A WEST Devon model flying club is hoping to extend its flying times in a rural area near Yelverton.
Members of Catstor Model Flying Club have been flying model aeroplanes on part of Greenwell Farm's land at Lovaton for several years, but they wish to extend the hours that club members are able to pursue their hobby.
Several letters of objection have been received by Dartmoor National Park's planning department in response to the club's planning application — there were concerns about extending flying times for petrol driven planes.
In a report to the committee, planning officer Jon Holmes said the club flies a mixture of internal combustion and electric planes and gliders within certain restricted hours, which exclude Mondays, Bank Holidays, Saturday afternoons and between 10am and 1pm on Sundays.
Mr Holmes said: 'The electric planes are only just faintly audible from Lovaton and become inaudible with any rustle of trees or distant traffic.
'The extended hours represent a significant increase in the overall flying times permissible, but as there are no discernable noise implications when heard from nearby residential dwellings to the flying of electric planes/gliders, it is considered that the proposal is acceptable.'
Mr Holmes said the conditions already in operation regarding flying still stood. These state no more than four aircraft should be flown at any one time and that members of the club actively flying aircraft from the site should not exceed 31.
The restricted times for the flying of internal combustion planes is to remain the same.
The planning committee is due to decide the application at its meeting in Bovey Tracey tomorrow (Friday).