Interesting thread this one.

I've grown up around full size commerical aircraft (sort of family tradition ) as have most of the family friends. I've been modelling for about 15 years or so maybe? I was in the RAF for a while and currently hold a private pilots license in the UK and am building a full-size homebuilt aircraft for myself.

Here in Scotland I'm lucky that flying models isn't too popular. This means that flying sites are normally quiet. It's been said before on this thread by an experienced guy that why the sky gets busy he sits back. I do the same. When I'm flying scale models it's just not worth the stress. There's enough to think about without worrying about where other models are!

Pit areas and Pilot stations are a funny one though. Some clubs up here have them, mine doesn't. Sure, we have a pit area but it's quite informal. Pilots stand where it seems sensible. We're mostly fairly experienced though, but the newcomers tend to follow our lead. Peer pressure and friendly chats are enough to coach the newbies into adopting our unspoken procedures. The only trouble we get are from some helicopter owners who try to stand in the middle of the field to practive hovering. Very annoying and those people are not made welcome.

Another group of people who seem to bring trouble with them are the ARTF 'modellers'. I'm not on a vendeta here so please don't flame me, but as the ARTF is not labour intensive the owners of such models generally appear less conciencious. Newcommers with a new plans or kit built aircraft generally seem very keen to adopt good practice to protect their work and operate it as best they can, whereas the ARTF owners appear to treat them more like toys (ie without consequence)??? Again, just an observation.

Some clubs here tackle this by imposing a wannabe air traffic control system. This however doesn't suit everyone. It tends to be those who already have a healthy respect for aircraft who have no time for this, as good practice and calling landings etc is common courtesy to your fellow modellers.

Obviously, the larger the club, the less dependancy can be rested on good practice and common sense - one large club round here has paving slabs one the ground which the pilots must stand on..............