Need advice as how to gain permission to use a flying site!

[frank mccune]

    Hi All:

    I "found" two parking lots at a local park that would be great for flying CL airplanes. This park is located in the "country" with a few houses within 250 yards.
We the H.A.M.S club, are in dire need for a flying site.  With the paved circles, we could perhaps revive CL flying in this area.

    What I need now are suggestions as to what are the Dos and Don'ts that should be used when approaching the park superintendent about our request.  Remember, one has only  ONE chance to make a good impression!

     We are all A.M.A. members and are an A.M.A. chartered club. 

     The two main problems that I can see in continuing to use this site are NOISE and liability.  The noise problem may be avoided by using mufflers and the liability issue may be helped by demonstrating that we all have the A.M.A. insurance coverage.

     If you have any suggestions as to we can get to use this park, kindly advise.

                                                                                Tia,

                                                                                 Frank


   

[bob whitney]

  Frank, email me and i will give u my phone #   f2cracer at aol.com

[Tim Wescott]

The AMA has a flying site coordinator who's supposed to help clubs out with that sort of thing.  I'd suggest you start with him -- hopefully he'll be full of helpful suggestions.  I can't say how good the program is -- according to the AMA it's the best thing since sliced bread, but I haven't heard about it outside of the AMA.  Here's a page on the AMA site: http://www.modelaircraft.org/membership/clubs/fsap.aspx.

Aside from that, the obvious: be polite ("would it be possible", not "the world owes us"), be sensitive to objections (they built those parking lots to park cars, which you'd be displacing -- you may need to agree to not use them on certain days, or pack up and move when other lots are full, etc.), think of what your club could do to give back, be ready to point out advantages to the community, etc..  For goodness sake, if the park director's hands are tied for some stupid reason don't say "well that's stupid!".  It may help to be flexible, too -- if the parking lots can't be used for one reason or another, but if there's a suitable open space available, consider whether you want to ask about it, and either fly off of grass or see if you can build a circle (at your club's expense, of course) in that space.

My RC club (where a handful of us have been flying CL for the last few years) is at an Oregon State park.  We've been there for just about ever so I don't know how we got in originally, but the deal is that we maintain our little portion of the park (we're behind a locked gate) in return for having it.  The park likes us because we're not demanding and we keep our part of the bargain.

As far as keeping it once you get it, in our case we do try to maintain a helpful attitude: at a meeting a couple of years ago of all the special-use groups at the park the park asked what people thought could be done to improve the relationship.  The bicycle folks asked for covered bike storage, the horse people asked for more trails, the frisbee golf people asked for designated parking, the Civil War reenactment folks had some request or another -- our representative said "is there anything we can do to make your lives easier?".

[Gene Martine]

 
 
 Start with talking to the park dept. & see who maintains that location. Make sure you have the area you would like to use & when.
 Gene
 

[peabody]

Get a copy of the AMA policies for both individuals and for flying site owners...

Insuring a flying site offers significantly more coverage than does the standard member coverage.

The main thing is to BE PREPARED! I suggest forming an AMA club, and obtaining the "safety regulations" signage available from the Academy. Mount it and tote it along when speaking with someone.

Another HUGE deal is to be humble! Don't DEMAND anything, or mention that "you pay their salary"...be friendly.

I also suggest a package with one of the Steve Buso designed brochures about Stunt, and a sample of flying wire....

Have fun!

[billbyles]

Get a copy of the AMA policies for both individuals and for flying site owners...

Insuring a flying site offers significantly more coverage than does the standard member coverage.

The main thing is to BE PREPARED! I suggest forming an AMA club, and obtaining the "safety regulations" signage available from the Academy. Mount it and tote it along when speaking with someone.

Another HUGE deal is to be humble! Don't DEMAND anything, or mention that "you pay their salary"...be friendly.

I also suggest a package with one of the Steve Buso designed brochures about Stunt, and a sample of flying wire....

Have fun!

Peabody, did you read his original post where he stated "We are all A.M.A. members and are an A.M.A. chartered club?"

[frank mccune]

      Hi:

      Thank you who replied so very much! I now have some direction in which to move.

      At this same park, there is a very large amount of grass to have combat etc. We could also ask about this area as it is very isolated from houses roads and other activities.

                                                                                                    Stay well my friends,

                                                                                                     Frank

     

[Dan McEntee]

Have to totally disagree with this. First thing they'll tell you is NO. Don't seek out anyone who takes orders from up top. You want to approach it at the administration level and hopefully not with a woman. You have to convince them that it's normal like golf, safe and for the kids. Only show them the 1/2A planes and connect it with Lance Armstrong.

Good Luck,
MM

    Maybe better make that Neil Armstrong. No refernces to drugs or doping!

  Just a small point,
  Dan McEntee

[Tim Wescott]

    Maybe better make that Neil Armstrong. No refernces to drugs or doping!

  Just a small point,
  Dan McEntee

http://www.gocomics.com/pearlsbeforeswine/2013/04/07

[Steve Helmick]

Dick Scobee would also work (instead of Neil Armstrong). But we've had a lot more 'luck' with municipal airports than Park Departments. The Parks are impressed by our insurance (via AMA site insurance, membership and Chartered Club status), but they have no money to do anything. They may be willing to rent you the parking lot(s) for special occasions, for about $200/weekend. Each.  Steve

[Dave_Trible]

Have to totally disagree with this. First thing they'll tell you is NO. Don't seek out anyone who takes orders from up top. You want to approach it at the administration level and hopefully not with a woman. You have to convince them that it's normal like golf, safe and for the kids. Only show them the 1/2A planes and connect it with Lance Armstrong.

Good Luck,
MM

I'm going to agree with Gene.  My experience is its better to get the caretakers on your team first.  They know the politics and who/how best to approach this.  They also would likely know about alternate sites.  I think I would also just sell it for what it is.  You might make the powers that be imagine the conflicts you might cause with other things going on in the park.  They will smell a snake oil salesman so keep it honest and direct.  Bringing kids into it as a sales pitch while brandishing your insurance coverage really is a frightening image. I know I have to pack it up and leave when the kids roll in.  I'd just keep it to the point and perfectly honest.  Show exactly what you will be flying.  If you try to fool them they can pull your new site as fast as they gave it.  Since I share my site with other activities I've learned it best to be the cleanest, kindest and most cooperative user of that space. I know I'm the minority user and must act like it.



Dave