Event Safety/AMA Requirements

[agoodman]

Each year my local high school sponsors a "Walk Against Drugs" event. This brings in several hundred kids of all ages and their parents, a short walk, politians making short speaches and then activities for the kids. The event is held at the school and I thought what a great way to introduce remote control to the kids. A static display with planes and heli's with several demos. I was looking at the baseball field for the demos. There are bleachers for spectators to sit and watch and the chain link fence as a good safety barrier. My contacts here at the school do not seem to have a problem with my plan but are there other recommendations or AMA requirements? All help is most appreciated.

Tony

[WayneBrown]

asl ong as you can maintain a flightline, isolate spectators from the overfly area, and if warranted apply for a demonstration waiver for added liability insurance AMA should have no issues.
We used to do a 'thing' here for the kids at a field adjacent to the local mall, and directly paralleling the interstate. Just took an afternoon with some 4ft stakes and ropes/ ribbon to identify our area.
A running track or football/soccer field would offer more side to side room, but if you have the skills a ball diamond should work okay.
You should apply for the liability insurance for the event: form 306
Research the guidelines for a flightline in the club charter packet from AMA just for the information.

http://www.modelaircraft.org/documents.aspx

[Caleb Phillips]

I fly all the time at one of my college's baseball fields. I feel that it's plenty safe (being that your backed by a huge chain link fence/wall) and there is also a ton of room. FWIW, I routinely fly a 90 there.

I actually feel better flying at the baseball field knowing any spectators are behind the huge fence than at the local AMA field where people have to duck and cover if a heli goes wild.

[Skiddz]

A few years ago we did a demo flight in an MD500E at a local school. Safety with that was the number one goal and we made sure to have several meetings with staff and ground crew at the school to make sure everyone knew where to be when we showed up with the helicopter. All the effort in initial planning paid off as everyone knew what to to and where to be when we arrived overhead.

For your event, the same preparation should be implemented. Spectator safety becomes priority number one. Like Wayne said, it shouldn't take much to address all the issues and to make sure everyone involved is well informed of any procedures and practices that are required to create and maintain the safety.

Perhaps a couple practice sessions on the actual field might be in order as well.