Kindly give us a quick introduction: who are you and how have you been involved in the UAS Challenge so far?
My name is Chris Bradbury, I run Altitude Aerial Photography Ltd and I’m also the Drone Support Officer for the British Drone Flyers, which is part of the BMFA. I have been involved with the UAS Challenge since 2016. I started as the Safety Pilot and have since taken over the role of Flight Safety Officer (FSO) and help as part of the steering and safety committees for the event.
What are your observations from this year’s Fly Off at BMFA Buckminster? Any notable teams or particular things you saw?
The change in rules has seen a big change in the aircraft attending, with the most significant change being the increase in aircraft size due to the increased weight limit in the rules. Even with a limited number of teams attending the physical fly-off event due to the pandemic, there was still a good variety of different designs, showing that students are thinking creatively and looking for innovative solutions to the tasks set to them.
What advice do you have for teams competing in the 2022 UAS Challenge?
My advice is always the same really, and it’s the 7 P’s, ‘Pretty Poor Planning Promotes Pretty Poor Performance’. It’s critical for teams that want to do well at the fly-off event and get the most out of the available flying time, that they come prepared. Get the model ready to fly as soon as you can once you arrive and be in a position that you are ready to start flying the moment the flight line opens on day one. This will give you more chance to get your aircraft airborne, but also more chance for multiple flights. Sadly, if everyone leaves it to near the end of the flying time to come out, we won’t have enough time. Getting out early gets you time to iron out bugs and hopefully put in a great performance.
Tell us a bit more about the BMFA
The BMFA is the British Model Flying Association and is the National Governing Body for the sport of model flying. We can trace our routes back to 1922, meaning we celebrate our centenary in 2022. Our goal is to promote, protect, organise and encourage model flying within the UK. We have over 30,000 members around the country and even some overseas, as well as over 750 affiliated clubs. This gives us a strong voice when it comes to ensuring our members rights are recognised by the authorities.
What sort of activities are the BMFA involved with?
With help from a strong network of volunteers, we run and host various events and competitions around the UK, including many at our National Centre in Buckminster, for various different forms of model flying disciplines, from various aerobatic based flying competitions, to detailed scale modelling of full-sized aviation, as well as indoor competitions for light weight models.
We also host various education-based events, such as our own Payload Challenge, where teams from all around the world compete in various challenges to design and built bespoke aircraft, much like the IMechE UAS Challenge.
We also support our members, by helping them set up new clubs and being generally available as a resource of knowledge and experience they can call upon if needed.
The BMFA volunteer network spreads across various specialised technical committees, for example I am also Chairman of the Achievement Scheme Review Committee. We oversee all of the BMFA’s own personal achievement scheme network, which is where BMFA members can take flight tests with local club examiners as a way of measuring their own personal level of flying and have a flying ability goal to aim for.
Why should fliers and drone operators consider joining the Association?
Beyond the support and representation we provide, and the events I have already mentioned in my other answers, there is still much more. The biggest two are that our members are able to fly under our Article 16 Authorisation, which is something we have been able to agree with the UK CAA to allow our members more freedom in their flying, but also they get a class leading insurance package with £25m in public liability insurance and £35k personal accident cover.
We now offer a new membership type dedicated more to those that want to primarily fly drones, which is the British Drone Flyers. The core membership package, insurance and support are the same, but the information we share is more drone focussed, so more relevant to their interests.
We offer membership types to suit individuals, families or community groups and education facilities.
What’s the best way for amateurs to get into model aircraft flying?
There are a few ways, but the best way is always to reach out to your local model flying club, as there will be many that are willing to help. There is a club finder on the main bmfa.org website. Most clubs will contain likeminded enthusiasts, that will more than happily spare their time to help beginners get into the sport and learn.
Many of our affiliated clubs also offer the opportunity to book a trial flight through the BMFA’s trial flight scheme, which can be found on our website.