Narrative:

During a training flight in an small aircraft, and in the airport traffic pattern of 7a1, this instrument has been required to take evasive action to miss model aircraft operating up to 800' within the designated traffic pattern of 7a1. This problem has been duly noted with airport officials in the area. A model aircraft club has been operating off this field for about 1 yr or so. This field is used for student pilot activities as well as other activities on wkends. As many as 7-10 model aircraft use the airspace along with full size aircraft at the same time. When first sighted, the model aircraft seems far away because of the aircraft size. However this is a deception because most models have a 4-6' wing span and are difficult to see unless they are too close to airborne aircraft for reasonable comfort. The model aircraft club activities at 7a1 should be moved away from full scale aircraft activities. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following: reporter claims he had contacted atl FSDO about problem and was told that unless there were more pilot complaints, nothing would be done. Reporter said other pilots at airport feel the same way and in the process of submitting letters to airport manager about the problem. FSDO requested that the reporter submit a letter about the problem first. Reporter also stated that the model aircraft are supposed to remain below 400', but they often climb higher. This operation has been going strong for approximately 1 yr with 20-30 model aircraft operating at times. This is a non tower airport. Model aircraft weight approximately 8 pounds with speeds between 80-120 mph. Reporter suggests that their operation move to the west side of the airport away from the traffic pattern. The traffic pattern area is to the east of runway 22.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA INSTRUCTOR REPORTER COMPLAINS ABOUT MODEL ACFT CLUB OPERATING WITHIN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN AND INTERFERING WITH OTHER ACFT.

Narrative: DURING A TRNING FLT IN AN SMA, AND IN THE ARPT TFC PATTERN OF 7A1, THIS INSTR HAS BEEN REQUIRED TO TAKE EVASIVE ACTION TO MISS MODEL ACFT OPERATING UP TO 800' WITHIN THE DESIGNATED TFC PATTERN OF 7A1. THIS PROB HAS BEEN DULY NOTED WITH ARPT OFFICIALS IN THE AREA. A MODEL ACFT CLUB HAS BEEN OPERATING OFF THIS FIELD FOR ABOUT 1 YR OR SO. THIS FIELD IS USED FOR STUDENT PLT ACTIVITIES AS WELL AS OTHER ACTIVITIES ON WKENDS. AS MANY AS 7-10 MODEL ACFT USE THE AIRSPACE ALONG WITH FULL SIZE ACFT AT THE SAME TIME. WHEN FIRST SIGHTED, THE MODEL ACFT SEEMS FAR AWAY BECAUSE OF THE ACFT SIZE. HOWEVER THIS IS A DECEPTION BECAUSE MOST MODELS HAVE A 4-6' WING SPAN AND ARE DIFFICULT TO SEE UNLESS THEY ARE TOO CLOSE TO AIRBORNE ACFT FOR REASONABLE COMFORT. THE MODEL ACFT CLUB ACTIVITIES AT 7A1 SHOULD BE MOVED AWAY FROM FULL SCALE ACFT ACTIVITIES. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: RPTR CLAIMS HE HAD CONTACTED ATL FSDO ABOUT PROB AND WAS TOLD THAT UNLESS THERE WERE MORE PLT COMPLAINTS, NOTHING WOULD BE DONE. RPTR SAID OTHER PLTS AT ARPT FEEL THE SAME WAY AND IN THE PROCESS OF SUBMITTING LETTERS TO ARPT MGR ABOUT THE PROB. FSDO REQUESTED THAT THE RPTR SUBMIT A LETTER ABOUT THE PROB FIRST. RPTR ALSO STATED THAT THE MODEL ACFT ARE SUPPOSED TO REMAIN BELOW 400', BUT THEY OFTEN CLB HIGHER. THIS OPERATION HAS BEEN GOING STRONG FOR APPROX 1 YR WITH 20-30 MODEL ACFT OPERATING AT TIMES. THIS IS A NON TWR ARPT. MODEL ACFT WEIGHT APPROX 8 LBS WITH SPDS BTWN 80-120 MPH. RPTR SUGGESTS THAT THEIR OPERATION MOVE TO THE W SIDE OF THE ARPT AWAY FROM THE TFC PATTERN. THE TFC PATTERN AREA IS TO THE E OF RWY 22.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.