Sun Dancers Flight Training Program

Introduction: 

The Sun Dancers Flight Training Program is planned to give new fliers the best and safest way to learn to fly R/C planes.  Those interested in learning can take two paths. 

  1. Rent a plane from one of the instructors and take flying lessons using the instructors plane, radio equipment and fuel.  The charge is $10.00 for a 15-minute lesson.  This is a good way to try it out to see if you have the ability and eye site to fly R/C.  There is no investment in equipment and you don’t have to join the club or get the AMA insurance to fly.  The student has no responsibility for the plane if it crashes.
  2. Bring your own plane ready to fly.  An instructor will be willing check it out for you and make a test flight.  To take flying lessons, you need to join the AMA (Academy of Model Aeronautics) for the insurance necessary to fly at the club fields.  You will also need to JOIN the Sun Dancers R/C Club to use the field.  Club members are not charged for the flying lessons.  The instructor is not responsible for the plane if it crashes. 

The usual way to get started is to come out and take a few lessons with an instructor’s plane to see if you would like to be an R/C flyer.  If you want to continue, then you can join the AMA and the Club and buy the equipment needed.

Student Pilots:

A student pilot has a lot to learn to be able to fly a model safely.  This is divided into the areas, ground school and flight training.

  1. Ground School:  This is when the student learns to safely get his plane ready for flight and includes the following subjects:
  1. AMA safety rules
  2. Club Field Rules and etiquette
  3. Frequency Control
  4. Assembly and Preflight
  5. Engine fueling and starting
  1. Flying Lessons: This is where the student learns to taxi the plane, take off, fly the plane and land.  The student must use a buddy-box until he is qualified to fly by the instructor.  The learning sequence is as follows:
  1. Round figure eight
  2. Square figure eight
  3. Approach lineup training
  4. Traffic pattern, landing and takeoff

Safety Certification of New Pilots: 

Students are given a safety certification that gives the requirement for being certified as a Sun Dancers R/C Pilot

Flight Instructors:

Sun Dancer’s flight instructors are approved by the AMA as Introductory Pilots.  The Introductory Pilots must pass the Flight Proficiency Demonstration AMA form 535-E before being listed as Club Flight Instructors.  A flight instructor’s manual is provided by the club to help standardize the flight instructors so that the student can change instructors with a minimum of problems.

 

Safety Certification of New Pilots

A copy of these safety procedures must be presented to the new pilots prior to their first lesson.  This is done so that the new pilots will be fully aware of what is expected of them.

 Preflight Procedures

  1. The student pilot must fully understand the importance of the frequency control system and be sure that they put their club card in the proper frequency slot prior to turning on the transmitter.

  2.  The student pilot must demonstrate the ability to assemble the plane so that it is safe to fly.

  3. The student pilot must show safe engine starting procedures.  I.e., plane properly secured to the worktable and hand and equipment away from the propeller.

  4. Check operation of all flight controls and complete a radio range check prior to takeoff

  5. Must announce their intentions to take off in a loud voice so that other pilots who are flying can hear them.

 Flying Skills

  1. Must be able to demonstrate 5 consecutive successful takeoffs and landings.

  2. Demonstrate control in the air by successfully performing 3 figure 8’s.

  3. Must be proficient in flying either a right hand or left hand flight pattern depending upon the winds.

 Landing Procedures

  1. Announce in a loud voice their intention to land.

  2. Taxi plane to flight station and shut down engine.  DO NOT TAXI IN THE PIT AREA.

  3. If the plane engine stops on the runway and cannot be taxied, the pilot must announce in a loud voice “ON THE FIELD.”

If a new pilot cannot perform these skills and attempts to fly on their own, the following will occur: 

1st offense:      Letter of Reprimand

2nd offense:     A Week of Suspension

3rd offense:      Termination of Membership

Flight Instructor’s

  1. Preferably training should be done by one of our trained and certified flight instructor’s and upon completion of training they can certify the student pilot.

  2. If the student pilot is trained by other than the flight instructor, the student pilot must have their final check flight by one of our flight instructors.

CLICK HERE for a downloadable copy of the new pilot safety certification

 

Flight Instructor Manual

Are you interested in being a pilot instructor?  If so, you need to learn the secret instructor handshake!  CLICK HERE for a downloadable copy of the Flight Instructor's Manual.

© Sundancers RC 2007