How to join the Ventura County Comets
Mike Taylor, President
We realize it may seem like a lot of BS paperwork, but it is the current environment we have to live with. Still, it is all relatively painless.
1. Comets Membership is $50 per calendar year, due December 31. For new applicants who have never been a VC Comets member, there is also a one-time initiation/runway fee of $100. This fee is one-time only and will never be due again. Spouses and children may be included as family members given they meet all other requirement.
Click here for the Membership Application Form
2. If you plan to fly any single rotor or multi-rotor drones, you must fill out the “Permit to Fly Model Aircraft” form. This form is required by, and subject to the approval of the Lake Casitas Recreational Area (LCRA). If you only plan to fly fixed-wing aircraft as a Comets club member, you do not need to fill out this form.
Click here for the Permit to Fly Model Aircraft Form
3. The “Li-Po Power Compliance Safety Form” is required if you plan to fly anything using Lithium-Polymer battery technology in your aircraft. This includes motor flight packs, receiver-servo packs, and the like. If you do not plan to fly any Li-Poly packs, then you do not need to fill out this form.
Click here for the Li-Po Power Compliance Safety Form
4. Send all completed forms, dues and/or fees to the address below.
VC Comets
PO Box 333
Ojai, CA 93024-0333
5. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires all RC pilots who fly outdoors to be Certified. They have classified all fixed wing RC aircraft as drones, along with single rotor helicopters, and multirotor drones. Virtually everyone who flies RC outdoors has to obtain this certification. I have included links to a few websites below which provide more info on the subject. Once you get your certification(sUAS)number, please forward it to me. The sUAS Number needs to be in plain sight on the external surface of your model during flight. You can simply write it on the bottom of the wing with a Sharpie marker or number on a piece of masking tape and tape it on. However you do it, the sUAS Number is only required to be on your aircraft during flight, and may be removed while it is on the ground.
To register with the FAA, go online to the FAA Drone Zone. Register under Section 336 for recreational users, NOT Part 107 for commercial users.
Here is the link: FAA Drone Zone
Additional links:
FAQs Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)
Federal Register- Exception for Limited Recreational Operations of Unmanned Aircraft
Visualize it: See FAA UAS Data on a Map
6. Given the Corona Virus pandemic, the LCRA may be open for day use which includes accessing the flying field. The LCRA may require measures such as face masks and social distancing as a condition of use of the recreational area.
7. The LCRA also requires AMA membership for all model aircraft pilots regardless of Comets membership status. This requirement relates to insurance for use of the flying site. Here is a link to the AMA website: https://www.modelaircraft.org/
8. The informative Comets Presentation has been given to community groups such as the Rotary Club to show them what we are about, just kind of an FYI.
Click here for the Comets Presentation
9. Also, FYI, most VC Comets members who fly on a regular basis usually purchase an LCRA annual day-use pass for $135. This pass is good for 12 months from the month of purchase. Here is the link to the LCRA website: https://www.casitaswater.org/recreation