THE BMFA 'A' CERTIFICATE (SILENT FLIGHT - ELECTRIC)
- THE 'A' CERTIFICATE (SILENT FLIGHT - ELECTRIC)
The examination for the electric 'A' Certificate may
be taken on application to any Registered Club
Examiner or Chief Examiner. The candidate must
successfully carry out the following test.
- Carry out pre-flight checks as required by the
BMFA Safety Codes. Particular attention should be .
given to airframe, control linkages and surfaces.
- After complying with the site frequency control
system, prepare the model for launch. The motor
start and stop switch/speed controller sequence
must be demonstrated to the examiner
- Check that the launch area and landing area are
clear both on the ground and in the air. If a helper is
used to launch the model they should be fully
briefed as to what is required.
- Clearly announce, "launching" and launch the
model under full control. Any deviation from the
expected launch path must be corrected smoothly
and quickly. Climb to approximately 100m. Switch
off power and transition to glide without stalling.
From this point on, power must not be used.
- Stall the model into wind and recover smoothly
with a minimum loss of height.
- Perform 3 consecutive 360 degree thermal turns
to the right or left ending on the same heading as
the entry with minimum loss of height. The turns
should be under control with no tendency to stall or
enter a spiral dive.
- Perform 3 consecutive 360 degree thermal turns
in the opposite direction to above ending on the
same heading as the entry with minimum loss of
height. The turns should be under control with no
tendency to stall or enter a spiral dive.
From this point on, power should be used as
required.
- Fly the model up wind to prepare the model for
the overshoot/landing phase. The model should be
flown with no tendency to stall and with minimum
loss of height.
- Call "landing" and prepare the mode! for a
landing with a down wind leg, followed by a base leg
and final approach.
- Overshoot from below 10ft and climb back to
circuit height. Note that this manoeuvre is an
aborted landing, not a low pass.
- Again, call "landing" and prepare the model for a
landing with a down wind leg, followed by a base leg
and final approach.
- Land the model into wind within 20 metres of a
predetermined spot.
- Retrieve the model from the landing area,
informing other pilots that the landing area is clear.
- Complete post-flight checks required by the
BMFA Safety Codes.
- Repeat the above schedule a second time,
giving a total of two flights.
- In addition to the flying schedule, the candidate
must answer correctly a minimum of five questions
on safety matters, based on the BMFA Safety
Codes for General Flying and local flying rules, at
least two of which must be specific to electric flight.
- All manoeuvres must be carried out in airspace pre-
determined by the Examiner and Candidate prior to
the commencement of the test flights.
- The above complete two flight schedule is treated
as one test attempt. Two attempts per examination
will be allowed in anyone day.
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