Pontefract & District Aeromodellers (PANDAS) is a BMFA affiliated club and as such, all members have to be a member of the BMFA.
Most model flying clubs including PANDAS, fly under the rules and regulations of Article 16. This is a legal document containing the rules and regulations that govern what we can and cannot do. In essence it means people who are current members of certain model aircraft associations, like the BMFA, can fly under terms and conditions that better suit their purposes.
The BMFA membership provides important 3rd party public liability insurance. You complete your BMFA membership directly with the BMFA, either online or by telephone (links below):
BMFA Membership Website: https://bmfa.org/join-us
BMFA Phone: 01162 440 028
Once you have completed your BMFA membership or if you already have BMFA membership, please complete the PANDAS membership application form.
The club subscriptions run from 1st January to 31st December.
You can download the membership application document below and return it to the address listed on the document, together with your payment (full details on the document), or complete the online application form and follow the instructions on the form:
PANDAS Online Membership Application Form
All membership applications are at the sole discretion of the committee and new members are subject to a 12 month probationary period.
PANDAS Club Fees 2025
Senior (aged 18 years or over) £35.00
New Member Joining Fee (not juniors) £5.00
Junior (aged under 18 years) £1.00
(anyone still in full time education will pay the junior member rate).
Reduction for renewals/new members joining on or after 1st September 2025.
Senior (aged 18 years or over) £15.00
New Member Joining Fee (not juniors) £5.00
Junior (aged under 18 years) £1.00
(anyone still in full time education will pay the junior member rate).
CAA Operator Numbers & Flyer ID Numbers
You must be a British Model Flying Association (BMFA) member and obtain your Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Operator number & Flyer ID number (details below) or be exempt before you can join the club. If you do not understand what is required please ask the membership secretary or a committee member.
The club recommends that you take the BMFA RCC online test (link below). If you take the BMFA RCC the BMFA will forward your details to the CAA and the CAA will then issue you with a CAA Flyer ID number.
You can also obtain your CAA Operator number through the BMFA. This is the number you have to pay for and display on your aircraft. It lasts for 12 months and the current fee is £11.13 per year.
Full details are on the CAA website (link below). The operator ID number lasts for 12 months and the Flyer ID for 5 years from the date you obtain them.
https://register-drones.caa.co.uk
Drone and Model Aircraft Registration Team
drone.registration@caa.co.uk
Telephone: 0330 022 9930
Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm
All pilots must pass the BMFA ‘A’ achievement scheme certificate, for the type of aircraft they want to fly (fixed wing, helicopter or multi rotor), before they can fly solo at the PANDAS Flying Site. All new members and returning old members must have a briefing at the field with a club committee member or club instructor / examiner, before they can fly. This is to ensure they are up to date with the current flying site rules and legislation. New or returning old members, who hold a BMFA ‘A’ Achievement certificate or higher, will be expected to complete a short demonstration flight, to prove their competence, to fly safely at the PANDAS flying site (the safety of everyone is paramount).
BMFA Registered Competency Certificate (RCC) or CAA DMARES Test
All PANDAS members as proof of competency under Article 16, must have a CAA Flyer ID number by passing either the BMFA RCC or the CAA DMARES online knowledge tests (their are a few exemptions i.e. control only flyers).
They are both 40 question online knowledge tests based on the CAP 722 legislation and BMFA Article 16 agreement. You need to get a minimum of 30 questions right to pass the test.
The club recommend you take the RCC. Full details are on the BMFA website (link below):
Please contact the club membership secretary Martin Lynn, attend a monthly meeting or speak to someone at the flying field to obtain further details about joining the club.