RC Flight Instruction
Pre-Flight Checks, Safety, and General Flying Field Etiquette for the Beginning RC Flier
By Dave Drake

1)  Assure that all critical airplane parts are securely fastened:
            Fire Wall to Fuselage -- Motor Mount to Fire Wall  -- Engine to Motor Mount
            Muffler to Engine and the Thru-Muffler Bolt (if present)
            Landing Gears
            Hinges  -- Push rod connections and horns
            Wing Halves and Wing-to-Fuselage -- Empenage
            Servos, Battery, and Receiver

2)  Become familiar with the frequency board.  Be sure that you have a clear, unused frequency before you turn on your transmitter.  Use a frequency board clip with your name and channel number clearly printed on it.  We typically use clothes pins or similar clips.  Place your frequency clip on the appropriate channel mark on the frequency board before turning on your transmitter.  If your frequency is occupied, attach your clip to that person’s clip and they will notify you of the available channel when they finish flying. 

3)  Do a range check on the radio gear: Walk away from the plane with the antenna collapsed, RX and TX turned on and continuously move the control stick(s).  Have someone watch the controls on your plane as you walk away.  You should be able to walk at least 100’ from the plane before it experiences a loss of signal or interference from other transmitters (chatter).

4)  Assure that all control functions operate properly and in the correct direction on the airplane, using both the primary transmitter and the "buddy box", if applicable..

5)  EXTEND ANTENNA BEFORE FLIGHT!!!

6)  A maximum of five airplanes are permitted in the air at once.  Wait for an available pilot box.

7)   Observe the active traffic pattern and do your take-offs and landings in that direction.

8)  If there is a change in wind direction sufficient to warrant a change in runway direction, tell the other flying pilots of your intentions.

9)  Also tell the other flying pilots of your intention to use the runway to take-off or land, if you have a dead plane on the runway, and especially if you have to walk out onto the runway.  Be sure to tell them when the runway is clear again.

10)  A call of “Dead Stick!” (dead engine) by any pilot gets first priority on the runway.  If you were planning to land or take off, abort that action and wait until the crippled airplane has cleared the runway before continuing.

11)  Control your plane on take off and landing to prevent it from swerving toward the pit or pilot boxes.  Abort any landing or take off that heads toward people.

12)  NEVER fly East of the Eastern white line of the active N-S runway.  This means NEVER flying over the Pit or Parking lot.

13)  Do not perform aerobatic maneuvers over the active runway.  Do not fly directly toward the pit area.  Do not fly downwind over the runway without assuring that no one will be using the runway to take off or land.

14)  Return your transmitter to the impound board and remove your frequency clip when you are finished with your flight.

15)   Do not occupy your frequency for more than 20 minutes at a time if there are others who wish to use that frequency.