News

19 April 2024
Andre has decided to step down as Safety Officer. The committee have decided to appoint Charlie Goulding until the AGM in November when members can vote for the election of a Safety Officer.

22 January 2024
New PADMAC website created using WordPress and hosted by the BMFA.

Facebook page up and running https://www.facebook.com/PortsmouthAndDistrictModelAircraftClub

28 November 2023
AGM Outcome:

Jono Robertson has been elected as chairman.
The rest of the committee remain unchanged.
Will Pitcain has volunteered to be electric fence monitor.
No change in PADMAC membership fees for 2024, (£30 for seniors and £15 for juniors).

14 May 2023
2023 BMFA Record Attempt:- PADMAC added six to the overall total of 2229 models airborne at midday.

14 November 2022
AGM Outcome:
Andre has been formally elected as safety officer. The membership fee for 2023 will be £30 for seniors and £15 for juniors + BMFA. All members are to renew their BMFA membership via the membership portal, or the Leicester office.

25 July 2022
Bob Farr has decided to step down as Safety Officer. The committee have decided to appoint Andre de-Ste-Croix until the AGM in November when members can vote for the election of a Safety Officer.

15 May 2022
BMFA Centenary Record Attempt:- Despite the heavy rain, PADMAC managed to add four to the overall total of 3109 models airborne at midday. Apologies for the poor photo, but the camera lens was a bit wet.

29 November 2021
AGM Outcome:
The existing committee have been re-elected. The membership fee for 2022 remains unchanged at £26 for seniors and £13 for juniors + BMFA. All members are to renew their BMFA membership via the membership
portal, or the Leicester office.

29 March 2021
The club has resumed flying activities again inline with government policy and BMFA guidance.

Please continue to use the flight slot booking system. This allows other people to see who's going to site and for how long. It will also assist the track and trace process if ever needed.

By operating in a COVID secure manner the gathering limits (rule of 6) do not apply.
Continue social distancing when at the site. Ideally maintain at least 2 meter separation where possible.
If you feel unwell, please keep your bugs to yourself and stay at home.
Minimise touching objects/surfaces others might touch. Consider using gloves or hand sanitiser.
Fly safe, enjoy being outside in the fresh air and try not to crash.

5 January 2021
In line with government policy to curb COVID-19, flying is suspended until further notice.

Stay safe, stay at home and continue working on your next masterpiece.

26 December 2020
In light of Hampshire moving to Tier 4 on 26 December we have to change the flying site rules again. Under the new Tier 4 rules PADMAC is still open for flying (this is consistent with the BMFA guidance), but members should strictly observe the 2 people meeting outside rule. The committee suggests that in order to comply we should limit ourselves to 2 people close together, i.e. still at 2mtrs distance, unless they are from your "bubble". Other groups of 2 may be present but should stay well away from the other groups. This would be the similar to rules imposed at golf clubs for people playing a round.

In short;

Please continue to use the flight slot booking system.
Continue social distancing when at the site.
If you feel unwell, please keep your bugs to yourself and stay at home.
If you live outside a Tier 4 area, remember the rules for moving between tiers.
Also please keep in mind any other travel restrictions the government may introduce at short time.
Fly safe, enjoy being outside and try not to crash.

1 December 2020
In-line with the new COVID-19 tiers system announced by the government and BMFA guidance, the club will be resuming flying activities from 2 December as follows.

Only two groups of up to 6 flyers/spectators in each group are allowed on site at any one time, with a clear divider between them to discourage mixing. Decide who you wish to socialise with on arrive and stick with that group.
All site visitors must ensure that they are on the flying site booking system, by either using the application, asking a friend, or emailing Ken to make an entry. This allows other people to see who's going to site and for how long. It will also assist the track and trace process if ever needed.
Ideally maintain at least 2 meter separation where possible. If 2 meters is not possible, then follow the 1 meter plus social distancing rules/guidance.
Fly safe, enjoy being outside and try not to crash.

3 November 2020
In-line with the recent government lock down announcement and BMFA guidance the club will be suspending all flying activities between 5 November and 2 December.

Stay safe, stay at home and make an early start on your next masterpiece.

13 September 2020
In line with the changes in law, the committee have decided to implement the following rules for the foreseeable future;

Only two groups of up to 6 flyers/spectators in each group are allowed on site at any one time, with a clear divider between them to discourage mixing. Decide who you wish to socialise with on arrive and stick with that group.
All site visitors must ensure that they are on the flying site booking system, by either using the application, asking a friend, or emailing Ken to make an entry. We have noticed that this has dropped off lately. This allows other people to see who's going to site and for how long. It will also assist the track and trace process if ever needed.
Ideally maintain at least 2 meter separation where possible. If 2 meters is not possible, then follow the 1 meter plus social distancing rules/guidance.

Please follow these simple rules to stay safe, the committee do not want PADMAC to be the source of 'you' getting COVID-19. Collectively we need to make the rules work, otherwise the committee will have to bring in tighter rules, e.g. 6 people maximum and a strict no-book no-fly policy to control the risk and stay inside the law.

16 July 2020
Members are to apply common sense to how may people can be at the site at any time. This means that everybody needs to take personal responsibility for their safety and the safety of others. The guidance on social distancing remains as before, maintain at least 2m separation where possible, otherwise follow 1m plus distancing rules. The club strongly recommends that members continue to use the flying slot booking system, so that everybody can see when the site is busy/quiet and plan their flying activities accordingly.

26 June 2020
From 4 July 2020 in line with the continued relaxing of government policy to curb COVID-19 the club will operate as follows;

Maximum of six people from different households at the site.
Maintain at least 2m separation where possible.
If 2m is not possible, then follow 1m plus social distancing rules/guidance.
Continue to use the flying slot booking system.

1 June 2020
In line with the relaxing of government policy to curb COVID-19 the club is increasing the number of members that can be at the site at any time to a maximum of six. Continue to use the booking system to get a flying slot.

13 May 2020
In line with the initial relaxing of government policy to curb COVID-19 the site is available to use again, but with a limit of only two members using it at a time. Use the booking system to get a flying slot.

23 March 2020
In line with government policy to curb Coronavirus, flying is suspended until further notice.

26 November 2019
AGM Outcome:
Bob Weller was elected as the new club secretary after Paul Grinyer stepped down. The 2020 membership fee will be reduced to £25 for seniors and £12.50 for juniors + BMFA. All members are to renew their BMFA membership via the membership portal, or the Leicester office. The club will provide advice to help members stay legal with the new drone and model aircraft registration requirements.

27 November 2018
AGM Outcome:
The existing committee have been re-elected. The 2019 membership fee will be reduced to £30 for seniors and £15 for juniors + BMFA.

22 November 2017
AGM Outcome:
The existing committee have been re-elected. The 2018 membership fee will be reduced to £35 for seniors and £17.50 for juniors + BMFA.

28 November 2016
AGM Outcome:
The existing committee have been re-elected. The 2017 membership fee will remain the same, at £40 for seniors and £20 for juniors + BMFA.

24 November 2015
AGM Outcome:
The existing committee have been re-elected. The 2016 membership fee will be reduced to £40 for seniors and £20 for juniors + BMFA.

6 September 2015
BBQ at the flying site.

14 November 2014
AGM Outcome:
The existing committee have been re-elected.

Chairman:- Dave Tanner
Treasurer & Membership Secretary:- Ken Webster
Secretary:- Paul Grinyer
Safety Officer:- Bob Farr

The 2015 membership fee will be reduced to £50 for seniors and £25 for juniors + BMFA.
Tim Richardson has accepted the role of helicopter supervisor.

6 July 2014
Summer BBQ.

17 January 2014
AGM outcome:
Dave Tanner and Paul Grinyer and been elected to serve on the committee.
The members agreed that the 2014 membership fee would remain the same as last year at £60 + BMFA.
To try and widen the club's appeal, it has been decided that we will allow electric helicopters and multi-rotor aircraft to use the site on an experimental basis.

8 November 2013
AGM outcome:
Bob Farr was elected as the Safety Officer.
The AGM will be reconvened in January to address the outstanding agenda items.

5 November 2012
AGM outcome:
PADMAC 2013 subs will remain at £60 for seniors and £30 for juniors.
Dave Tanner was elected as Secretary, the other committee members were re-elected.

Chairman:- Lee Sheppard
Treasurer & Membership Secretary:- Ken Webster
Secretary:- Dave Tanner
Safety Officer:- Terry Scott

2 November 2011
AGM outcome:
PADMAC 2012 subs will be £60 for seniors and £30 for juniors.
BMFA membership has increased to £31 for seniors and £16 for juniors.
The existing committee have been re-elected.

17 November 2010
AGM outcome:
PADMAC 2011 subs will remain at £50 for seniors and £25 for juniors.
The existing committee have been re-elected.

13 November 2009
AGM outcome:
PADMAC 2010 subs will be £50 for seniors and £25 for juniors.
BMFA membership has increased by £1, to £29 for seniors and £15 for juniors.
The existing committee have been re-elected.

27 September 2009
A good turn out at the September BBQ.

26 February 2009
A light hearted concourse model show was held at the club night. Models were judged by the members present. The scale winner was Mike's Chipmunk and the sport winner was Robin's Quaker Flash.

27 November 2008
AGM outcome:
PADMAC 2009 subs will be £80 for seniors and £40 for juniors.
BMFA membership remains unchanged at £28 for seniors and £15 for juniors.
The existing committee have been re-elected.

8 June 2008
A pleasant BBQ has held at the flying site.

8 March 2008
The flying patch has been cut, rolled and extended by another 20m. There are no excuses for not being able to land on the patch, other than pilot error.

29 November 2007
AGM outcome:
PADMAC subs to be £70 + BMFA subscription.
The existing committee have been re-elected.
The committee plans to promote the club to increase the membership numbers and improve the flying site.

29 September 2007
The flying site is available for use, now that the Foot and Mouth disease risk has decreased. The second planned BBQ has been cancelled. There will be a club night on 25th October at the Royal British Legion Cosham, details will be announced shortly.

15 September 2007
Due to the second Foot and Mouth situation this year, our landlord has requested PADMAC to stop using the flying site until further notice. The planned BBQ on 23rd Sept has been postponed.

13 August 2007
The flying site is available for use now that the Foot and Mouth disease risk has decreased.

8 August 2007
Due to the current Foot and Mouth situation, our landlord has requested PADMAC to stop using the flying site until further notice.

10 June 2007
PADMAC held a BBQ at the flying site with members enjoying a pleasant afternoon's flying session.

22 March 2007
Ken Gale brought some of his helicopters, including a gas turbine model to the club night. He talked about how to operate and fly a gas turbine helicopter and his plans to transplant the turbine into the Jet Ranger body. The night was rounded off with running the gas turbine helicopter in the car park.

17 March 2007
The flying patch has been cut, rolled and extended by 20m. Thanks to all those that turned out to help