Central Coast Sky Surfers Club - Code of Conduct
The Central Coast Sky Surfers club thanks you for your membership contribution. We also welcome your ideas and the giving of your time to club meetings and projects. Your club supports your access to the site, but needs your support in return.
In order to fly the site you need to be a member of the SAFA (either as a full SAFA member or under the SAFA Visiting Overseas Pilot License). In addition, you are required to be a member of CCSS (either as a full member or as an associate member for NSW Pilots who are members of another NSW Club). These are requirements laid down by CASA/SAFA as well National Parks and Wildlife Service as part of our operating agreement with them. (Please refer to http://www.centralcoastskysurfers.com/flying-sites for more detailed information)
It is also a requirement of club membership that you agree to observe & abide by the following values;
- Respect for the site. Our flying sites are a precious resource for our sport & our club. Our custodianship of them, and ongoing access is never guaranteed and is under regular scrutiny. Please ensure that you access & use it in a manner that enhances our likelihood of keeping OUR resource open.
This includes;
Familiarity with site rules – this is your responsibility. The rules are detailed on our website and in various locations around the site. If in doubt it is a requirement that you ask a representative of the club for clarity. Top landing is forbidden at both Crackneck and Forrester’s Beach (Cromarty) sites and within Wyrrabalong NP. Launching/flying/landing only from or within specifically designated areas, inappropriate conditions following approved site procedures. All Pilots should ensure that they are aware of any airspace restrictions within the scope of their intended flight. The Club does not condone any episode of airspace breach and will not protect any pilot from an investigation by the SAFA or CASA should this occur.
2. Respect for other stakeholders. Please respect the rights and differing expectations of other site stakeholders – these include residents, landowners, and members of the public and other site users and/or custodians such as NPWS or Gosford/Wyong City Councils. Flying is not a right – it’s a privilege and our ability to participate requires quality relationships with other stakeholders whose interest may not necessarily be aligned to ours.
3. Respect for our sport. Know the rules, know your limitations, participate within them and make safety your primary consideration. Every time you fly our sites, you are representing your sport and your club. Please help portray an image we can all be proud of. Consider the safety of locals and other visitors. This particularly applies to where large numbers of the public can be found near launch and landing zones. Given the public exposure of our locations, pilots must are also asked to keep their language appropriate at all times.
4. Respect for your club and your fellow members. In a sport like ours we may not always agree, but we can control the manner of our disagreement. Please be considerate towards others. Animosity, intimidation, harassment, or any form of abuse between any member of the Club or Public will not be tolerated by the Club in any instance. This applies to either verbal or electronic formats such as Email, Social Media postings or any other such carriage service. Should it be felt that an issue warrants investigation on Pilot Behaviour or Safety grounds, the member should direct their concerns in writing to the CCSS Committee.
It is a common courtesy to fellow pilots that the following is considered at all times-
• That all setting up of hang gliders or paragliders is done outside of launch areas in order to maximise the efficient use of the space and to prevent any likelihood of damage/injury occurring to equipment or persons due to a launch issue.
• Ground handling of paragliders is to be immediately ceased whilst other pilots show a genuine intention of launching.
• If, whilst you are flying, you can see that other pilots are set up to launch, but appear to be waiting, there is a good chance that they are waiting for space to fly. Even though you may feel that there is room for another aircraft you should remember that we are a community that includes low airtime or tandem operations and that we all deserve the opportunity to fly, and position yourself on the ridge accordingly.
5. Respect for our environment. Please don’t litter, whether biodegradable or not. This means anywhere in or around our sites – including car parks. Whilst we can’t always control other site users in this regard, we can lead by example by leaving the site clear of rubbish at the end of a flying day.
6. Media Involvement. Should any incident occur where the Media seeks comment or information, all Pilots are to refrain from making un-solicited comment on any such incident which has occurred. Instead the member is to direct any enquiry to the local Instructor or SAFA Operations Manager/COO for comment. This is to prevent the fuelling of speculation, inaccuracies, negative portrayal of the club/sport, or the names of involved persons being released prior to due processes being allowed to take place (i.e. Informing of Rescue Agencies/Family/Partners, etc.)
Please be active in upholding these points with other club members and visiting pilots. The future of our sites and our sport depends on these efforts and having a consolidated club voice.
Failure to abide by the above ‘Code of Conduct’ points above could result in the suspension of flying privileges and escalation to the SAFA as deemed necessary at the time by the Committee. Fly safe and far!
Central Coast Sky Surfers Committee