I renewed my AMA membership today

[Steve Thompson]

In the last year or so I have not been very happy with the AMA.  I voted my disapproval by not renewing.  I am not really sure why I renewed.  I guess I held my breath until I turned blue, and then had to inhale.

So, I am once again a card carrying member of the AMA.  (But they had better know that I am keeping a eye on them.  Heeeee)

I am not sure at this point if I was wrong to not renew, or wrong to renew.  I would go with "I am never wrong", but that would be wrong.  Brett corrected me on a couple things and I have had time to mellow in general.

I will brace myself for the drone deluge.  Maybe it is our future, to hold a string tied to a drone while it flies a perfect pattern along the hemisphere.

meanwhile:

I am building a 38 Special and just started the covering.

I have an FP 40 off to Randy awhile now for rework.

I will have a new plane soon.

And, like Pinoccio, I am a real boy now.


AMA 458869

[Russell]

I've been an AMA member on and off several times since '70 on a as needed basis. Who knows how many numbers they have given me it's not really a big deal to me like some.

With the high annual cost I can see why so few join.

[Leester]

Don't most contest and private fields require you to be in the AMA for insurance reasons ??

[dennis lipsett]

Don't most contest and private fields require you to be in the AMA for insurance reasons ??

Yes, And that is the ONLY reason I still continue to pay for it.

Dennis

[Mike Griffin]

Our club broke away from AMA a couple of years ago and left it up to the individual members as to whether they wanted to join or not.  However, we fly at a public park that has had two paved circles since 1960.

Mike

[Fredvon4]

YES Leester that is the rub... and it is all the more aggravating that the AMA insurance is only secondary

to our home owner or renter coverage

Also the AMA stuff is even required for most Non Flying venues;  Example a bunch of club guys doing a show and tell at a Local Mall just to display /exhibit for exposure or new member drive...the Mall leagal folks demand a separate event rider for the "Mall Show"

Also, many many clubs do Fun Fly events with no true competition. So most flying site primary owners- leasing to a club- Like Corps of Engineers or city Parks 'n Recreation----- require not only flyers be AMA members with insurance, but an additional EVENT COVERAGE for the Fly In / Fun Fly event

As a C/L guy of one in my county, I have access to my county sports complex.  Because of the DOT/FAA registration the Sheriff and Town Police received "How To" FAA Compliance packets... I Flew for years unmolested...BUT lately (well a year or so back) the powers that be, noticed me that I must have AMA and FAA to play with my toys on "THEIR" public property

Torques me a tad--- I am not overly objectionable to the FAA cheap cert, but being forced to re-enlist in the AMA is a huge cost for my maybe three or four time a month flights ---by myself

Luckily for me, the sports complex is distant from ANY houses, so some of my un-muffled Planes do not get me in any of THAT grief

Just a side story that is relevant

Several years ago, I belonged to a RC club with a 5 year at a time lease on Corps of Engineers property...conditioned on AMA insurance  (and a lot of other rules and restrictions).

The Club had a Big Bird Fly In... During the event the CoE did their first ever spot inspection (of an event) and determined 3 of the 35 Non club member entrants were NOT current AMA members.... Our club (at the time) did not require Prof (honor system) at check in...CoE threatened to not renew the lease and of course this event caused the club to appoint a AMA card checker---(Biggest Nazi arse hole in the club IMO) ...who pestered even each every day member who went out to the field to BS or fly....no card in pocket....no fly    caused a LOT of hard feelings inside the membership

BTW that club would 100% be non AMA if not for the CoE lease requirement...

They have a History of past stupid crashes into private property where AMA denied claims.  

Of course a lot of that anger at AMA was BS ---if every member had ever read and understood the SECONDARY nature of what AMA insures.  And the simple fact that the model crash on to private home owner (adjacent) property --- did violate  the clubs and the CoE published no fly zone areas.... And in each case, the errant pilots home owner insurance did pay the claim.... BUT the Club's mis informed, long time AMA members, had the irrational (OK My Opinion) expectation, that ANY claim from the property owner should have been to the AMA (what the hell are we paying for anyway) and that would be the end of the problem

Also the club got zero help from AMA as the club tried to get CoE to approve a Grass Landing runway to Geo-Tex runway improvement project... CoE considered it a change of the landscape on Par with grading, gravel bed, and asphalt runways...

All this pontificating is to say.... Drones, and the AMA's support of them, is NOT the only reason a lot of aircraft modeling guys are POed a the AMA

[john e. holliday]

I have had my AMA license since my first contest at the Stanley Kansas airport way back when.  Cost me all of $3.00 at the time which was big money for a not being a teenager yet.  I have never let it lapse as it allowed me to fly at model fields all across the USA.   Even flying RC it would allow me permission to fly at out of town sites.  I gave up RC flying in Shawnee after some bird brain tried flying a just bought ready to fly plane.  Needless to say the hobby shop did not tell him about getting lessons.  He lost control and the plane went into the 3&2 ball park.  Nobody was hurt but all model flying was shut down.   Needless to say I didn't know about it as I had dropped the club membership before that when I was told that the usual $25.00 club membership is now $100.00 plus AMA license and a park fee of $20.00.  Anyway I was flying my carrier CL plane trying to get the old Fox oversize 36 to perform for me.   I had just started the engine when the park patrol told me I couldn't fly.  I shut the engine down and pointed out to him that it was no an RC plane and with the safety thong/strap that had a limit of 60 feet + from me.  Anyway after a call to the park manager I was told I could fly until further notice.  For a long time I was the only person that could fly a model plane in the park without super vision. 

At our new site I fly when ever I can get there and the weather cooperates. 

[Fred Cronenwett]

Buder Park (St Louis, Mo) requires that locals have an AMA license and Buder Park pass, people visiting from out of town would also have to a AMA license but are not required to have a Buder Park pass. The cost between the AMA and Buder Park pass is roughly $100, but worth it considering how good the flying site is. They have been flying CL there at the same site since 1960. Cheap compared to some of the higher end RC clubs that have yearly dues in the hundreds of $$$. Whittier Narrows in the LA area requires everyone that enters the park pay an entry fee or get a park pass.

Attend some contests or a fun fly and enjoy the events! Also consider sending material to your district VP, columnist, or the focal point in Model Aviation. We need to keep reminding the AMA the CL still exists and we are active.

Fred

[Terry Caron]

Mine comes up next month and, as an insurance requirement to fly at our paved 2-circle city-owned site, I'll bite the bullet again.
But AMA sux, IMO.

[Steve Helmick]

When the NW Skyraiders flew at Riverview Park in Kent, the Park Department required us to be AMA members (and club paid AMA site insurance), but also required that our two grass circles be open to all. We had no control over those "others" AMA membership, but apparently we were to ask if they would show their AMA card, and if they wouldn't, we were to call the Kent Police and have them evicted. Not a good thing, and not something anybody did.

Later, when we flew at Auburn Municipal Airport, we didn't have THIS problem, but club paid AMA site insurance and AMA membership was definitely required. For contests, competitors were considered "guests".

"Two up" flying was specifically dis-allowed at both sites. Riverview Park is right next to the Valley Freeway (WA-167), so combat or racing would not be prudent by anybody's definition. Highway noise was a good thing, otherwise. WE required mufflers for engines over .15 size at both sites. Maybe it's .15 and over. We still couldn't control muffler requirement for non-members. I doubt if the Kent Police would have responded anyway. Steve