[jbach]

Originally Posted by dashpuppy

that would make me rage!

Yup, I can relate!

[bcsaltchucker]

makes me worry for our new club field. Haven't hardly opened yet. It is very tight and next to a small housing development on a small hobby-like farm. The club members really want to be able to run fuel planes at this field, and are very optimistic about it. Some veteran flyers see it as too tight and close to homes. I see it as OK for my flying, but I am all electric and don't have to fly under 100'. I fear it will only take one of the two dozen folks who live on the edge to complain, or take the municipality to task over zoning like in the Okanagan ... so maybe we ought to consider going electric-only as a preventive step. Or maybe just wait and see - if complaints come in, then consider going electric-only.

[John M.]

bcchucker

Establish a `flight box`, train and certify your pilots to stay in that box and tell the neighbours what you are doing. Invite them to the field, buy them a little something from time to time, explain model aviation to them and make sure that they have a phone number to call at your club if they have a concern. And answer that phone within a short & fixed time frame.

This brings up another role for MAAC: find out the coping strategies that clubs are using across Canada and publish the best of the best of these for use by other clubs as a go-by.

We cannot be so arrogant to believe that the value of our hobby, which leads to so many good things and involves so many good people, is appreciated as such by the general public.

[polix]

that's great advice John, being proactive and getting the neighbours involved will certainly help reduce problems in the future.

[John M.]

Thank you polix.

Seek first to understand then to be understood.

Fancy words for the golden rule.

[polix]

Someone recently taught me the value of diplomacy with grumpy old people

[Arceenut]

Originally Posted by polix

Someone recently taught me the value of diplomacy with grumpy old people

To some people "diplomacy" is agreeing with them. Anything else is not

[polix]

Some grumpies are perma grumpy, others just want to be heard

[takeoffeh]

Bit off topic but comparing Harleys to RC airplanes isn't near as well of a comparison as Motocross bikes with RC planes. Most people know Harleys are passing by and even if its a weekend thing [thinking Port Dover here] Its a money grab for the locals. Not much different than when the circus comes to town.

Motocross almost died from noise complaints. Round and round with that constant sound.
Ultralights and MX bikes are something I did for years. I now have 5 sites I fly my RC gliders at and I must admit. I hide every darn one of them from RC power pilots .

Zoning may be the issue here but it was the noise that brought attention to it.

[bcsaltchucker]

yep. gliders and FPV can be out of sight, high and totally silent. This stealth opens up more sites to us, but have to be discreet and on the lowdown, not for the masses of RC pilots. This doesn't really help the sport thrive and gain public acceptance, which is what the thread is about. Though the nearly-silent electrics have helped impress upon spectators how quiet RC flying can be - some folks assume we are going to be noisy and out of control and then are pleasantly surprised when they stop and watch us flying quietly and with precision (non MAAC electric field).