GTBA HISTORY

INFORMATION ON THE GTBA

Reports from qualified engineers within the GTBA have been commissioned on turbine wheel structural safety and on the burst shielding of turbine wheels.

A Safety Committee was formed to serve the interests of all builders and operators of model gas turbines by the production of a Code of Practice for the Safe Operation of Model Gas Turbines.

As of April 2003 almost two thousand people have joined the GTBA. The vast majority are interested in gas turbines for model aircraft, (only a few contacts have indicated an intention to power model locomotives, one member has run a gas turbine powered car and two members have put a gas turbine in model boats - predictably "Bluebirds").

Of the 158 UK subscribers to the 2002 Newsletter 98 are known to be BMFA members. There are a minority of model engineers within the group who do not intend to install their engines in model aircraft but who can benefit from the protection of the BMFA Insurance Scheme.

The GTBA is an advisory body which provides technical assistance to its members and to other organisations. The BMFA has appointed the GTBA as a Specialist Body with representation through the BMFA R/C Power Technical Committee to the BMFA Technical Council. The BMFA and the JMA have adopted the GTBA Code of Practice for the Safe Operation of Model Gas Turbines.

The Gas Turbine Builders Association is, to our knowledge, the only organisation (certainly in the UK), solely representing the interests of those wishing to construct and operate miniature gas turbines. We are confident that within the membership of the GTBA we have the expertise and enthusiasm to deal with home-built gas turbine issues.

Revision 4 of the Constitution is set out below

T.W.E.Wilkinson - Chairman, GTBA.

Constitution of the Gas Turbine Builders Association. Revision 4 - May 7th 2002.

1) Title The title of the organisation shall be the Gas Turbine Builders Association.

2) Aim The aim of the Association is to promote interest and assist members in the safe design, construction and operation of home-built gas turbines via member to member contact and through the regular publication of newsletters.

The Association will produce, and maintain current in the light of any relevant developments, a Safety Code of Practice for the Construction, Installation and Operation of Small Gas Turbines.

3) Membership Membership shall be open to all interested parties in any country. All members will have equal voting rights.

Members resident in the United Kingdom who operate gas turbines in model aircraft or who are Officers of the GTBA must hold current membership of the British Model Flying Association or the Scottish Aeromodellers Association.

4) Officers The officers of the Association shall consist of a Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Events Secretary, Public Relations Officer, Membership Secretary and Safety Officer, all of whom shall be paid up members of the Association. They shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting. The elected period shall be 2 years. 3 or 4 officers shall retire each year for re-election or otherwise.

4.1) Chairman The Chairman shall preside at all general and committee meetings. In his absence at committee meetings, a chairman shall be chosen from those present to serve for that meeting only. The Chairman shall only have a casting vote.

4.2) Secretary The Secretary shall be responsible for keeping accurate and proper records of all meetings and proceedings of the Association and shall also attend to general correspondence and communications.

4.3) Treasurer The Treasurer shall be responsible for keeping accounts of the Association in the correct manner and shall present a financial statement at each Annual General Meeting. This statement shall be independently audited by two members who are not members of the committee. A statement of accounts must also be supplied when requested by a Special General Meeting. The Association shall have a bank account and cheques drawn shall be signed by the Treasurer. Decisions authorising any expenditure of Association funds shall only be made by the committee or Annual or Special General Meeting.

4.4) Events Secretary The Events Secretary shall be responsible for setting up and/or organising any event deemed to be of mutual interest to members of the Association. Such events will include, for example, flying meetings, competitions, seminars and local or national exhibitions. The Events Secretary, in the course of his duties, will liaise with the Chairman and Public Relations Officer.

4.5) Public Relations Officer The Public Relations officer shall be responsible for the planning, development and implementation of information and communication strategies that promote the benefits and purpose of the
association to the members, affiliated organisations and the public.

4.6) Membership Secretary The Membership Secretary shall be responsible for processing all membership applications and renewals and maintaining a current membership database.

4.7) Safety Officer The Safety Officer shall:

Maintain the current version of the safety code and update it where necessary, subject to the approval of the committee and the membership.

Provide advice on safety matters within the association, in conjunction with other suitably qualified members.

Gather information from within the association and the wider public domain in order to increase the association’s knowledge base on safety matters

Represent the Association on safety matters within the BMFA and in the
public domain.

4.8) Vacancies The committee shall have the full power to fill any vacancies in the offices of the Association occurring between General Meetings.

5) Committee The affairs of the Association shall be conducted by a committee consisting of 7 officers. The said officers shall be elected at The Annual General Meeting. The elected period shall be for 2 years and, to maintain continuity, 3 or 4 officers will be re-elected each year.

The officers of the Association have the power to co-opt onto the committee up to three
additional committee members.

Meetings of the committee shall be convened at regular quarterly intervals to enable the business of the Association to be transacted. Any two committee members may request the Secretary to call a committee meeting and at least fourteen days notice shall be given to members. A quorum for committee meetings shall be five and shall include at least four officers of the Association.

Travel expenses incurred by committee members in attending committee and general meetings will be reimbursed at a rate equal to that paid by the British Model Flying Association to its elected officers.

The committee shall be empowered to act in all matters concerning the conduct of the Association's affairs not covered in this constitution.

The committee is empowered to authorise the purchase and distribution at cost, or as near cost as possible, and where appropriate, of various materials, components etc., as may be required by the members.

6) Subscriptions Subscriptions shall be decided at the Annual General Meeting held each year. They may also be reviewed at a Special General Meeting called for the purpose. Subscriptions shall become due for renewal annually on the first day of April and must be paid before the last day of June in the year that they are due to ensure continuity of membership.

7) General Meetings

7.1) Annual General Meetings The Annual General Meeting shall be held each year, normally during the month of March. The interval between Annual General Meetings shall not exceed thirteen months. At least fourteen days notice shall be given to members.

7.2) Special General Meetings A Special General Meeting may be called at any time by the committee and must also be called by the Secretary if requested to do so by not less than twenty-five percent of the membership. At least twenty one days notice shall be given to members stating the business for which the meeting is being called. A quorum for Special General Meetings shall be forty percent of the membership.

7.3) Voting All fully paid up members shall have one vote at Annual and Special General Meetings, except the Chairman, who shall only have the casting vote.

8) Affiliation The Association may become affiliated to respective model organisations with aims and interests compatible with the interest of the Association. Control of the Association's affairs must remain in the Association's committee and general membership.

9) Amendments Amendments, or additions, to this constitution shall only be made by an affirmative vote from the majority of the voting members of the Association at the Annual General Meeting, or at a Special General Meeting called for the purpose.