It’s all fun and games until someone loses an eye. Or worse.
Dawning Zhang, a mom of two children attending Manoah Steves elementary, says two consecutive model aircraft crashes at the school’s playground — including one that left a significant hole in the field — should be enough for the City of Richmond to ground the Richmond RC Flyers Club.
She’s asking the city to revoke a 2015 bylaw that grants the club a licence to fly at the school’s park
“I want to see the city change the bylaws. If they want, I can get parents — hundreds — to petition,” said Zhang.
While city spokesperson Ted Townsend said this was the first complaint the city has received about model airplane crashes threatening children’s safety, Zhang contends other residents in the neighbourhood have witnessed other incidents and even reported one to police.
“There were incidents. Maybe not reported to the city. Maybe [the city] should talk to the RCMP. . . I assume [the city] is responsible for this,” said Zhang.
The first crash happened Sunday evening. Zhang showed the Richmond News the hole the plane’s metal nosecone created in the hard, sun-baked field, about 10 feet away from where her children were playing on the monkey bars. It is about three inches deep and two inches wide. Zhang said had the plane hit a child, it could seriously injure, or even kill.
“I was shocked how fast it came down and how much force it carried,” said Zhang.
She said the pilots were at the other side of the field and seemed to shrug off the incident.
The club’s website indicates members follow the Model Aeronautics Association of Canada (MAAC) regulations and anyone flying at Manoah Steves must be a club member with MAAC insurance. The club also has local rules and Zhang understands that the playground and school is “out of bounds.”
On Monday, club president Jack Wolman forwarded his response and apology to Zhang’s complaint to the News.
He said the pilot was suspended and would undergo training.
However that same day, another plane crashed on the school roof, next to the playground. Zhang also witnessed that crash and said club members showed disregard for her various concerns.
Wolman told the city that pilot was also suspended and the club would be investigating both incidents.
Zhang questions the ability of members to operate the aircrafts, despite Townsend noting there have been thousands of flying hours logged without (apparent) incident.
“I asked what happened. They said, ‘we don’t know, it’s very unpredictable. If we knew I would have told you.’ So this is not a safe place for my kids anymore,” said Zhang.
“They do have rules, but how strict the members follow them, I do question that,” added Zhang.
Now, she wants the city to move the club to a rural area.
“It wouldn’t be fair to push this to other residential areas. . . I want them to be gone from this park but I don’t want them to be in the next neighbourhood. That wouldn’t be fair. They can go to a farm with no people in sight and fly freely.”
Townsend told the News the city has so far chosen to take a less punitive approach.
“We are continuing to work with the club to review the incidents, and options for additional action will include considering additional signage to further raise public awareness of their activity; further restrictions on the actual flight area; and reviewing the club’s safety procedures and protocols to consider whether any further changes are warranted,” said Townsend.
