As I write this, I am also writing my 1st column as the District VP. I hope to have a new Safety Coordinator appointed before January. It remains to be seen whether he will have the time or interest in continuing this monthly posting. I have had very little feedback to tell me whether it is read or not, so I don't know whether to encourage its continuance or terminate it as a waste of time.

You would think I would get tired of talking and writing about safety, but the more I am around modelers and flyers the more concerned I am with safety. Regardless, I have enjoyed thinking and writing seriously about Safety. Thanks to those who have given me your attention.

The month has flown by both figuratively and literally. It seems like I just told on myself yesterday and now it is time to tell on somebody else. This month I had 2 friends injure themselves in separate incidents. One was in a hurry to get his Saito 100 started so instead of getting his chicken stick, he just flipped the prop and it kicked back and got him five stitches in his fingers. He knew as it hit him that it was a bad mistake and that it was his fault, not the engine's. If you read my previous notes you will remember that I said if you get out of your routine you can anticipate a safety incident. In this case, he was excited about the new airplane and too anxious to do what he knew was the right thing and it cost him a few stitches and dollars.

The other was a new pilot who has a plane restraint but failed to engage it in his haste to get started and airborne. As the engine roared to life he let go of the airplane as he prepared to stand and retrieve his radio, as was his habit. This time the restraint wasn't there and the airplane rolled forward striking his knee with the prop. This time a lapse in concentration created the problem.

Safety devices are only as good as the employer. Maybe a word to the wise is: don't trust anybody or anything to keep a running engine away from your body. Use them as your second line of defense and restrain the airplane yourself at the same time.

I visited a different flying field in the last 30 days. It was very active with numerous pilots and airplanes occupying the pits area. Most pilots were starting their engines without assistance or plane restraints. Many were tuning engines by reaching over the prop arc and running at full throttle with the prop pointed directly at their midsection and groin areas. Little communication was going on between pilots on the flight line and a great deal of flying behind the runway on the pits side was ongoing.

I think I might have been the only person at the field who was nervous about the overall operation. They were all good guys, friendly and helpful but almost to a man they were unsafe. The club officers were part of the problem not the solution.

When I mentioned it to one of the officers, his comment was that they didn't like to be too strict and bound by rules. The members would prefer not to be corrected like kids. Unfortunately, they are likely to have a serious injury someday and all will wonder how it could have happened.

Every club needs to take an occasional hard look at their field layout and daily operation. It might serve them well to have a safety panel with the Safety Officer and a couple of members to spend a complete flying session observing activities and making notes. Be critical of everything, even the trivial.

At the next club meeting have an open discussion about your specific club operation, not in generalities but specifics. Use your own names if necessary but don't embarrass members by using theirs. Cite real incidents and point out facility shortcomings so a work crew can be detailed to rectify shortcomings. Do this at least annually, but maybe once in summer and once in winter so you see the field in both extreme weather conditions.

I would like to have feedback on this monthly column. If it is worthwhile, educational or thought provoking I would like to know; if it is boring and worthless, I need to know that as well. If you have input and observations that can help us all become safer modelers, everyone in the district needs to know. Contact me at the e-mail address below or call me at 210-945-8221.

Fly Safe and Have Fun! Safe Aeromodeling is No accidEnt (SANE)

If you have comments or input for me, please direct it to