IT’S loads of fun. And contrary to what most people think, people of all ages enjoy it as a hobby. For years, Saudis all over the Kingdom have enjoyed flying remote control airplanes but the popularity has increased in the past six years since the Council of Ministers approved the formation of the Saudi Aviation Club (SAC) on Dec. 12, 2000. It is now a legal hobby in the Kingdom. SAC is recognized worldwide and is a member of the Federal Aeronautical Institution (FAI). SAC is located 80 kms north of Riyadh in Al-Thumama area. The club has established several branches in the Kingdom — Jeddah, Abha, and Al-Kharj. Future branches are planned for Jubail, Al-Jouf, and Tabuk by the end of this year.
Since flying a remote control airplane can be hazardous, those who are interested in purchasing one or learning how to fly one must contact the Saudi Aviation Club in order to do so. Membership in SAC enables participants to practice their hobbies with total freedom in the areas allocated to them. Membership also allows participants to enroll in local and international competitions.
According to Prince Badr ibn Fahd Al-Faisal, an official of the Saudi Aviation Club, rules and regulations prohibit anyone in the Kingdom from operating the airplanes without a license from the club; the cost is SR500 which is a membership fee. He said that remote control planes had been in the Kingdom for the last thirty years but has only taken official status in the past couple of years. He also said the club imposed strict fines of up to SR3,000, which includes confiscation of the airplane, to anyone who operates the airplanes in residential areas.
Training for new-comers is offered by professionals at the club and training is necessary for those who want to obtain a membership card. SAC has constructed a special location for operating remote control airplanes for members in Riyadh; it is located in Al-Thumama area. Similar locations are available in other cities in the Kingdom.
As for buying a remote control airplane and bringing it into the Kingdom, the club gives written permission for any member to import one airplane. Rules in the Kingdom currently do not allow the sale of remote control airplanes.
The prince explained that there were four types of remote control airplanes: Electrical, kerosene, gasoline and methanol.
Remote control airplanes come in different sizes and shapes. They can be as small as a toy, from 30 cms to three meters in length. “What some people do not know is that the prices can go up to SR70,000,” he explained, noting that the most expensive are the ones with jet engines. “These can fly up at speeds up to 200 kilometers per hour,” he said.
In addition to airplanes, some people prefer operating helicopters that also come in different sizes and shapes.
As for the radios of a remote control airplane, the official said that its range is between 300 to 500 meters, depending on your plane and the strength of the transmission from the remote control stick. “You should keep the plane in your sight at all times,” he said.
Misha’al Al-Matrafi, a Saudi player who came with his son to fly their remote control airplanes in the “remote control airplane contest” held during Eid, said he encouraged his son to take up the hobby because it was a good way to fill leisure time. “I was trained by a professional trainer in the Saudi Aviation Club,” he said. He said the game teaches many things such as discipline, learning new skills, and respecting others. “You learn to respect that another player is on another frequency which you should not use when you play. You also wait for him to finish and stick to regulations set by officials.” He said he did not use his remote control airplane, which he bought for SR2,000, except in the club.
Omar, his 17-year-old son, and also the youngest player at the event, said he began learning the game at the age of 13. “It’s loads of fun. I’ve been encouraging my friends to join me,” he said, adding that at the beginning he was a bit afraid but then overcame his fear. “I come to the club every week to fly my plane,” he added.