the purpose of ama is that if you do end up flying wrecklassly or your plane somehow goes out of control, and you hit someone or something, ama has an $8000 insurance payout i think. and, it is even more important in your case than most others, becasue the more people are there, the greater the chances are. the private club i fly at is the next door neighbor of the 118 freeway. it is REQUIRED that you have ama to fly there.