About a year ago, our club (410 members) began dealing with the influx of 3D flying close-in. Obviously liability is a big thing nowadays and getting 410 people to all co-exist with the multitude of aircraft variations they fly is another story. Our solution was the rules you see below, which allows hovering close in under certain conditions. All complaints we received that initiated this were from people hovering less than 50 feet in front of another pilot who is flying. This brought up the fact that no one could hear comments on the flightline (people yelling landing, etc). All in all, it has worked out for the better and everyone has cooperated. We just asked for those to simply apply common sense and realize that their actions of flying close in do affect others.

"No hovering over the runway with fixed-wing aircraft while other pilots are present. All hovering to commence over the tall grass unless: (a) there is only one other pilot flying at a station and you have their consent (b) there are two other pilots aside from you practicing the same hovering maneuvers. In (a) and (b), hovering must be commenced from the runway centerline out and maximum separation of flying aircraft must occur. No individuals to be underneath a hovering aircraft."

Complete rules and a field diagram available at: http://www.sccmas.org/rules/rules.shtml

Michael
SCCMAS VP
www.sccmas.org