ORIGINAL: C_Watkins
The AMA has
no authority that you don't personally choose to give them.
IF you're a member, then you've given them the authority to enforce their
rules upon you, but
only if you want them to pay, in the event of accident.
If you don't care if they pay off or not, then they're back to "no authority".
There's no comparison to be made to any government or law enforcement
agencies. The AMA isn't able to use deadly force to coerce everyone in the
land to follow their rules, but government and law enforcement groups can.
We "opt in" to the AMA, and can "opt out" at any time. Try opting out of our
tax system, or try opting out of the law enforcement system sometime.
(Well theoretically, you could leave the country, but then you'd just become
subject to the laws and taxes of that land, so there's no real "escape" here)
BULLSEYE
The AMA is an association (look
that word up in the dictionary if you have trouble with it) of individuals who share a common interest.
There are very few
laws in the US regulating the flying of model aircraft of any kind. Most of those that do exist are local (Lubbock, Tx, I am told forbids flying on school grounds), but all in all, if you obey the laws on tresspass you can fly anywhere.
IF you want to fly a turbine, you may do so, anywhere you like, as long as you don't tresspass (and invading a club field and violating its rules can be construed as tresspass). IF you want to fire Sidewinder rocket models from your whatever, have at it. Remember, though, that in some states, he who starts a fire pays for the fire-fighting costs--Colorado and New Mexico do this, I know. Hassasing the birds and beasts is also an offense in most states (And harrassing raptors and migratory birds is a
Federal offense.)
If you want to bounce the tail of your 33% Extra off the ground, have at it.
The complaints that "I can't fly unless I join a club and the AMA" are mainly complaints of "I can't find a really nice facility and use the fruits of other people's efforts to do what I want to, regardless of what other people think and want"
States West of Texas and East of California have large amounts of public land--where the law basically states that all use not specifically prohibited is permitted.
Just keep in mind that even with homeowners insurance, violation of the AMA safety code will likely leave you financially exposed, as most coverages adopt the prevalant "generally accptable practices" to determine liability coverage--or so I was told by my agent.