RC Slope Soaring in Hong Kong

Hi Willy,

剛才找rcsail.com舊forum，讀到有關 Winch launch 的高度限制 (60m / 150m)，可否再解釋呢? 是不是 cable 不可超過150m，拖航高度不可超60m? 謝!


<節錄如下>

Name: Willy
Topic: Aero-tow 之限制
Date: 19 Feb 2004
Time: 22:58:21
Message
Air Navigation (Hong Kong) Order 1995 (Cap.448C) 第 38 條談及上述，其中無「最高升空高度」之限制，但有提及 The length of the combination of towing aircraft, tow rope and glider in flight shall not exceed 150 metres。

Name: Willy
Topic: 升空高度限制
Date: 19 Feb 2004
Time: 22:48:45
Message
Aero-tow 不涉 winch, cable, ground or sea tow，應不受 s.70(1)(f) 管制之列。否則真滑翔機，豈非只能升至60m，如何搵熱氣流？

Name: Y C Lui
Topic: glider 有著數 ?
Date: 19 Feb 2004
Time: 22:39:01
Message
聽完 Willy 對有關法例既專業詮釋﹐民航法對模型滑翔機好似特別“關照”﹐只係唔可以 launch 到 60米以上﹐launch後只要唔飛入飛機航道﹐飛幾高都得﹐仲可以係郊野公園入面飛. 我估寫條例個人一定係玩 glider。照咁睇﹐係唔係所有動力模型飛機都唔可以飛高過 60米 ?

Name: Willy
Topic: 路邊擲glider
Date: 19 Feb 2004
Time: 19:49:57
Message
阿邦，s.70(1)(f) 是話 a glider or parascending parachute shall not be launched by which (我估是winch）and cable or by ground or sea tow to a height of more than 60 metres above ground or sea level，無話不准在路邊手擲，然後讓架機「自行」soar 至超過 60m 高度。............................................................................................................................................................ 我覺得，此例禁止的，是用足以令架機升至60m 以上的「超長」winch, cable 等。

Name: Ah Pong
Topic: 飛行安全
Date: 19 Feb 2004
Time: 19:33:47
Message
Dear Stanley, I support your proposal which we shall do some measures to ensure safety. In fact, after reading the argument between Mr. Nonsense and Willy, I doubt quite much whether we are in certain extend, have contravened the said order (Cap 448C). I studied a bit, and found that the order does mention a glider shall not be launched ………….etc… in section 70 (1)(f). Whilst many fellows misinterpreted that any glider weighing below 7 kg (including Mr. Nonsense and myself) is exampled from this order. However, section 100 does mention the provisions apply to section 70. Furthermore, according to Schedule 1A, glider is classified as aircraft (I am not sure whether RC model is included). Since I am a layman in relation to such legal terms, I wonder whether our insurance would be voided, if we have contravened this order. With a view to promote this meaningful sport, shall we step up a mechanism similar to HKPA (HK paraglider association) to regulate our activity? HKPA claimed that they had been authorized to do so. They set some qualification such as student pilot, club pilot, instructor etc. A student pilot has to be accompanied by a club pilot for flying in Shek O etc. Shall we do the same thing? What is other fellow’s view?

Let me try on this one.

You can't tow anything 60m (20 storeys) up from ground or water surface (like if you goto Phuket and let a speedboat tow you up the sky under a parachute for leisure), thereby creating a more than 60m high, untrained obstacle/target wobbling in the wind endangering low flying helicopters (and of course yourself).

If you're in an aircraft-towline-glider arrangement, high up in the sky, don't be too far apart (less than 150m measuring the whole set up) so that other aircrafts won't inadvertantly fly between you and catch the towline.

CT

Thanks CT !

CM, my view is:

1.If winch launch, max launch height is 60m (see article 70(1)(f) which reads "a glider or parascending parachute shall not be launched by which (winch?) and cable or by ground or sea tow to a height of more than 60 metres above ground or sea level"). No limit on cable length so long as the 60m height limit is observed;

2. If aero-tow, no limit on launch height as article 70(1)(f) doesn't cover aero-towing.

Although I previously mentioned that under article 38(2), the length of the combination of towing aircraft, tow rope and glider in flight shall not exceed 150 metres, I now clarify that this restriction is inapplicable for aircraft falling within the definition of "small aircraft" (i.e., those <= 7 kg without fuel) This is because article 100(c) exempts small aircraft from complying with article 38(2).

Things however will get legally unclear if either the tug or the glider exceeds 7kg. Will article 38(2) apply if one of them is not a small aircraft? If so, which one, the tug or the glider? To err on the side of caution, my view is that so long as either of them is > 7kg, the 150m overall length limit will apply.

In any event, is 150m too long for model aero-towing, to render the matter academic?