Enjoyment
The reward in mastering a new manouevre is immense. It doesn't matter whether it's learning to land consistently before your first solo, or whether it's your first rolling harrier, the enjoyment is the same. Yet many modellers complain of losing interest because they don't strive to continuously improve their flying by challenging themselves. You don't need a £2000 3D monster. In fact, it's likely to have the opposite effect as you'll be too scared of damaging it. Get yourself a cheap foamy and try something, anything. new. If you're not sure where to start, then the BMFA Achievement Scheme is a great launch pad.
Instructors and Examiners
RAFMAA has a number of instructors and examiners that cover the country. Examinations are typically taken during the Annual Fly In, but ad hoc arrangements can be made to suit the student and examiner. For details of an instructor or examiner near you just contact us.
Safety
Not only will you enjoy the sport more by pushing yourself, you'll become a safer pilot. Safer pilots safeguard the future of RAFMAA. To that end, RAFMAA has set a target that by 2020, 50% of RAFMAA members will have an A Certificate or greater and 20% will have a B Certificate or greater. To encourage this, a rolling scale of membership discounts are offered to those that have passed an Achievement Scheme exam within the last 5 years.
Sport England; classes Aeromodelling a Higher Risk Sport
The BMFA; expends a considerable amount of effort producing and maintaining Handbooks on what constitutes good practice within our sport. Any dispute, legal or otherwise, is likely to use these handbooks to determine what is considered reasonable. We operate under the BMFA's Operational Authorisation from the CAA (aka Article 16) and in support of this we are required to be able to provide evidence of risk assessments and report any incidents to the CAA (and RAFMAA's Chairman). RAFMAA organised events are covered by our own Sports Safety Management Plan (see below), but when you are operating independently you must operate iaw the below:
The RAFMAA; provides specific safety guidance surrounding the organisation of RAFMAA events within its Sports Safety Management Plan
You; In the eyes of the law are ultimately responsible for your own safety and the safety of others around you. You MUST satisfy yourself that each and every flight can be undertaken safely or not fly. Please make yourself familiar with the guidance available within the links on this page