Bury Model Flying Club, Bury St Edmunds

Affiliated to the British Model Flying Association

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Model Aircraft Article 16 Mandatory Occurrence Reporting – Food for Thought

Ian McDowell

This is the text of an email sent to all members by Vic Blackwood, our Club Secretary, on 12 April 2021.

‘Hi Gents,
I recently sent out some info wrt Mandatory Occurrence Reports (Ed- a copy of the BMFA email 1 April 2021). There appears to be a growing suspicion within the CAA that model flyers are not fully complying with the reporting requirements. (This is based on the assumption that, in all of the rush to get our models airborne for the first time in months, there would be a high probability of several accidents!) Apparently, there has been no such spike in accident/failures reports.

James has asked me to highlight the need to be “open” about accidents and model failures. Clearly, if a model injures or kills someone (or livestock) or damages property, I’m sure there would follow a proper report. However, I suspect that, when you pile your Wot4 (or in my case, a Wot6 -yes, I’m on my 6th), and it was due to “dumb thumbs” or disorientation, then it is likely that you just collect the confetti and go home. However, it is these sorts of occurrences which we should also forward, so as to provide the necessary statistics for the CAA. If very few (or no) reports are made, the CAA will be rightfully suspicious of our compliance with Article 16.

We will all have to use some common sense here. if you crash your model and it suffers catastrophic damage (even if repairable), then report it! If you bounce off the tarmac and take out an undercarriage leg, then perhaps that isn’t worth a report, but otherwise consider the failure and the future of our hobby. The reporting itself isn’t an admission of liability, but the lack of any reports may result in the CAA taking a harder line in the future. Basically, just be honest! Remember, take-offs are optional but landings are mandatory!
Regards,
Vic’

The email Vic references includes the text of an email to all members from the BMFA. It is in our news items (News/BMFA) from the top menus, or click on the blue ‘BMFA Information’ box above this article. 

2 other useful snippets:

  1. The first link in the BMFA email takes you to a BMFA website page that explains the requirements and under the heading ‘General Flying’, gives useful detailed guidance on immediate on site actions in event of a serious injury. This is an update of the current, 2017, Handbook guidance. I shall put a copy of this information in the shed at Knettishall.
  2. The second link in the BMFA email (opens in a new tab) takes you to the BMFA reporting portal. Follow this and their system guides you through what is/is not a reportable incident.