Originally Posted by
ECHO24
The key is "a group of non-competition, recreational flyers that has a flying field". How many clubs own the property? You might be able to get
insurance personally, but insurance for the field is a different story if it is leased. Even if you find insurance AMA is a known quantity you don't have
to convince a landlord about. You're also on your own with citizen complaints.
AMA claiming an 80-year safety history may be taking credit for the work of all the actual hobbyists responsible, but there is no denying
how big and entrenched AMA has become in all those years. AMA covers every conceivable aspect of RC flying, jets, control line, over
55 lbs, etc., with an army of unpaid volunteers keeping it all going. Are that many clubs really ready to ditch all that? I just don't see it.
I've had a few chats with our City Council members. Contribute enough to their campaigns and they listen to anything you care to say. But aside from that, this particular council never heard of the RC modeling AMA before the local club approached then about a field. Medical and motorcycle they knew about. But Models? And BTW, I have permission to fly at the city funded and provided RC Air Park without being AMA or having their insurance. They know my word is good and if I say I'm covered, I'm covered. But I'm staying home. I have a better runway, far nicer bathrooms and I don't have to put up with jerks.
That said, thanks to the proliferation of both recreational and commercial MR Drones, sources of insurance abound. One can get personal liability, site liability and hull coverage that will even cover a crash. And it is ALL primary coverage unlike the AMA products. You can get this by the day, month and year. Pay for only the time you're actually flying. Less than 5 minutes on your smart phone, tablet or PC will activate or deactivate your coverage for the dates, times and locations you so designate.