AMA "Blue Book" revisions

[BillLee]

AMA invited all of the various Team Selection Committee chairmen plus others who are involved in the FAI matters to review/revise the "Procedures Governing the Academy’s Sponsorship of FAI Teams" aka "The Blue Book". We have met several times via Zoom and will continue to do so after the first of the year.

If you're interested (and concerned) in AMA's support and funding of our FAI Teams, I suggest you go read this document. It can be found at

http://www.modelaircraft.org/files/2014_BLUE_BOOKFEB14.pdf

Constructive input is desired!

Regards,

Bill Lee

[Dick Byron]

Bill,
    I did not see any reference to F4 scale. Is it no longer flown?

Dicxk Byron

[BillLee]

Bill,
    I did not see any reference to F4 scale. Is it no longer flown?

Dicxk Byron

F4C and H appear on the FAI list for a World Championships in even years. (See section  C.15.2.1 of the  CIAM General Rules.)

F4B (Control Line Scale)  has no WCHs scheduled. F4B is still listed as an official classification, however.  (See section B.1.2.4)

There is apparently no AMA-supported team for F4CH .

https://www.fai.org/sites/default/files/sc4_vol_ciam_general_rules_22.pdf

As I recall, F4B World Champs were held until a number of years ago, but attendance dropped off to the point that it was canceled. I think there is a move afoot to resurrect F4B.

Bill

[Brett Buck]

AMA invited all of the various Team Selection Committee chairmen plus others who are involved in the FAI matters to review/revise the "Procedures Governing the Academy’s Sponsorship of FAI Teams" aka "The Blue Book". We have met several times via Zoom and will continue to do so after the first of the year.

If you're interested (and concerned) in AMA's support and funding of our FAI Teams, I suggest you go read this document. It can be found at

http://www.modelaircraft.org/files/2014_BLUE_BOOKFEB14.pdf

Constructive input is desired!

Regards,

Bill Lee

    This looks about how it did before. Is there some new issue that has arisen?

          Brett

[BillLee]

    This looks about how it did before. Is there some new issue that has arisen?

          Brett

The original "Blue Book" (it was yellow originally) was created after a meeting at AMA HQs in Reston in the  late 80's. The AMA invited all of the Team Selection Committee Chairmen to travel there and participate. The Yellow Book was then adopted by the AMA EC in 1991 and was 'the rules' for quite some time after.

In the early 2000's, the "Blue Book" appeared, with a whole bunch of additions that nobody had seen and which had no participation from those affected. Since then, there have been a stream of changes, again with no participation from 'outside'. It became a standard procedure each year to grab a copy of the current BB and compare it line-by-line with the previous edition to try and determine what had been changed. Last update was 10 years ago, and, perhaps, that's the reason for the current effort, i.e., an old document likely out of date with current situation vis a vis FAI and AMA.

 "before": yes; "but after "before": no.

This current effort is very welcome with Rich Hanson and Chad  Budreau inviting and involving the TSC Chairs and others who are involved in FAI matters to sit down and go through the document. Out of this should come a document that is more easily comprehended and which better reflects AMA's support of the FAI teams.

Regards,

Bill

[Brett Buck]

This current effort is very welcome with Rich Hanson and Chad  Budreau inviting and involving the TSC Chairs and others who are involved in FAI matters to sit down and go through the document. Out of this should come a document that is more easily comprehended and which better reflects AMA's support of the FAI teams.

    Although I cannot become involved with the FAI again, for a while at least, the provisions for determining whether to send or fund a team were the only real flaw I saw with it before. Particularly, if you fell off the list, that not only would they not fund it, they "wouldn't allow" an entry at all, even if the individuals put up the money.

    Otherwise, it all seems pretty reasonable, if overly wordy, and it is good to see they still care about it enough to review.
       
    Brett

   

[Matt Colan]

In the blue book, it states the points system for whether a team is funded/supported/not supported. Further down it talks about the funds the AMA provides to each competitor. Are those the funds each competitor would receive only if the team is funded, and a lesser amount if the team is only supported?

Last question, is the F2B team past the 75 point threshold for the AMA to “fund” the team, or is it just supported?

[BillLee]

    Although I cannot become involved with the FAI again, for a while at least, the provisions for determining whether to send or fund a team were the only real flaw I saw with it before. Particularly, if you fell off the list, that not only would they not fund it, they "wouldn't allow" an entry at all, even if the individuals put up the money.

    Otherwise, it all seems pretty reasonable, if overly wordy, and it is good to see they still care about it enough to review.
       
    Brett

 

Section I, where all the points verbiage and the draconian "wouldn't allow" is located, has been the focus of the re-write so far.

Haven't got to the real wordy sections yet. :-)

[BillLee]

In the blue book, it states the points system for whether a team is funded/supported/not supported. Further down it talks about the funds the AMA provides to each competitor. Are those the funds each competitor would receive only if the team is funded, and a lesser amount if the team is only supported?

Matt, we're working that area now, can't really answer your question, and (of course) only AMA knows! :-)

Last question, is the F2B team past the 75 point threshold for the AMA to “fund” the team, or is it just supported?

Without knowing all the variables it is impossible to calculate. The F2B team has been very successful over the years and has always been fully funded.

For you (and anyone else reading this): take a look at what Section I of the BB says now and then send me you answer to the question: If I were the king, how would I structure this section?

[Fred Cronenwett]

In terms of F4B the plan is to have team trials in 2023 during the Nats.

I quick read of the Blue Book I spotted that the ED or CD can not be a competitor in the team trials. That might be a problem in 2023 if Allen Goff and Peter Bauer (ED's for the CL scale Nats) are also competing in F4B to get a place on the team.

I have been told that they are holding the F4B team trials in 2023 (CL Scale) during the Nats for the 2024 World Championships.

Fred

[Matt Colan]

Matt, we're working that area now, can't really answer your question, and (of course) only AMA knows! :-)
Without knowing all the variables it is impossible to calculate. The F2B team has been very successful over the years and has always been fully funded.

For you (and anyone else reading this): take a look at what Section I of the BB says now and then send me you answer to the question: If I were the king, how would I structure this section?

Did my homework and sent you a PM Bill

[BillLee]

Response given! Thanks.