Steve Hughes, president of Nanaimo Model Airs, is happy to have extended a pilot project with the city allowing his members to fly model plans at two locations in the city of Nanaimo. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

WHEELS UP

Nanaimo model air club lands permission to continue using pair of fields

Jul 25, 2020 | 7:04 AM

NANAIMO — After years of moving around, a passionate group of model pilots are hoping to be permanently cleared for takeoff.

The Nanaimo Model Airs recently received permission from the city to use Seraxumen Sports Fields and Elaine Hamilton Park for another year.

The venues are being gauged by city officials for data collection for the pilot project.

Model Airs president Steve Hughes said the locations are far from perfect, however he and members of the club are thrilled they have a more convenient location to pursue their passion.

“It takes a lot of skill and there’s not a lot of room for going too far there, they’re fairly restricted. Some people like to fly aerobatics, others fly for the joy of it to go up, fly around and if they can make a good takeoff and landing that satisfies them.”

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The club had originally pitched using East Wellington Park, however concerns raised by area residents scrapped the venue.

Hughes said approximately 30 members fly through the year. Some fly fixed-wing aircraft at Serauxmen, while others pilot drones at Elaine Hamilton.

Smaller aircraft have wingspans between two and three feet, while some members fly much larger, eight foot-wide planes. The planes allowed to fly in the city must have electric engines only.

Both groups are heavily regulated by the Model Aeronautics Association of Canada (MAAC), which also provides insurance for model pilots.

“The field we fly from has to be approved from MAAC which means they take in the safety aircraft, whether there are any houses near or full sized airplanes nearby,” Hughes said.

Pilots must be registered by MAAC in order to legally operate remote aircraft at the fields. Membership to MAAC allows pilots to bypass new Transport Canada licensing regulations, provided pilots fly within the association’s rules.

Hughes added safety is the primary focus among members who diligently track weather and monitor any hazards in the surround area.

No complaints from nearby residents at either venue have been made known to Hughes who said they’re thrilled to have a place to call their own.

He believes once summer 2021 comes around, they’ll have nearly two years of solid data featuring no negative interactions and a strong case to make the venues permanent.

Many of the Nanaimo members have also joined the larger PDQ Flyers club based in Nanoose, which boasts around 100 members and have a larger, more tailor-made flying venue.

alex.rawnsley@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: alexrawnsley