Old Holland Road Flying Site

[MerrillChia]

Hi guys,
This afternoon the men in blue came round again. They said they received complaints from neighbours flying Nitro Helicopters and that we had to move our vehicles as well. I spoke to the officers and they said that the residents had complained and said that they felt it was unsafe and dangerous as there was alot of smoke and it was very loud. The issue of parking our cars there had also been brought up yet again.
I strongly urge nitro flyers to find other locations to fly as we do not want to lose another flying site. To date, when we have been flying small electric park flyers we had no complaints.
I understand that I have no right to tell nitro flyers not to fly there, but please do spare a thought for others. I am a regular at the flying site and i did see the nitro heli's this morning. I must say it looked rather dangerous with 4 big heli's in the sky at a time and were standing rather close to the walk way.

Parking is a problem there and only adds to the problem. Though there is no immediate solution to that problem, we can cut down the number of things which attract these complaints. The nitro issue is unfortunately one of them. I do enjoy the sound and smell of it, but it is just one of the things we cannot fly there as it is the poisen of some neighbour over there. All equipment should be kept off the pavement at all times, people taking walks or jogs show much displeasure everytime they have to take little detours around our equipment. Joggers also sometimes intentionally kick our things, but we can't do anything. These are potentially the people who complaint.
Please spare a thought for these people who are the kings of the road and keep off the pathway. We are in a very rich neighbourhood which treasure the tranquility and enviroment around them, so lets not provoke them.
At least let the park flyers, Gliders and electrics fly in the area, the field would not be a lost to us if we just abide by their rules and stay in their good books. I really hope not to stir up trouble with the residents there and preserve the field for electrics. At least it won't be a total lost.

[freshjetblast]

I stay just a stone's throw away from the field and I agree that all nitro planes and helis should not be flown at OHR. nitro helis and planes can be heard audibly well, from wilby road.

the point I am trying to drive at is that the field isn't very big and it doesn't make sense to fly nitro planes and helis there. the fact that the fellow flyers are already causing much displeasure to the residents by parking along the road is already a tell-tale sign of more police visits to come. in addition, I also jog there very often and get pretty peeved when I see people flying nitro planes and helis, and also occupying the entire width of the pavement with their barangs. yes, I know of joggers who purposely kick equipment that's in the way, I too feel like doing so at times.

I do not wish to lose this field as I too fly electrics there, can we please try to:

- only fly electrics at the field, please please don't fly nitro, there are other places to fly at
- park CLOSER to the kerb, eg wheels touching kerb
- not occupy the pavements, move all equipment onto the field itself
- move further into the field. I know it is sloppish, but if you are flying electrics, this won't be a problem, right?
- keep the field as litter-free as possible, eg clear up broken prop, drink cans, etc

[Merpati]

Strongly agree with the comments.

In addition, too much publicity may not be good, especially when safety of the public is concerned.

If people are too free to have them on Stomps, Straits Times forums etc, some form of actions may be taken.

No license is required to ride jet-ski some time ago in spore.

But since accidents had taken place, one fatal, lincense is required to ride on one now.

Cant imagine if all flyers are required to possess a flying license.

So, whether nitro or electric, lets adopt the culture of safe flying and keeping away kits from footpaths.

[Sirod]

I agree with you guys, I used to fly electric at OHR, after droping off my son
at a school nearby. It will be a sad day if all RC activities here are off limits here.

If we limit ourselves to electrics I guess we can still have the use of the field. The other objection, with the police is traffic obstruction when
we park along road, no matter how close it is to the curb. That stretch
becomes effectively a one way, much to the inconvenience to all vehicles
there, like those who test drives from Tan Cheong nearby.

For those who drove there, might I suggest we park on the patch of
wooded ground that is on the right side coming up the road towards
MGS. It is very shady, and I think the ground is hard enough even
during west seasons. We only need to carry our stuffs across the road.

What do you all say, we encourage this ?

Sirod

[MerrillChia]

I agree with you guys, I used to fly electric at OHR, after droping off my son
at a school nearby. It will be a sad day if all RC activities here are off limits here.

If we limit ourselves to electrics I guess we can still have the use of the field. The other objection, with the police is traffic obstruction when
we park along road, no matter how close it is to the curb. That stretch
becomes effectively a one way, much to the inconvenience to all vehicles
there, like those who test drives from Tan Cheong nearby.

For those who drove there, might I suggest we park on the patch of
wooded ground that is on the right side coming up the road towards
MGS. It is very shady, and I think the ground is hard enough even
during west seasons. We only need to carry our stuffs across the road.

What do you all say, we encourage this ?

Sirod

Sounds like a good idea, but it is an even more serious offence to park up any curb or grass way. The penalties are far heavier than a single white line offence.

[Adrianli]

Sounds like a good idea, but it is an even more serious offence to park up any curb or grass way. The penalties are far heavier than a single white line offence.

Should be same price, S$70 fine n no demerit points.

[MerrillChia]

While there is no immediate solution to this parking problem, like all neighbourhood's, the police intervene only when there are complaints. The solution could be to limit the number of cars parked in the area. While this is difficult, this could mean making arrangements for people to drop you off to fly, or car pooling.
The complaints do come in when there are more than 4-5cars parked in a row. It does pose a traffic hazard.

[MerrillChia]

Hmm, is it still $70? i though there was some fee as well for damages incurred on the environment. Did you know that you can't cut down your own tree's you planted in your garden? its an offence that would cost you from 1k-3k.. I believe that could be the added charge.

[Adrianli]

Hmm, is it still $70? i though there was some fee as well for damages incurred on the environment. Did you know that you can't cut down your own tree's you planted in your garden? its an offence that would cost you from 1k-3k.. I believe that could be the added charge.

S$70 is summon from the TP. Environment is another gov agency.

My grandma's place, we have to pay contractors to cut away the trees or trim them leh. No disturbance from any gov agencies.

[Heli_fanatic]

in Aus its even worse

[MerrillChia]

in Aus its even worse

Yup.. that's why i think we should stay off the environment.

[Ivan M]

anyone still flies at OHR?

[MerrillChia]

Only the electrics fly at OHR now.

[Parsifal]

There is a vast difference between smoke and noise being a disturbance and being dangerous. I accept the disturbance issue no question, especially in the early morning, but more dangerous than an electric? this is false.

I fly both electric and nitro, and have been doing so for a very long time, in many countries and many clubs and suffice it to say, no experienced modeller will tell you that an electric plane (with a similar wingloading) to a nitro plane is safer, rather the truth is, they are more dangerous, and gliders, even more so because they tend to travel at speed.

This discussion is about preserving a flying site, i think pretending its about safety is somewhat hypocritical. Especially since the quiet nature of electrics presents a greater danger to the ignorant public.

A nitro model provides sufficient warning by virtue of the noise and smoke. A passer by, or someone thinking about walking across the field, would notice it and be more safe by virtue of doing so. The quiet nature of electrics tends to provide a false sense of security to the ignorant public.

Electrics don't necessarily die when they crash, more often than not, the prop / blades continue spinning at high speed, in the case of nitro, after the first bit of damage if the prob / blades hit something, the engine tends to die. This is why when you are being taught at a proper flying club, the trainers tell you that getting your hand caught in the prop of an electric will likely see all your fingers cut off rather than just one (in the case of a nitro)

Additionally, crashing a plane with lipos in it presents a much greater fire hazard than a plane full of nitro fuel. This is true for all occasions unless you crash into someones lit stove.

I thought this thread needed a dose of facts. No offense intended. Here is what i suggest you do if you are flying at OHR:
1. Always have a friend with you to act as a spotter for any impending dangers, people/dogs/etc walking around etc.
2. Don't have more than 2 models in the air at any one time
3. Don't fly behind the tree line, especially low down, if you are flying a big glider and are high up, then it makes no difference.
4. If there are people on the field, always go and tell them what you are doing and ask if they are going to be there long, if they are, say thank you and go fly somewhere else. Don't chase them away.
5. Don't fly over peoples heads, you never know when you are going to have a radio failure.
6. Don't be a selfish flyer and hog the flight line, always let other people have flights too.
7. Fly further in the field, the walking will do you good.
8. Don't leave your stuff on the path, you are in a public place, understand that you have less rights than the other people using it for the reasons it was intended, always make way and be friendly.
9. Always assume that a crazy kid/dog is gonna run up to your model, act accordingly.
10. Never run your model at speed near the path or towards people, you never know when a prop nut is gonna pry loose.

Anyways, thats all i have to say about this. Night.

Regards,

Pars.

[joe yap]

Just my opinion. We can go around arguing with each other about all the factors here, but what is the most important one should be the one directly concerning the complaints from the public. If the public specify the noise from the nitro that scares and annoy them, that is it. Tackle it specifically and do not complicate the matter. If they concern about safety, again target on the safety issue, and don't fight against each other on any other factors. If we go around fighting each other and bring out everthing, it is only too easy for the authorities to shut down the place for flying. Also, it the opinion form the PUBLIC that usually costs us our fields, not ours and certainly not yours.