General Philosophy
and concept
The Club Modèles Réduit has set up a Color Grading system to mitigate the risks, hazards, dangers to which pilots and visitors are exposed to at the Flying Field. This grading system will enable identification of the pilot’s standard, promote the hobby in a structured way, and will help to enforce Safety and Discipline.
A newcomer shall be restricted from carrying out any operational activity (including switching on a transmitter) without the supervision of a senior club member.
By progressively going up the Color Grading Scale, a beginner will overcome the constraints initially imposed on him. He will gradually reach a proficient and safe level that will give him full satisfaction and allow him to fully enjoy the hobby without restrictions.
The Color Grading system and the conditions to achieve these grades are explained here after.
The testing procedure
All color grading tests will be conducted by 2 examiners. During the tests the examiners will pay a special attention to the pilot’s safe control of the model. Any subsisting doubt about the flight safety level of the candidate will lead to a failure.
Up to the Yellow color grade, the instructor/s will assume the responsibilities to ascertain that the pilot to be tested has reached the expected standard. The grading tests shall be carried out once all maneuvers involved are certified as satisfactory by an instructor.
Above the Yellow grade the above certification will not be required.
The test for a new grade will include 2 maneuvers from previous colors, at the discretion of the examiners.
The Color grades will remain valid for one year which can be extended to 2 years if the pilot concerned remains a regular flyer (at least twice a month). On expiry of the validity period, the color will be downgraded to the previous level.
The validity period can be reduced or suspended by the instructors subcommittee in cases of indiscipline or irregular flying. All complaints concerning a pilot will be addressed to the above mentioned subcommittee for necessary actions.
The instructors subcommittee has the authority to call any pilot in for testing.
This shall also be the case for Color gradings that have expired.
The color grading test program can be amended by the subcommittee at any time.
The
Instructors/Examiners
Flying Instructors/Examiners will be appointed by the Subcommittee and will be at least Orange Graded. They will be required to pass the instructors test (to be defined).
Ground Instructors may be appointed by the Subcommittee and
can be of any grade.
How to use this
guide
For each Color test, this guide will state the performance level required and will give descriptions and directives to evaluate the candidate.
PREFLIGHT TEST
This is a requirement for all Color grades.
DESCRIPTION
The candidate shall be tested on his knowledge of the different parts of the model, which should be in good flying conditions.
Before switching his radio ON, the candidate will place his Peg on the board, thus verifying that his frequency is free by at least 10 KHz.
The following checks shall be carried out:
- Battery, RX & Servos installations, Wire connections, movements of clevis and linkages
- Tank & engine tubing connections
- Propeller, silencer & glow plug tightness
- No cracks on the fuselage
- Wing and ailerons hinges
- Wheels and collets
- Tailplane and fixation on the fuselage
- Elevator and hinges
- Fin and fixation
Evaluation
The candidate must demonstrate good knowledge and discipline
during the pre flight check. He will be requested to explain each verification
and function. He should be able to detect any potential failure which could
lead to a dangerous situation.
TAXI
Description
- When taxiing keep left with priority to the right
- Priority shall be given to any incoming plane taxiing away from the runway – planes must be allowed to leave the runway first
- Taxi speed shall be kept low and well under control
- When taxiing out for takeoff, pilots must stop at the first yellow line (furthest to the runway) and make sure that the runway is cleared and nobody is coming in for Landing – Landing aircrafts should be given priority.
Clearance: if a flight controller is on duty, his clearance is mandatory for all landings and take offs
Evaluation
Application of above rules and good ability to control the taxi speed
WHITE COLOR GRADE
Description
White is the lowest grade attributed to a beginner who can neither take off nor land
A white graded beginner must always:
- Ask his instructor or a flight controller permission to switch on his transmitter for the first time on each flying day
- He must always fly under supervision of a flight instructor
- He will not wear a neck strap
- He must fly only a trainer or thermal glider
- He must know the preflight checks, and all radio settings for take offs and landings
- He will not be allowed to execute any aerobatics or other maneuvers except under the strict control of his instructor.
Evaluation
The candidate must show interest to the Club’s rules and regulations, and demonstrate safe and disciplined conduct at the flying site.
BLUE COLOR GRADE
Description
The beginner will be tested for the Blue Color after his instructor has certified that he has reached a satisfactory level for all maneuvers involved.
Maneuvers: One Take Off followed by a basic 8 noseout (outbound)
Take Off
Before Take Off the following checks will be performed:
- Nose up engine running at full throttle
- Wind direction for take off
- TX & RX antennas fully extended or as required
- TX & RX battery levels
- Trims and features set for take off
- Controls are free and full travel in the right direction
- Runway area is cleared and the sun position noted
Take Off shall be positive and safe as defined below:
- Plane accelerates upwind on the runway with minimum deviations (60° maximum otherwise abort)
- Rotation made at correct speed
- The plane must be engaged initially in a shallow climb for it to gather speed
- Runway centre line should be maintained until sufficient height is gained. The plane should not deviate more than 60° during this initial climb out.
- If during the takeoff run, the plane happens to face the car park area, the take off should be aborted at once.
Evaluation
The candidate will be assessed on his ability to maintain the above requirements with good wind corrections. Climb angle should be smooth avoiding excessive display of extrados color.
Basic 8 noseout
- Straight and level flight away from the pilot, aircraft well trimmed towards “hands off” stability
- Left turn 360°, bank angle< 45° showing the reference of a smooth turn
- Followed by another straight and level flight
- Right turn 360°, bank angle<45° with the same visual ref as for the left turn
Evaluation
Ability to maintain a straight line and to enter smoothly in the turns
Appreciation of wind and correction
Visual signs during the turns are: outboard wing hidden- increase bank slowly to display extrados color glimpse. The figure should be well centered on the defined axis.
GREEN COLOR GRADE
Description
Pilot will be upgraded to this color after having passed the QCM Quiz, and completed the following maneuvers: One basic 8 nosein→ a stall→ a final approach→ a correct landing
This color allows the pilot to fly without being permanently unsupervised
He may now wear a neck strap and perform basic aerobatics with an instructor’s assistance.
He keeps this color during all his training on a trainer
Basic 8 nosein
The action begins with the plane in the pilot’s axis and facing him.
Straight and level flight with hands off stability
Left turn 360°, bank angle<45° showing the visual aspects of a smooth turn followed by another straight and level flight
Right turn 360°, same as for the left turn
Evaluation
The candidate will be assessed on his ability to sustain reverse flight and to initiate smooth banks entering the turns.
Wind appreciation and correction
Constant bank angle
Stall recovery
The candidate will be requested to execute a stall by reducing power and increasing the pitch attitude up to full elevator until stall speed is attained.
Evaluation
The candidate will be judged on his ability to control the model during the deceleration phase, and the recovery at safe altitude
Final Approach
The candidate will have to demonstrate that he can make a constant and steady approach by showing advent vision of the plane pinpointed visually on final leg for at least 10 seconds.
Evaluation
The candidate will be assessed on his ability to control the model during the final leg, with minimum lateral or vertical deviations. Model must be kept steady and stabilize with good corrections to maintain the trajectory and slope.
Landing
The candidate must show that he can make a correct landing as follows:
- The final leg finishes on the runway center line
- Control of trajectory with appropriate corrections less than 20° of bank
- Control of the slope with minimal pitch correction
- Flare out should be smooth, gradual and progressive
- Plane should not stall before touch down
- Engine should be running after the landing
Evaluation
The candidate will be assessed on his ability to engage in quick corrective actions
YELLOW COLOR GRADE
Description
This color grade can still be flown with a trainer, and the following maneuvers will be completed:
2 loopings (which need not be consecutive)→1 spiral dive>540°→3 consecutive landings with correct flare out, - tap or roll on the runway, take off again without engine cut in one go.
Loopings
The candidate will be assessed on his ability to control this exercise
Applying full power and elevator to enter the loop
Spiral Dive
The candidate will start the exercise at a safe altitude
Reducing power to stall the aircraft and rotate the model in a nose down attitude through at least one and a half turns resuming normal flight in a smooth and flat recovery
Touch and Go
The candidate will be judged on his ability to execute positive touch and go
It can be tap, touch or roll and go concluded by a full stop landing
ORANGE COLOR GRADE
Description
These maneuvers are to be carried out with at least an intermediate model
2 consecutive loops→1 three turns spin→1 immelman→3 consecutive rolls→2 touch and go followed by a full stop landing
Loops
The candidate is expected to complete this figure in a more skilful way than for the yellow grade. The model should fly a perfect circle with up elevator when inverted and power reduced.
Spin
Safe altitude for to start the exercise
This is different from a spiral dive, the model must stall and rudder + ailerons applied in the nose down diving attitude
Recover smoothly in leveled flight
Immelman
Half loop followed by half roll exiting opposite to the entry
Rolls
To be performed either upwind or downwind with no penalty if changes are observed in the roll rate, trajectory or altitude provided the excise remains under control and safe.
Touch and go
Same as for previous color
RED COLOR GRADE
DESCRIPTION
Proficient pilots being able to fly an aerobatic model with accuracy doing:
2 consecutive loopings → 1 stall turn → 3 consecutive rolls → 1 three turns spin → 1 outside loop → 1 basic 8 inverted → 2 touch and go followed by a full stop.
Stall turn
Vertical nose up attitude with power
Reduce power and when plane slows down, yaw 180° to a nose down attitude
Smoothly resume normal flight in a direction more 90° from entry
Outside Loop
The outside-loop will be evaluated in the same manner as for the inside loop spelt-out before. Power should be decreased when the plane is at the top of the loop and adequate down-elevator and power should be applied to accomplish a large loop.
The pilot may at his discretion, enter the feat inverted.
Basic 8 inverted
The candidate will be assessed on his ability to enter upside down, 360° right and left completing turns in the pilot’s axis.
Accuracy of exercise
BROWN COLOR GRADE
Description
Candidate will need to perform a basic 8 inverted and any 3 stunt required for the Red Color + one rolling basic 8.
The test for this grade will also include 2 maneuvers from previous colors, at the discretion of the examiners.
CRITERIAS
COLOUR QUALIFICATIONS
(a) To qualify for a colour a pilot must
fly the corresponding manoeuvres in front of at least two Orange graded
members, one of them being a Committee member. Besides, before undergoing test for a new
grade, a pilot must first perform manoeuvres corresponding to his actual colour
grade within one month prior to the date of the test.
(b) Colour grading YELLOW and above are
valid for one year only and before the
end of that period the pilot must confirm his actual level. Otherwise he is
automatically down-graded to the previous colour and should consider himself as
untrained and a potential danger to his surroundings.
(c) A pilot who wants to overstep a
colour must be constantly accompanied by a senior pilot and is not allowed to
take-off, land or fly low.
CHALLENGE
A pilot’s
colour may be contested by at least 2 members if the latter suppose that the
pilot is overgraded and if the grading dates back more than one year.
If
challenged, a pilot must prove his level within 3 months of the contested date
by performing the manoeuvres corresponding to his colour. The pilot keeps the present colour during
that period.
In case of
success, the pilot keeps his colour and cannot be challenged for one further
year.
Otherwise
he is downgraded to the previous grade and may be challenged again after 3
months.
We
sincerely think that the grading and judging criterias have been kept to a
minimum so as to encourage members in improving their flying skills.
Please also
note that only Orange graded pilots and above will be authorised to perform
during shows, open days etc…, thus for the security of the public.
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