Academy of Model Aeronautics

5161 East Memorial Drive, Muncie, Indiana 47302
(765) 287-1256 – Voice • Competitions Fax (765) 286-3303
www.modelaircraft.org

EXHIBIT A RULES CHANGE PROPOSAL FORM

PROPOSAL NO. RCSA 11-33 RECEIVED DATE

(To be inserted by Headquarters) (To be inserted by Headquarters)

REVISE DATE VERSION NUMBER

PROPOSAL TYPE (Check One): X Basic  Cross Indicate Original Proposal Number

 Urgent/Safety/Emergency  Interpretation

 General Section  Executive Council  Outdoor Free Flight  Indoor Free Flight  CL Speed

 CL Racing  CL Navy Carrier  CL Aerobatics  CL Combat  CL Special Events  RC Aerobatics X RC Scale Aerobatics  RC Pylon Racing  RC Helicopter  RC Soaring  Scale  Electric

 Special Events  RC Combat

Brief summary of the proposed change.

To remove the current sound rule requiring all pilots have their aircraft tested to ensure they are at or below 96 DB using the standards as written in the rules.

Exact wording proposed for the rule book. (List paragraph numbers where applicable. Example: Change “quote present rule book wording” to “exact wording required”. Attach additional sheet if needed.

The following rule should be removed:

5. Scale Aerobatic Sound Limits:

5.1: Maximum Sound Levels. The maximum ground sound level for all classes shall be: 96dBA measured on soft surfaces and 98dBA measured on hard surfaces. Contest Directors may implement a correction factor due to unusual conditions.

5.2: Standard Method of Sound Measurement. The sound measurement shall be taken with the sound meter set to the ―A‖ weighting, slow response with windscreen installed. The sound meter shall be placed downwind, twenty-five feet from the model centerline and positioned in line with the prop arc at twenty-four inches in height (see Fig. 1). The sound meter shall be pointed directly at the model and perpendicular to the fuselage. The model being measured shall have its engine run at full power for the sound test. No noise reflecting objects will be allowed within three feet of the sound meter.

Exact wording required:

5. Scale Aerobatic Sound Limits:

5.1: Maximum Sound Levels. The maximum ground sound level for all classes shall be: 96 dBA measured on soft surfaces and 98 dBA measured on hard surfaces. Contest Directors may implement a correction factor due to unusual conditions.

5.3: Ground Sound Level Test. Prior to flying the first round of a contest; each competition model must pass the Ground Sound Level Test. The Ground Sound Level Test must be completed at the sanctioned contest site by the Contest Director or his/her designee. Testing shall be done in an area designated by the Contest Director and must be completed prior to or during the first round. Models successfully completing the test will not be measured again during the contest unless their sound level is deemed to have increased significantly since the initial check by the Contest Director. Any aircraft that fails the test will not fly, but will be moved to the back of the flight order, and allowed one more attempt to pass the test. Any model that fails the second test will zero all judged sequences he would have flown during the current round. Any model that fails the second test may be tested again during future rounds with the same Ground Level Sound Test criteria being applied. No model will fly any judged sequences at any Scale Aerobatics contest, until it passes the Ground Sound Level Test. Any pilot that is found trying to cheat or circumvent any of sound testing rules, [example: increasing the throttle servo throw after the sound test is completed] will be disqualified from the contest, with no exceptions. If any pilot makes any changes to the aircrafts engine, its exhaust system, or its propeller, they used during the initial sound test, or decides to use a different aircraft altogether at some point during the contest, [including the Freestyle portion] the pilot must have the aircraft re-tested to ensure it still meets the sound limits.

5.4: All sound level measurements must be recorded for each pilot, by the Contest Director or his/her designee for future reference. Example: If the scoring program allows, these sound level measurements must be entered in the scoring program for each pilot. If not, alternate records must be kept for future reference.

5.5: Any Contest Director who does not apply all of the Scale Aerobatics Sound Limits rules as written, may have his/her contest disqualified from any and all Regional Points Championships, at the Regional Directors discretion.

Logic behind proposed change, including alleged shortcomings of the present rules. State intent for future reference.

For a number of years, the current ground sound test rules as stated on the first page, have been ignored by most if not all Scale Aerobatics Contest Directors, including the Nationals In Muncie. The exact reason for this is unclear, however as a result of this, some long running contests have been lost, as well the ability of many clubs to host possible future Scale Aerobatics contests. Many local clubs cannot support any practice flying of the sequences either, which is just as important. While it is true some regions of the country may not have any sound issues currently, there are many flyers living within the USA and other countries, who reside in more densely populated areas, and do indeed have serious noise problems. If the folks living in the areas where there currently are very few sound issues think it will stay that way forever, they are naive. Many areas that were once rural farmland, are becoming more and populated, as there is no room left in the big cities to expand with our ever increasing population levels. New homes and communities are popping up almost everywhere.

While it can be argued that a ground sound level check is not perhaps a true indicator of the maximum sound levels our aircraft produce once airborne, it can and does weed out the loudest of aircraft before an event begins. This translates to lower overall sound levels. It would be preferable to measure sound levels with a meter while aircraft are in the air, but for obvious reasons that is simply not possible.

Ground sound checks are the standard in Pattern, and have been for many years. Not just in the USA but worldwide. Many clubs also have DB limits imposed on their members. There is a reason for this. A sound level meter is totally unbiased. It does not care who the owner of the plane is, or whether he or she fly’s Basic or is a top competitor in Unlimited. It does not care about the brand or type of engine, [be it gas, glow or electric] what exhaust system is used, or what type of propeller is used. It simply measures the maximum sound level produced on the ground by a given aircraft.

This new rule will also provide some serious consequences, for those pilots who might try to circumvent or cheat on this proposed sound rule. This is something Scale Aerobatics has been lacking for many years.

Effect, if any, on current AMA records.

No known effect on current AMA records.

Note: The Contest Board Chairman may, in coordination with the submitter of the proposal, at any time prior to submitting a proposal to the Contest Board for Final Vote, edit proposal wording to increase clarity and to avoid ambiguity provided the proposal intent is not changed.

1. Proposer: James R. Woodward AMA # 638975

Street Address: 1502 Jason St.

City: Albertville State: AL Zip: 93590

Day Telephone : 256.677.8819 Evening Telephone (_____)______

Date of Signature: 31MAR10