Can the EU citizen participate in the US Nats?

[Matt Piatkowski]

If yes: what formal conditions must be fulfilled.
Thank you,
M

[Brad LaPointe]

Matt ,

If you still have a valid MAAC membership you can compete in any AMA sanctioned event . The exception is Team Trials. AMA members can also compete in any MAAC event up here in the Great White North . A FAI licence is not required.

Brad LaPointe
MAAC 5418L

[RandySmith]

If yes: what formal conditions must be fulfilled.
Thank you,
M

Hi Matt

Some events  have  a  BOM  or  Builder  of the  Model rule,  others  do not,  You would want to check on that

Regards
Randy

[Matt Piatkowski]

Hi Randy, Brad,
It does not concern me.
One of the very good F2B fliers from Poland would like to visit the US to compete in various events.
The guy does not know English, what is a very serious disability these days, and asked me to act as an intermediary.

Can he participate in the US Nats next year or not? He will be in the expert category for sure.

I need a definite answer as the Polish citizens still need a tourist visa to travel to the US and it takes some time to get one.

Thanks, regards,
M


   

[Paul Walker]

The US Nationals in the open class (expert) requires the flier to be the builder of the model. If he fully built the plane he can compete!

[Tim Wescott]

Matt, in case Paul left anything out, you can call or email the AMA.

I think he'd have to join the AMA, but I'm also pretty sure they'd be able to do that on the spot.

[Trostle]

It would be a good idea to check with the AMA.  It may be possible that all that is required is that the person either shows his membership in the Polish governing body for model aviation, or shows he has a current FAI sticker, or to have a current AMA membership which can be obtain when he submits his entry form, either before the Nat or on site.

Many foreign nationals have entered our Nats on numerous previous occasions.  This is nothing new.

Keith

[RandySmith]

Hi Randy, Brad,
It does not concern me.
One of the very good F2B fliers from Poland would like to visit the US to compete in various events.
The guy does not know English, what is a very serious disability these days, and asked me to act as an intermediary.

Can he participate in the US Nats next year or not? He will be in the expert category for sure.

I need a definite answer as the Polish citizens still need a tourist visa to travel to the US and it takes some time to get one.

Thanks, regards,
M


 

Hi Matt

If he  built the model he will  fly, then YES  he  will be  allowed and  welcome  , to fly, If he  did  not build it, then he will not be  able  to fly OPEN  Precision Aerobatics , If he  is  an Advance  flyer, or  any other of the  PAMPA classes  we offer, YOU can  fly a  Bought, borrowed  or  other  airplane that you did not build.  Only the  Junior  Senior and  OPEN  class  requires the  BOM  to fly,  I do not  know  for sure  about  if he will  need  to get an AMA  membership, but we will  find out for you
I hope this makes it clear

Regards
Randy

[Christoph Holtermann]

Hi Matt,

when you check with AMA about a required membership, please also ask for third party liability insurance and whether it comes with AMA membership.
All German third party liability insurances, also the one I get from my German Federation, explicitly exclude coverage of model airplane activities in the US. In that case, assuming that Polish Insurances have the same policy, your fellow pilot from Poland may not be insured prior signing in to AMA, for instance when doing practise flights prior the competition.
Last time I competed in the US was in VSC in 2000 and signing in to AMA was possible at the circle. But 19 years have passed and I would like to do the NATS as well one day.

So please check with AMA and report back to us in this forum because it is of interest to many here over the pond.

Thank you!

Christoph

[Matt Piatkowski]

Hi Christoph,
Good point! Will check with AMA re: signing at the circle and liability insurance.
Regards,
M

[Gordon Van Tighem]

......or he could join on-line at the AMA website (https://www.modelaircraft.org) any time prior and be covered in advance of the event?
G

[Norm Furutani]

He would need an AMA Affiliate license. It’s the last category on the application. See:  https://www.modelaircraft.org/system/files/documents/902.pdf

[Brett Buck]

So please check with AMA and report back to us in this forum because it is of interest to many here over the pond.

     As Randy correctly pointed out, this is nothing new, and the answer is that, yes, you can participate, and the license/insurance is a problem solved for under $100 for a several thousand dollar trip.

    To enter the main event, that is, AMA 322 Precision Aerobatics (Open class) you have to have built the airplane you compete with, along with the other rules. The only real difference from an equipment standpoint is the line size requirements, which are enforced.

     Brett

[Steve Helmick]

Anybody other than US and Canadian (AMA and MAAC) fliers will have to buy AMA membership. It's on the AMA website. The thing to remember is that AMA insurance is supplemental, meaning that they step up only after your personal homeowner's or renter's insurance taps out. It sounds like it would be messy dealing with a Polish or German insurance company for an accident in the USA.

I would wonder if European NAC membership insurance would be a "real" insurance policy, or would it be a supplemental insurance like AMA? I guess you could always say "No speeka da Inglis" and disavow having any insurance other than the AMA stuff, should the need arise. That's what all the illegals do for medical care and auto accidents they cause...that is, if they don't hit & run, like happened to me two weeks ago.     Steve   

[Matt Piatkowski]

Hello everybody,
The information provided by you have been passed to the interested person.
Thank you,
M