New AMA Safety Code Voted By AMA

Mail Vote of August 16, 200 1: To approve the revised wording in the Safety Code for Organized Radio Control Racing Events.

7) c. Distance from the pylon to the nearest spectators (line) will be in accordance with the current Competition Regulations under the RC Pylon Racing section for the specific event pending two or three pylon course layout.

Motion passed.

This is from the AMA 2002 Safety Code

Organized RC Racing Event

7) An RC racing event, whether or not an AMA Rule Book event, is one in which model aircraft compete in flight over a prescribed course with the objective to finishing the course faster to determine the winner.

A. In every organized racing event in which contestants, caller and officials are on the course”

1. All officials, callers and contestants must properly wear helmets, which are OSHA, DOT, ANSI, and SNELL OR NOCSAE approved or comparable standard while on the race course.

2. All officials will be off the course except for the starter and their assistant.

3. “On the course” is defined to mean any area beyond the pilot/staging area where actual flying takes place.

B. I will not fly my model aircraft in any organized racing event which does not comply with paragraph A above or which allows models over 20 pounds unless that competition event is AMA Sanctioned.

C. Distance from the pylon to the nearest spectator (line) will be in accordance with the current Competition Regulations under the RC Pylon Racing section for the specific event pending two or three pylon course layout.

This affects all racing not just the SWRA. To give you a perspective of what
AMA is talking about I will use TIMPA as an example, since most SWRA pilots have raced there.

From the Pilots station the poles must be 450 Ft away from them. This places the poles about double from what most racers have seen.

Next the card flippers must be behind the pilots 100-ft. This will place the card flippers right at the edge of the Ramada. So every one must be under the Ramada.

Last of all the spectators must be another 125-Ft from the Card flippers. This will place all spectators back by the bathrooms. All Judging cages still have to be a minimum of 300-ft from the poles. No spectators can view in the parking lot in the area of Pylon Two.

There may be an option. AMA Executive Council passed motions on February 10, 2001 concerning obtaining deviations (waiver) to an event.

AMA Executive Council motion from February 10, 2001 AMA board meeting. Deviations (WAIVER) to the above were left up to each AMA District VP.

The motion reads as follows:

"Motion II: Moved by R. Hanson (X), seconded by D. Mathewson (II), Pylon waivers will be granted by the District Vice President."

"Motion passed. 11 yes (I, II, III, IV, VI, VII, IX, X, XI, NAA, EVP);

2 no (VI, VIII)" (District VP for and against)

Each Contest Director of each Sanctioned event will have to contact their District VP to possibly obtain a waiver.

At this time the CD of the January race has been in contact with District VP Rich Hanson about course layout for the Timpa January race. Regardless of the course layout, there will be a race Jan 11-13, 2002. So make you plans now to attend.

Important Information

At this time the January SWRA race CD has obtained a waiver for this event. These changes will be in place. The race course will be shifted 175 ft to the left this will place the flight stations between the midway between center of the course and pylon 1

All pylon judges must be in a protective cage with a 3ft secondary barrier in front of and to the left of the cage. I.e. a chain link cage with a 3' (L) shaped hay bale barrier in front of and to the #2 Side of the cage.

The spectator area to be roped designated and located behind the pits. A "No Spectator" / "No Entry' Restricted are be designated directly in front of the #2 pylon, behind/around the #2 pylon judges and extending 150' on either side.