BMFA South West Area
Minutes of ordinary meeting
held by Zoom on 3rd October 2024
1. Welcome.
The Chairman opened the meeting at 7:30pm with a welcome to everyone.
2. Apologies for absence.
Plymouth MFC
Cornwall Slope Soaring Association
Exeter & District RC Club
East Devon Radio Control Club
RC Cornwall Flyers
Truro & District MFC/Treasurer
3. Confirmation of Club Delegates present.
Bude and District Model Flying Club/ ASC SW Area
Newton Abbott Heli Club
Riviera Thermal Soaring Club
Plasterdown Flying Association
Davidstow Model Flying Club
RNAS Culdrose/SW Area delegate
Okehampton MFC/Secretary
Officers present:
Chairman
Secretary
PRO
Area Delegate
ASC Southern Area
4. Minutes from the previous meeting.
The provisional minutes having been circulated were taken as read. They were accepted as being a true record of the meeting. Proposed: RNAS Culdrose delegate Seconded: Bude and District MFC.
Vote: 7/0
5. Actions from previous meeting.
The Newton Abbott Heli Club delegate asked where examiners could get travel claim forms. This is to be raised with the Treasurer.
Achievement Scheme weekend. See report from AS Coordinator.
6. Reports from Area Officers.
SW Area delegate; reported that the BMFA Finance report has been circulated and discussions on budgets and allocations will be made at another meeting next week. £15 000 is likely to be distributed over the 15 Areas so funding will be drastically cut.
Treasurer; I have nothing substantive to report. I have paid only three invoices in the last quarter, totalling £231.88, and our bank balance is now £3,936.98.
Having received no correspondence from the BMFA regarding the bids for financial support for 2025/26, I made an initial submission to Mike Woodhouse to ensure that my format meets his anticipated needs. He acknowledged receipt of our bid and outlined the bidding process they expect to follow. Apparently, they are in the process of a major reconfiguration of their accounts. This process is still ongoing, so they were unable to discuss the funds that may be a viable for this 2025/26 bidding purpose at their recent Council meeting.
They hope to be able to start the 2025/26 bidding cycle shortly. Michael appeared generally content with the format and information in my submission, but did observe that I made no mention of any income raised by the events bids – I will revise my bid document to cover this point ready for the official bidding process. My view is that the expenses of running all these competitions/events are met by the entry fees.
On a final note, I can report that our 2023/24 Area accounts have now been scrutinised passed by our two auditors and are available for presentation at our next AGM.
Secretary; reported that enquiries had been made about slope soaring at St. Agnes head as there seemed to be some confusion. A meeting, involving the Chairman and secretary had been held with RC Cornwall Flyers delegate who has been the contact point in talks with the National Trust and Natural England over the last few years. Since this point of contact has been unofficial the secretary proposed that the RC Cornwall Flyers delegate be officially co-opted to the committee on an annual basis as the Negotiator for the SW Area in regard to slope soaring from St. Agnes head. This was seconded by RNAS Culdrose delegate.
Vote: 7/0
PRO; reported that he has posted articles about the AS Weekend and reports on the event and added some advertising to the website.
Achievement Scheme Coordinator; The AS Controller has agreed to proof read the handbook as there are some parts that are confusing.
The BMFA are reviewing the structure of training and testing events at Buckminster as they are not being used for the purpose they were intended. Members are arriving at the events without proper preparation for the event and the standards of flying are consequently poor.
The AS Scheme Controller also announced they are going to produce a quarterly newsletter.
AS Weekend at Okehampton; although attendance was down on previous events it was again very successful with wonderful weather and all the candidates had really appreciated the instruction and environment. We are very grateful to all the examiners who took time out to attend and especially the Southern Area ASC who attended for the 3rd time, all the way from Southampton. Candidates had come from as far West as the Lizard and as far North as Bristol. Some candidates reported difficulty arranging tests locally. The Chairman, Secretary and ASC have met to record the successes and failures of this event and drawn up a document to improve future events.
There were 4 successful B tests and 4 successful A tests. Some of the B’s are keen to progress to become examiners.
Catering had been provided by Secretary and his wife on an “at cost basis” with hamburgers and hot dogs going for a £1 and it was very popular. Free water and hot drinks were provided all day.
The ASC for the Southern Area has attended all 3 AS Weekend events and offered his services as an additional ACE for the Area. Proposed by the Chairman and seconded by the Area ASC.
Vote: 7/0
7. Progress on Training events The events co-ordinator has tried to organise RC Helicopter training but unfortunately the trainer was not available for the intended period so this fell through.
8. Reports & Matters arising from Club Delegates.
Davidstow Model Flying Club delegate expressed his sincere thanks to the PRO for getting an ambulance to their site after a member fell ill. The PRO used What-3-Words to direct the ambulance services to the site. The meeting agreed that What-3-Words is an amazing app and all clubs should have the location provided by this app on their emergency contact forms as the emergency services all use the app.
Plasterdown Flying Association delegate reported they have had a very active season. The Gliding Competition has enjoyed another successful season. Because of the entry of carbon gliders they are now looking at amending the rules of the competitions to make competition fairer. They will be holding a meeting to update the Thermal Gliding Competition rules for 2025.
Newton Abbott Heli Club have also had a busy season.
Okehampton MFC continues to host gliding competition events and aerotows. There are plans to co-ordinate aerotows in the Area like the gliding competition to get more people involved.
Riviera Thermal Soaring Club poor weather conditions have resulted in a poor season of flying.
East Devon Radio Control Club have had to change flying rules as a result of the gorse fire caused by an electric model crashing. They are having to control flying based on the local fire index set by the Met Office and Lipo battery capacity. This is making rules quite complex.
9. AOB. The SW Area delegate and Area PRO both indicated they don’t intend to stand again at the AGM.
10. Date and venue for next meeting. The next meeting will be the AGM to be held on Thursday 21st November by Zoom.
11. Meeting Closed at 8:50pm
Actions:
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Examiner travel claim forms.
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Bids for funding Area activities.
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St. Agnes slope soaring site.