Red Phone: Motorized aircraft at parks

“Like many people, I enjoy the exhilarating hobby of building and flying radio control model airplanes, but not every one does. On Feb. 20 between 2 and 3 p.m. I was flying my model airplane In Christmas Hill park like I always have for the past 12 years. Acknowledging the posted notification about the restriction of flying ‘gas’ powered model airplanes, I brought an electric powered model. I chose a clear nonpopulated site to launch. After a few flights, a man in a city-marked truck confronted me. While my airplane was in the air, he yelled at me and attempted to grab at my very expensive controller and compromising my ability to also fly my, also very expensive, airplane. I was afraid for my personal property. Not wanting to get in to a possibly physical situation, I quickly landed my airplane in mid-air and left. In all my years of flying model airplanes, I’ve never seen such a reaction directed at  me or anyone else for flying a model airplanes.”

Red Phone: Dear Flight Control, The city doesn’t allow any type of motorized plane  in the parks because of safety concerns, said City Administrator Tom Haglund.
“The regulation appears to be purely a safety based issue,” he said. “None of the city parks allow such activities that may cause hazards to other park users if control of the aircraft is lost or if someone was to get in the way of an aircraft landing or taking off.”
Good caller, even if you are careful, which it sounds like you are, all it takes is one mistake for an accident to happen.
Chapter 18 of the Gilroy Municipal Code prohibits powered model airplanes regardless of if they are gas or electric.
Haglund recommended people take advantage of the wide open area on the west side of Highway 101 north of Morgan Hill, where they don’t have to worry about someone getting hurt if something happens with the plane.
As far as your negative experience with city staff, Haglund said he was concerned because employees are trained to provide the community with good service. 
“The city of Gilroy takes this type of allegation very seriously,” he said. “Customer service and positive interactions with our residents are top expectations for all city employees.”
Haglund said he hadn’t heard of any complaints before receiving this one forwarded to him by Red Phone. He urged the caller to contact the human resources director at 846-0205, so the city can investigate the matter further.
“Based upon the conclusion of the investigation, appropriate action will be taken,” he said.