Radio Control Club of Rochester

NORTHAMPTON PARK MODEL FLYING FIELD
43 degrees 11 minutes 6.3240 seconds north
77degrees 53 minutes 50.7120 seconds west

43.18509 degrees n
77.89742 degrees w

Monroe County Parks Department

Northampton Park Map

click here for pictures of Northampton Model Flying Field by Cappa J1

The AMA has sanctioned the Northampton flying site and the RCCR was given the responsibility to ensure that the field layout and conduct at the field meets the AMA guidelines. The Monroe County Parks dept relies upon the RCCR to establish policies and monitor behavior related to all model flying activities

RCCR Turbine Policy (approved 6/13/2007)
In addition to all existing RCCR field rules and the AMA Safety Code, the following rules apply specifically to flying turbine-powered models:

General
The operator must possess a valid AMA turbine wavier and log book for examination, with a minimum of five turbine-powered flights recorded.
The RCCR Turbine Committee reserves the right to revoke any person’s turbine operation privileges at any time, given sufficient cause.

Due to the restricted airspace at Northampton Park, the following rules apply to the operation of turbine-powered aircraft at Northampton Park ONLY:

Maiden or test flights of turbine powered aircraft are not permitted.
Two practice flights must be performed at an alternate field with boundaries set to simulate conditions at Northampton. A non-member may perform these flights at an alternate RCCR field as a guest. A single demo flight then must be performed at Northampton Park. Pilots taking their wavier test at Northampton are excluded from this requirement.
All practice and demonstration flights must be witnessed by at least two RCCR turbine committee members.
AMA Wavier test and subsequent supervised flights may be done at Northampton Park providing the administering pilot has met RCCR requirements, and a buddy box system is used.
Pilots that have been cleared to fly turbines at Northampton Park will be issued a pass indicating such.

Procedural
Extreme care should be taken to minimize damage to the grass runway surface.
A blast deflector must be used during startup and static engine runs.
When the aircraft is in the runway area, it must maintain constant forward momentum while the engine is running to prevent damage to the grass.
Any high-speed pass shall occur at the far side of the runway or beyond.
A dedicated spotter must be present for the operator of a turbine aircraft at all fields.

Radio Control Club of Rochester Presentation to Monroe County Parks Advisory Committee
October 21, 2004 

Radio Control Club of Rochester (RCCR)
Was founded in 1960 for the purpose of enjoying building and flying radio controlled model airplanes.
Is a chartered member of the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) and our fields comply with the AMA safety rules
i The AMA is the chartering organization for more than 2,500 model airplane clubs across the country.
ii. The AMA offers its chartered clubs official contest sanction, insurance, and assistance in getting and keeping flying sites. Flying sites are located in many Parks nationally.
iii. The AMA is the world’s largest sport aviation organization, representing over 170,000 members.
 
Maintains flying fields at Northampton Park and Black Creek Park
i. Northampton is used for powered RC flight.
ii. Black Creek Park is used for glider and non-fueled powered planes.
iii. Both fields are insured with “Additional Insured” Certificates issued under the AMA liability insurance policy.  Such certificates provide $2,500,000 of primary liability insurance coverage to flying site owners, sponsors, governments or organizations.
iv. All users of both fields must be members of the AMA and therefore individually insured by the AMA.
 
Established Northampton Park Model Flying Field in cooperation with the Parks Department in 1967
i. The runway is 90 feet wide and 600 feet long.
ii The field has comprehensive safety features such as flight stations, pit area, frequency board and a spectator’s fence.
iii. We provide field maintenance and mowing which has no cost to the County and have had an extremely cooperative relationship with park supervision and employees.
iv.      We posts field rules which are reviewed and updated yearly.
 
Has 95 members.
i. Several other club members and numerous non-club individuals from throughout Monroe County use the Northampton field. (no record is kept for non club members)
ii. On a good weather day you may find 20 flyers using the field throughout the day.
 
Provides free training to anyone interested in the hobby and maintains a trainer plane to give spectators introductory flights with an experienced instructor using a buddy box system.
 i. In an average year we will train 49 students whose ages range from 8 to 80.
 ii.In the past two year we have given 27 spectators introductory flights on the trainer plane.
 
Is involved in community activities
i. Monroe County Celebration of Flight event in 2003 (Sponsored by the Rochester Monroe County Airport)
ii RC training for Edison Tech aeronautical students 2001 to 2003
iii June fun fly at Northampton when weather and ground conditions permit
 
Has a standing Field Monitoring Committee whose objective is to continue maintaining good relationships with neighbors in the area surrounding Northampton Park by proactively monitoring all R/C modeling activities in and around our model flying field, identifying any activities that the neighbors may find objectionable and suggest appropriate corrective actions
 
We believe our presence reduces vandalism.
 
We have aided other park users.
 
We used to offer a day of volunteer services to the park like painting the park office building, but have been prevented from doing that by Union demands that Union people be used.  We would be willing to do that again if supported by Park Management.    
 
RCCR contact: Trevor Ewell 225-9530

    Following is a chronological record of noise problems at Northampton Park in 1999

May 25, 1999

Northampton Park
Model Airplane Field
Meeting Minutes
5/25/99

Attendees: Lance Kepler, neighbor at 4875 Sweden - Walker Road, 63~3432, Norm Wright, Councilperson, Town Of Sweden, 637-2144, Jerry Joseph, 244-1981 and Trevor Ewell, 225-9530, RCCR clubmembers, 6315 Mill Pond Road, Byron New York, 14422,, and Dave Rinaldo, Russ Sciolino, Allen Cassady, staff of Monroe County Parks.

Minutes: The meeting started with introductions. Lance Kepler then explained the reasons that he circulated a petition against excessive model airplane noise last year and why he is continuing to complain this year. He stated that the planes fly from morning to dark everyday and they are like flying chain saws. In the past they have even crashed near his residence. He seemed to suggest that some with muffled motors are preferable to others that have a high pitched whining motor.

The members responded that the club, which has been in existence at the park for 32 years, does have a muffler requirement but that often the culprit of the noise could be the plane design, body vibration from mounts, propeller type and even engine sizing for different models. It was mentioned that a wind out of the east increased the noise drift toward residential. It was also discussed that non- members of the club are hard to control and that at times they may not pay as much attention to issued rules and that these users could be a source of isolated problems. They are working with their members to reduce noise in a number of ways.

The club has installed a set of flags at the west end (residential end) of the field and club members are required to fly with an observer and not to fly west of the line. It was discussed that it was difficult for flyers to determine the line due to poor depth perception from that distance. It was also suggested by the club members that they might be willing to move even further to the east and to require club members to make their west edge turn at the current starting point. This move would require some ditch work and earth moving to develop the easterly portion of the field for model airplane purposes. Norm Wright indicated that the Town of Sweden had an excellent operator that might be able to be of assistance in any such earth moving effort if it was decided to shift the field to the east.

Last year there was a noise survey team assembled that measured different types of noise and tried to determine the objectionable noises. It seems that another such survey group should be formed this year so that a good data base of information could be formed. Norm Wright, an RCCR member, Lance Kepler and a County Park representative would make up the survey crew. It is felt that more feedback through this group experience could focus on the specific problem so that solutions could be addressed.

The club members explained that they are actively attempting to share knowledge regarding noise reduction techniques such as softer mounts, reduced vibration in propellers (can sound like a drum) and correct engine sizing. They would continue to pass information along to members regarding new innovations.

It was discussed that we need some method to control the non-members and the thought of a Department issued card was advanced. This addresses the "private club" problem of a publicly operated model airplane field in a park. We can not attempt to make everyone a member but we can assure that they are proficient at flying, have proper certifications, have proper equipment, will follow the rules of the field and are issued cards for posting on the board while flying. David Rinaldo will investigate and put the material together for such a card program. Another such County parks card program in existence was identified by a club member. David will bring the information back to the group.

Lance Kepler stated that he was not trying to drive the club out of the park. He is just trying to ask for cooperation with neighbors of the model airplane field. It was decided to adjourn the meeting. Everyone seemed to agree that excellent communication occurred and that the following action items were important results of our discussion.

Action Items:
  Norm Wright will look into possible operator to grade the area east of the present field

  RCCR will set up a survey team, invite members as indicated above and establish a data base

  David Rinaldo will develop the operator card program

  Al Cassady will do the minutes and fax a copy of attendees to Norm Wright

On June 17, 1999, 6:00 PM, a group of 18 people met for the purpose of observing the noise created by model airplanes.
The group consisted of  Eric Johnson and Russ Sciolino - County of Monroe Parks Department, Norm Wright - Town of Sweden,Lance Keppler,
and RCCR members - Jim Sample, Trevor Ewell, Jerry Joseph, Mike Hatch, Jim Wagner, Don Steeb, Al Sertl, Tom Weller, George Steger, John Floyd, Bob Horn, Scott Miller, Joe Somers, and Bob McClure.

The group was divided into four parties, one position at the field and three observation positions:
    West of the field on Lance Keppler's property on Sweden-Walker Road,
    Northwest of the field on Sweden-Walker Road, and
    Southeast of the field on the park's soccer field.

Following the sound measurements at the field, the six planes were each flown, one at a time, at full throttle, on an East-West pattern, and on a Northwest-Southeast pattern.  (It was also noted that 10 full-scale planes flew over the observed area during the approximate time of 1 hour 30 minutes.

MODEL SPECIFICATIONS

FIELD MEASUREMENTS                                                                     REMOTE OBSERVATIONS

* Noise is the same on both flight patterns (E-W & NW-SE)

Plane is further away on NW-SE pattern.

** E-W pattern is less noise than NW-SE

June 21, 1999
Re: Summary of Northampton Model Airplane Noise Tests

Mr. Eric Johnson
Monroe County Department of Parks
171 Reservoir Ave.
Rochester NY 14620
 

Dear Mr. Johnson:

Here is a summary sheet of noise observations we made during test flights of Thursday, June 17.
The models represent a normal sampling of planes which are flown at the site.

I believe the observations support the conclusions that we are not making excess noise, and the Northwest runway does not offer any significant improvement.  We will continue to use all present model runways.  We will work within the RCCR club to try to make model airplanes quieter.  We encourage Lance Kepler to visit us and tell us when we have a particularly loud airplane, or are flying out of bounds.

We would appreciate your circulating a copy of these results, with your conclusions, and our offers of noise and flight control to all those present:
 Russ Sciolino, Town of Sweden - Norm Wright, Lance Kepler, and RCCR members: ( RCCR Airflow, 6315 Mill Pond Rd, Byron, NY 14422)
Thank you for attending and helping with our tests.

Sincerely,
 Trevor Ewell
 Representative, Radio Control Club of Rochester

rfm
cc:J Joseph, pres. RCCR

November 5, 1998

     Meeting with Parks Department was very informative to all concerned parties. Decision from the Parks Department to re-open the field has not been made, and the field will remain closed until further notice.

COPY OF LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENTS OF RCCR AND RAFC

November 11.1998

     Mr. Allen Cassady, Parks Director

     171 Reservoir Avenue

     Rochester, New York 14620

     Dear Mr. Cassady,                          MODEL AIRCRAFT SAFETY RULES

     As you requested at our November 5 meeting, here are the safety rules that the Radio Control Club of Rochester (RCCR) and the Rochester Area Flying Club (RAFC) follow and enforce at the Northampton model flying site.

     Our absolute rule is that we will give right of way to full scale aircraft, and will not fly in proximity to them. To ensure this condition, we put the following practices in force:
               1. We fly in accordance to the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) national model aircraft Safety
               Code (copy attached).
               2. We will not fly our models higher than approximately 400 feet, as stated in the code.
               3. We will only fly north of the model runway and east of the flag on the west park boundary road.
               4. The AMA Safety Code is posted at the field, as are the field's boundaries and the clubs' flying rules.
               5. During model flying, we will post an observer whose sole function will be to look for, and warn
               model flyers of, the approach and direction of full scale aircraft. This person will wear an orange
               armband as an identifier. This enforcement is posted at the field.
               6. We will train all flyers known to us to be using the site, about these rules. We use a range finder
               during training to help us recognize a 400 foot ceiling.
               7. We reinforce these rules in our newsletter to all members. Our membership application forms
               contain these rules, and they are discussed at club meetings.
               8. We will report violations of these rules to Monroe County Parks personnel for enforcement as
               needed.
               9. As has been our policy, we will continue to review safety rules with the Parks Department to
               assure flying safety.
               10. We will give all club members a copy of these rules.
                                                                            Sincerely,
                                                  Trevor Ewell, RCCR President                    Rita Wilson ,RAFC President
 

December 2, 1998
to: All RCCR Members 
from: Trevor Ewell, RCCR President
subject: Re-opening of Northampton Park Model Flying Field
     I'm very pleased to announce that Monroe County Parks Department has re-opened the Northampton Park Model Flying site. I would particularly like to thank Greg Kesel for all his help in this matter, particularly with full-scale and FAA communications and involvement.
     The main issue in re-opening the field was our statement of policy and practice for safety of full- scale aircraft. I am attaching that statement to this letter. (editor notes: attachment was the letter of November 11, 1999 MODEL AIRCRAFT SAFETY RULES as shown above.) All the listed items must be followed by all people using the site, whether they are RCCR members or not. We must enforce these rules at all times upon everyone. The Parks personnel will help us if we find people violating these rules.
     In summary, these rules state we will stay away from full-scale aircraft, and we will always have a full-time observer for full-scale aircraft. This means no flying alone at the field. We will always fly to the east of the flag at the northwest corner of the field.
     Once again, these rules apply at all times to all people. Violations can have very serious consequences. The rules will be strictly enforced by all club members and by Parks Department personnel.
     I look forward to the safe upcoming flying season.
         Sincerely,
                 Trev
     Trevor Ewell, RCCR President