CONSTITUTION
RULES
MEMBERSHIP

SHONGWENI MODEL FLYING CLUB CONSTITUTION

(As amended July 2022)

1. Preamble
Shongweni Model Flying Club (SMFC) (the Club) is affiliated to Durban Shongweni Club (DSC). SMFC members are automatically members of DSC.
SMFC has no property, assets, or written lease agreements with DSC.
SMFC is registered as a model flying club to ensure that SAMAA requirements are met and that safety standards are maintained.
Members are allowed to fly on the designated DSC property by dint of their DSC Membership.

2. NAME
The Club’s official name is Shongweni Model Flying Club (SMFC). No other name will be used in the advertisement or representation of the Club.

3. PURPOSE OF THE CLUB’S EXISTENCE
To fly model aircraft in a safe and controlled environment in accordance with CAA requirements and Club rules.
To promote aero modelling.

4. MEMBERSHIP
Membership is open to anyone. All pilots/members, irrespective of their level of proficiency, must be members of:

  • South African Model Aircraft Association (SAMAA)
  • Shongweni Model Flying Club (SMFC)
  • Durban Shongweni Club (DSC)

Membership is at the discretion of the Committee.
Members will have voting rights for the SMFC but not for the DSC (unless they become full members of DSC).
Members are encouraged to achieve a SAMAA proficiency level.

5. EXECUTIVE
The Executive Committee shall consist of not less than four (4) persons.
Portfolios are:

  • Chairman
  • Vice-Chairman
  • Secretary
  • Treasurer
  • Safety Officer
  • Chief Flying Instructor
  • Proficiency Officer
  • Helicopter Officer
  • Communications Officer

Some portfolios may be combined under one person as long as there is a minimum of four (4) elected members on the Committee. To ensure continuity at least one (1) Committee member must carry over to the Committee elected
for the following year.

6. DUTIES OF THE EXECUTIVE
1) The Chairman
Will:-

  • Oversee the other members of the executive in their duties.
  • Chair all meetings.

2) The Vice-Chairman
Will:-

  • Assist the Chairman in his/her duties.
  • Assume all powers of the Chairman in his/her absence.

3) The Secretary
Will:-

  • Be responsible for recording the minutes of all meetings.
  • Maintain up-to-date membership records.

4) The Treasurer
Will:-

  • Be responsible for all financial dealings of the Club.
  • Keep a complete record of all financial transactions of the Club.

7. The Safety Officer
Will:-

  • Be responsible for ensuring Club and SAMAA safety rules are adhered to.
  • Be responsible for investigating any accidents or incidents.
  • Be responsible for monitoring that noise levels do not exceed 93 decibels and keeping the records as required.

5) The Chief Flying Instructor (assisted by the “weekend” and “during the week” Instructors)
Will:-

  • Be responsible for the co-ordination of flying instruction for new members.
  • Assist with the maintenance with proficiency standards.
  • Co-ordinate availability of instructors for new members.

6) The Proficiency Officer
Will:-

  • Co-ordinate the training/instruction requirements for new members to achieve proficiency.
  • Co-ordinate the proficiency testing with the Chief Flying Instructor and SAMAA.
  • Ensure the maintenance of proficiency standards as required by SAMAA and changes which may be implemented.
  • Be responsible for record keeping and liaison with SAMAA regarding proficiencies.

7) The Helicopter Officer
Will:-

  • Be responsible for all issues relating to the helicopter operations at SMFC.
  • Be responsible for the ensuring that the SMFC and SAMAA Safety Standards are maintained within the group.
  • Co-ordinate the requests for training and, in conjunction with the Proficiency Officer, arrange for the necessary proficiency testing.

8) The Communication Officer
Will:-

  • Assist the Chairman with the promotion of the Club and the necessary liaison with the public and the members.
  • Ensure the website is regularly updated in all respects.
  • Issue newsletters, notices etc, as required.

8. FINANCES
An annual Membership Fee will be set and approved by Members at the Annual General Meeting and implemented on the 1st July to run until the 30th of June the following year. Fees are due before the 31st of July. Membership will be terminated on the 31st August if payment is not received by then. Fees of new members are determined pro-rata and must be paid in full. Any Member who defaults after the 31st August is obliged to pay the full year’s Membership Fees before flying may be resumed.
The committee shall nominate two of it’s members to be signatories of the club’s banking account, any one of whom is authorised to sign any and all documents on behalf of the club. The committee will also nominate one of the
said signatories to be the authorised holder of the bank card linked to the club bank account and to be the sole operator of internet banking. The bank account will be such that automatic electronic notifications will be sent to three
committee members for all transactions.

9. MEETINGS AND FISCAL YEAR
The Club’s fiscal year is from July 1st to June 30th the following year. An Annual General Meeting will be held in June/July. The notice of any meetings will be at least fourteen (14) days in advance.
A Special General Meeting (SGM) will be held should the necessity arise. A quorum at any general meeting will be six members. Decisions made at the AGM can be modified at an SGM.

10.ELECTIONS
Elections of office bearers will be conducted at the Annual General Meeting or a Special Meeting if a member resigns from the Committee and the Committee is thus reduced to less than four (4) members.

11.AMENDMENTS
Amendments to the Constitution must be approved by a two-thirds majority of Members present at a general meeting or, alternatively, by two thirds of the Members of the Club by an e-mail distributed to all Members.
Proposed amendments must be circulated to all paid up members at least 14 days prior to such meeting.

12.IMPEACHMENT
Any member of the Club who commits an act which negatively affects the interests of the Club and/or its members may be given notice of impeachment.
The impeached individual will have the right to defend his/her actions before the Committee. A two-thirds majority vote of members present will result in the expulsion of the impeached individual and the loss of all privileges associated with the Club. Any membership fees already paid will not be refunded.

13.VISITING PILOTS
Visiting pilots are most welcome at the Club but must be members of SAMAA.
Visitors making undue use of this facility will be encouraged to become members of the SMFC or the welcome may be withdrawn.

14.PILOT TRAINING
Pilot Training may only be carried out by a competent Club instructor who has been approved by the committee. All training is to be under the direction of the Club’s Proficiency Officer.

15.INSTRUCTORS AND TEST PILOTS LIABILITY
Instructors or test pilots cannot be held liable for any damage caused whilst training student pilots or test flying a Member’s aircraft.

16.INSURANCE
Members are covered by insurance policy provided by the SAMAA. Members have the responsibility of understanding the terms of the policy and any periodic amendments. Members are to conduct flying activities within the
constraints of the SAMAA insurance policy.

17.INDEMNITY
Durban Shongweni Club, Shongweni Model Flying Club, the Committee or the membership as a group, do not accept any liability caused by any individual or group of individuals through flying activities or behaviour at the Club airfield or associated DSC premises that result in injury or loss to its members or any third party. The member or members causing such loss will carry full responsibility and have no recourse to the Club, the Committee, Club members or DSC.

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Shongweni Model Aircraft Club (SMFC) Rules

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this document is not intended to restrict members from enjoying the hobby or dampen their passion for model aircraft flying. As it is an expensive and dangerous hobby, it is of utmost importance that all members adhere to a uniform code of conduct, ethics and safety at all times. Radio controlled model aircraft are not toys and are capable of inflicting severe damage if not operated correctly. Every pilot must use common sense and be considerate of fellow pilots.

 

  1. Remember that the overriding objective of modelling is to have fun. These rules are a guide to doing so safely. Also remember to use common sense and to consider the effect your actions may have on others. If everyone used common sense there would be no need for rules.
  2. No person may fly a model aircraft at the facilities of the club unless he is a current member of an ARO (Aviation Recreation Organization) approved by the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) and under whose auspices the club operates.
  3. These rules are to be read in conjunction with the applicable safety code of the ARO concerned.
  4. If there is any conflict between these rules and those referred to above, then the more restrictive rules will apply.
  5. It is a condition of membership to SMFC that all pilots attend a safety course based on these rules and that they sign an acknowledgement that they know the rules and will abide by them.
  6. The committee will appoint a safety officer whose duties are to ensure that the necessary safety systems are in place and that these are adhered to.
  7. A duty officer is to be nominated at each flying session. Unless agreed otherwise by those present, this will be the first person to arrive at the field who has a solo or higher SAMAA rating. If the duty officer leaves before flying is over, he will appoint a successor. No one can refuse such an an appointment.
  8. It follows that the safety officer will not necessarily be the duty officer, even if the former is present.
  9. The duty officer is responsible for ensuring that these rules are applied on the day, that flying takes place in a safe manner and that no pilot acts in a manner that will bring the club into disrepute.
  10.  The duty officer can prevent a pilot from flying if his flying is deemed to be dangerous, if his aircraft is deemed to be too noisy or not airworthy, or otherwise bringing the club into disrepute.
  11.  The test of whether a pilot’s flying is deemed to be dangerous, an aircraft is too noisy or not airworthy, will be if three members, or one quarter of those present, (whichever is the lesser) agree that it is so.
  12.  Any pilot who feels unfairly prevented from flying as above may submit his objection in writing to the safety officer who, together with the committee, will investigate the matter.
  13.  It is the duty officer’s responsibility to ensure that guests and new members are made welcome, are aware of these rules and do not transgress them. It is the host’s duty to take due care of his visitor.
  14.  All aircraft must be equipped with a “fail-safe” system that will cause an electric motor to stop and an IC engine to throttle back to idle in the event that the radio link between transmitter and aircraft is interrupted.
  15.  All aircraft must be fitted with a “kill” switch whereby the pilot can stop his motor by activating a switch on his radio. In the case of electric aircraft, the motor must be always disabled except for flight.
  16.  Flying is not permitted over no-fly zones as indicated in the site plan below, or over any area where there may be people (like runners or grooms). See Fig 1 below.
  17.  At all times there must be no people between the pilot and his aircraft while it is running (or armed in the case of electric powered aircraft).
  18.  No flying within a line five metres in front of the pilot box (the “runway”) is permitted except in the following circumstances:
    1. Taking off and landing,
    2. Practising taking off and landing,
    3. Slow fly pasts.
    4. High speed passes must be made beyond the far side of the “runway”.
  19. Start-up, take off and landing procedures:
    1. No electric aircraft may be “live” in the pit area.
    2. IC motors may be started in the pit area provided that the aircraft is adequately tethered or securely hand held.
    3. No aircraft shall be taxied within ten metres of the pit area.
    4. Active pilots must stand in the pilot box, close enough to hear to one another.
    5. Pilots must clearly announce their intention to;5.1 move their aircraft onto the runway
      1. take off
      2. land
      3. walk onto the “runway” to retrieve an aircraft or for any other reason. They must also announce when they have cleared the runway
      4. fly close to, or over, the “runway” (see item 15) (landing, slow fly past, beat up, touch and go, etc)
      5. or in any other significant situation.
    6. Pilots in the pilot box must acknowledge the announcements of others so that the caller knows that he has been heard.
    7. Those making an announcement must be sure that the other pilots have heard him.
    8. A pilot who has a dead stick must announce “DEAD STICK” and proceed to land in a way which ensures there is no threat to other persons, vehicles or equipment, even if it means ditching his plane.
  20. In the event that a full-sized aircraft looks like it might enter the airspace around the site then the model pilot must immediately land or fly at an altitude above ground of no more than 15 meters until the airspace is clear. If unsure, land.
  21. No IC aircraft may be flown before 07:00.
  22. All models flown from the site must conform to the club’s noise policy so as not to unduly antagonise our neighbours in a way that may get us banned from the site.
    1. 1 Any aircraft that could possibly not comply with our noise restrictions must be assessed by a committee member.
    2. 2 The committee is the sole judge of whether a particular model is too noisy.
  23. If any member feels that any rule should be deleted, modified or added, they should feel free to bring this to attention of the committee.

 

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SHONGWENI MODEL FLYING CLUB (SMFC)

APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP PROCEDURE

1. PREAMBLE

Membership requires annual renewal on the stipulated date and the fee agreed at an AGM of the Members.

AFFILIATIONS

To be able to actively participate as a member of SMFC and to make use of all facilities, a member has to have membership of the following:

• South African Model Aircraft Association (SAMAA) and pay for membership directly to SAMAA.
• Shongweni Model Flying Club (paid to SMFC)
• Durban Shongweni Club (DSC) (Membership paid via SMFC)

All subs to both SAMAA and SMFC/DSC are to be made by EFT to the relevant banking accounts as cash payments attract substantial bank charges. Should another way for payment is used the member must pay the bank charges at the time of making the payment. Membership is renewed on 1st July each and every year. Members will be issued with a Membership Card, for SAMAA and SMFC. The colour of the SMFC membership card is changed every year. All members must be in possession of the correct colour membership card and valid SAMAA card whilst flying at the Club field.

2. APPLICATION PROCESS

The process for an applicant to become a member of SMFC will be as follows:

• Obtain and complete an application for SMFC and SAMAA available on the relevant websites.
• The applicant must pay the required fees to the relevant bank accounts.
• Membership must be approved by the SMFC Committee. The SAMAA membership card will be posted directly to the member by SAMAA and must be submitted to the SMFC Chairman along with the Application Form and proof of payment of the SMFC Membership Fee. On approval the applicant will be issued with a SMFC Membership Card.
• As SMFC is a SAMAA registered club the SAMAA insurance comes effective immediately. (The SAMAA membership card can be used as proof of membership and competency when visiting other SAMAA clubs).
• The SMFC membership card will be given to the member by arrangement.

SAMAA contact: samaa.org.za.
SMFC contact: http://www.shongwenimodelflyingclub.co.za/

3. ACCOUNT DETAILS

Members must deposit the fees for SMFC and DSC into SMFC bank account:

Account Name: Shongweni Model Flying Club
Bank: Standard Bank
Account No.: 256 646 473
Branch: Hillcrest

The member’s name is to be used as reference.

Payment for SAMAA membership must be paid to:

Account Name: S A Model Aircraft Association
Bank: Nedbank
Account No: 1605 126 772

CONTACTS

Contact details for the current Chairman and portfolio holders are available HERE

4. COMMUNICATION

SMFC uses only e-mail for the distribution of notices, newsletters etc. All members are therefore encouraged to provide an e-mail address so as to ensure they are kept in the loop and up-to-date regarding happenings at SMFC. SMFC members must ensure that SAMAA and SMFC are informed of any change of address or other relevant details by e-mail or telephone to ensure they receive communications.

5. DURBAN SHONGWENI CLUB

Paid up SMFC members are entitled and encouraged to make use of all facilities at DSC. This includes the bar, restaurant and clubhouse. Please note that SMFC members do not have voting rights for DSC neither do they receive the DSC meal discounts (unless joining DSC as full or country members). As DSC is our host and even though we have affiliate membership, we need to acknowledge that it is an equestrian centre and that DSC activities take precedence. Members must always remember this and “give way” to DSC members. This is of utmost importance as any wrongdoing or irresponsible behaviour by an SMFC member could jeopardise our DSC affiliation. If there are any complaints, problems or deficiencies SMFC members are requested not to get involved but to refer the matter to the Committee which will take it up with DSC management. SMFC members only fly on DSC property by dint of their DSC affiliated membership.

6. APPLICATION DOCUMENT

Click HERE to download the application document

Click HERE to download the change of details forms