the first flight of a new or repaired model.
2. I will not fly my model in the presence of spectators until I become a qualified flier, unless assisted by an experienced helper.
3. I will perform my initial turn after takeoff away from the pit, spectator, and parking areas and I will not thereafter perform maneuvers, flight of any sort, or landing approaches over a pit, spectator, or parking area unless beyond my control.

Control Lines:

1. I will subject my complete line system (including safety throng - speed models only) to an inspection and pull test prior to flying.
2. I will assure that my flying area is safety clear of all utility wires, poles, and other obstacles.
3. I will assure that my flying area is clear of all nonessential participants and spectators before permitting my engine to be started.

All Categories:

1. All flying club members or visitors wanting to fly must be current members of the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA).
2. Before turning on their transmitter, pilots must confirm that the frequency is clear and place their membership card (AMA in the case of a visitor) in the appropriate slot on the frequency board.
3. Pilots will not fly their models at the SWAMPS field until they become a "qualified flyer" as verified by a designated club instructor.
4. First flights for new model should be done with as few people at the field as possible.

Powered Aircraft:

1. The field is divided into a pilot area (pits & flight line) and a spectator area. Visitors are not permitted in the pit area, likewise, airplanes with running engines are not permitted in the spectator area. The field plan limit's the number of active pilots stations (flight line) to three.
2. Models will not be taxied in the pit area.
3. Pilots will move to the designated pilot area as soon as possible after take-off and remain there until the plane has landed. Pilots should maintain a separation of 20 ft.
4. No hand launching from the pit or spectator areas is permitted.
5. All planes should be restrained by either a helper or holding device while engines are started and adjusted.
6. All engines will be adjusted from behind the prop. At no time should anyone reach over or around the prop.
7. All engines over .06 cu.in. must have a muffler. Sound level of engines shall not exceed 96dbA at 25 feet from centerline of prop on the muffler side of engine and Approx. 24" from ground level with engine at full throttle. Aircraft may be checked at random for sound level.

Featherweight Aircraft Class:

1. A class for aircraft weighing less than 20 ounces has been established. This class will be designated as "Featherweights". (typically referred to as park or indoor flyers.) This includes glow and electric aircraft. There are two alternatives to flying these Featherweights.
   1. Alternative 1: Featherweights shall fly at the upper far right hand side of the field approximately 20 yards beyond the last vehicle parked on the flight line at the far side pit area. Pilots shall stand with their backs to the pit area and flag pole keeping their aircraft in front of them at all times. The aircraft shall not fly over the pit area, shelter, or cross an imaginary line parallel to the flight line as to not to interfere with other planes flying over the runway. Pilots must adhere to the frequency rules and keep in mind the 10 minute flight limit when there are more than 5 pilots.
   2. Alternative 2: Featherweights can fly at any of the three flight stations provided no other pilot is currently flying or getting ready to takeoff, OR, if there are currently pilots flying and there is an open station, you can ask permission from each pilot for you to fly. You cannot fly if you do not have permission from all pilots flying. Featherweight pilots should keep their planes to at least the middle of the runway and not let them get too close to the other pilots that are at the flight stations. They should also keep a close ear out for any pilots calling for a takeoff, landing or touch and go and move past the far side of the runway (over the weeds) until the runway is clear. Permission must be asked each time prior to flying a Featherweight at one of the three flight stations if there are other pilots flying regardless if you have already asked the same pilot earlier in the day.

Helicopters:

1. Helicopters shall follow the same rules as the Featherweights Alternative 1 rule listed above.
2. Helicopters flown from the flight line stations must be placed at least 50' out in runway in front of flight line ropes.
3. Beginning January 1, 2007 helicopters may not be flown from flight stations on Sundays. They may be flown at either end of the parking area 50' beyond the last vehicles parked.

Gliders:

1. Launching over the spectator and parking area is prohibited.
2. Gliders may fly over the parking and spectators areas after launch provided their altitude is over 100 ft..

Shelter:

The picnic tables are not to be used for plane assembly. It is for socializing and eating off of. A break area for members and visitors to gather. This is for the safety of all members and visitors.
THE ONLY TIME A PLANE IS ALLOWED UNDER THE SHELTER IS IN CASE OF A SUDDEN SEVERE STORM.