ORIGINAL: fliers1
I have to admit that when I'm teaching someone, I sincerely love the idea of having the flight line all to myself and my student. I'm sure that there are many fliers who are nervous when flying with other planes in the air. Then there are the instructors on their way to burnout or those who cringe when beginner day comes around or when he sees a newbie show up with his trainer seeking help.
Then there are fliers who would rather not have to dodge trainer planes piloted by newly soloed newbies. Even once the newbie becomes a somewhat skilled pilot, that means everyone will have to wait that much longer for the frequency pin, although with the advent of 2.4, that may not be such a problem anymore. Still, that does mean there is another airplane to watch out for.
Considering the utter importance of providing flight instruction for growth efforts, if such help isn't readily available and on a continuing basis, significant growth will always be all but impossible. After all, who really likes sweating bullets teaching what the industry and AMA needs, which is an endless supply of newcomers to the hobby/sport? With every newcomer, the AMA makes money, the industry makes money, but we are expected to do their in-the-field, hands-on promoting for the free. (giving back to the hobby) What's wrong with this picture? What did PT Barnum say?
Fliers1
Good post. I think that many feel that the AMA and RC is all inclusive just because the AMA has been around for a long time. I think it is hard to separate the two at times and many are not willing to admit that RC is separate from AMA. AMA is just an org created to promote science and education of RC and many don't agree that the AMA is accomplishing this task.
Just how intertwined are the two? From AMA's point of view they are fully joined and RC cannot exist without AMA. They have to have RC unless they divert to other types of hobbies and change direction. This type of dependency is not the best position to have, but it is a dependency. From the view of RC hobby, RC can exist without any alternate org (except of course obeying legal), or many alternate orgs. RC can encompass many orgs.
If you train a newby with the intent of getting a person flying RC because your heart is in it (you love training and working with newbies) and you know the excitement and joy the newby will grow to love then you have a great accomplishment. I believe this is really the heart of many in the hobby. They truly have a love for aviation, or a love for just getting out and flying and of course many love to teach new people about the hobby. From reading all your posts, I believe you have that heart for the hobby.