ORIGINAL: jonkoppisch
Did this fictional person pay for the radio, plane, instruction, club membership fee, or did he expect somebody else to pay to them for him?
If so, why not for the AMA fee too?
This person was not 'fictional'!! Yes, he paid for everything and his question was why did he have to join the ama to fly at our field, especially after spending all of the other money initially. The answer was because in case of an accident he needed the insurance coverage (not because of what the ama does but because of the insurance). Yes the ama helps with the other things (The ama is NOT the only org/people helping to further the hobby) so do many individuals thru their donations to the ama, thru helping new people learn to fly, thru....... This person wanted to know why they needed to join the ama before the club would let them fly.....it wasn't so he could compete in events right from the start, ect!! He needed the insurance... Jon
Actually, it sounds like he joined because your club CHOSE to be a sactioned AMA field.
Your club could go out and get there own insurance, then the new member wouldn't "have to join AMA for insurance" as you put it.
The fact is, that AMA chartered clubs only allow members of the organization to fly there on a regular basis. Kind of like joining a country club or a fitness club.