As I posted, I believe there is an opportunity to grow the AMA with the e-flyers. E-flyers may well be a way to grow the AMA more rapidly than the historical rate of 3%. On the other hand, I believe they should have little impact on the “traditional” AMA growth pattern. Something else has caused that. Previous dues increases have not done this kind of damage and there is no reason to believe the latest dues increase was to blame for the decline. Modeling is an area, that in other recessions, prospered, since it required less monetary outlay than many other activities it might compete against.

This is how I view the current situation. There are two ways that people enter the “park flyer” realm. I acknowledge that there are exceptions to every rule.

1. They spend a fairly small amount of money, generally well under $200 for the first park flyer, or receive it as a gift. Many will wind up in the trash, some will go on and learn to fly. Those that learn to fly continue on up the learning/spending curve and become accomplished e-flyers. The great majority of these pilots would not have entered the “traditional” world of RC on the basis of the initial monetary output alone.

2. A “traditional” IC flyer decides to see what electric is all about. He goes ahead and spends what is necessary. He is already an AMA member and, likely, a club member. He has a couple of IC planes and is not likely to drop out of the AMA or club… at least not right away. He has an investment in IC, both monetarily and emotionally. He is the guy most of us see at the club field. His car carries a foamy or two, and traditional RC aircraft or two.

In the case of flyer 1, the AMA has not lost him. It is impossible to lose something you never had. He is there and he represents an opportunity. In the case of flyer 2, he maintains his membership(s) and the AMA does not lose him. Certainly there are exceptions. I do not believe there are 15,000 exceptions.