Take extra precautions when flying your ‘plane’

How many of you are model plane enthusiasts? Recent years, Hong Kong people became more and more compelled by this sophisticated new toy– the model aircraft. Just like model cars, you control the movement of the car with your remote. The biggest difference though, is the blades of the Helicopter models are harmful to people. If the blades are not completely turned off, people too close to it may get injured.

This is what happened to a operator of this toy aircraft yesterday. He is an experienced player with over 10 years of experience. He was hit in the head by the still-rotating blades, which he had thought was turned off. A possibility of this incident happening is that, model aircrafts use channels to convey orders to the aircrafts, and there may be a coincidence that another player nearby is using the same channel and sending orders o his aircraft model.

Triggered by the accident, the government became more aware of the safety precautions that the players should take when flying the model plane. First, there has to be no people except the operator himself around him. Second, a record sheet should be used to write down the channels that the players are using at the same time, avoiding the possibility of clashing of channels. Third, the place for playing these modeling planes should be clear. Being a very busy and packed city itself, Hong Kong can provide not many places that meet the requirements.

The government might need to give out licences to new operators and designate suitable places for model aircraft lovers. Also, it would be best to have an organization or clubs, societies which congregate model aircraft lovers together and organize this activity and avoid any coincidence.

Some of the aircrafts are small and won’t be too dangerous, and children are suitable to play; while some weights 6kg and are quite expensive, for instance, 30 thousands. So, it’s a matter of precautions that operators should take and don’t overestimate the control you have over the planes then you can join this activity. I believe it is a fun and enjoyable activity which can be played among friends or relatives when they are organized and wary of what they are doing. I want to try the activity myself!