Basic Aeronautics

[Celwin]

There is plans to bury a concrete pad with vertical poles somewhere adjacent to the pilot's box, on both sides. This is because models (glow powered mostly) need a run-up before attempting take-off. If they are a little rich, lots of smoke and oil are blown onto the grass otherwise. Other times a model is landed to re-tune and if this is done on the grass, a dead strip can be found the following week.
Walking with a running model does have its risks, but many MAAA members cannot get down on the ground easily to re-start a model. Where does it become an acceptable risk I wonder. I have never heard of an injury from carrying a running model, apart from an electric one (accidental touch of the throttle stick). Some clubs allow taxiing between flight-line and and a point in front of the pits, but don't allow taxiing towards the pits. This is to cater for models that are too heavy or awkward to carry. The Safe Flying Code (MOP056 13) call for the use of a restraint where a taxiing model may be a danger to other people. This is a simple strap around the tail that the pilot holds onto while the model powers itself away from or towards the pits.
Our slope makes it risky taxiing large models from the flight line because they roll so easily. There isn't anything we can do about this.

MOP014 General Rules and Guidelines for the Operation of Model Aircraft 6.14 recommends that engines above 2.5cc (15 size) are prohibited from being hand started.
6.17 recommends that aircraft being started are restrained mechanically or by someone other than the person starting it. I was talking with Greg about this yesterday.
Signs attached to the starting benches may appear in the near future to remind members about safety while starting and tuning models...

Much of the MAAA's MOP's are recommendations, not rules. They leave it up to us to make them rules.