I posed the following email to Dave Brown, and his response is below the actual letter.

Mr. Brown:
>
> As a third generation AMA member, I recently read some very disturbing
> information regarding the power that AMA has over members. I am sure you
> are aware of the large, heavy, and powerful Concorde model that the owner
of
> AMT has constructed. This plane is far too heavy for flight at an AMA
> field, even with a special waiver in my opinion. My complaint comes from
> the rumor that I heard regarding the pilot of choice, Terry Nitch. Was he
> told/threatened not to fly this plane ANYWHERE for fear of the AMA
revoking
> is turbine waiver and his AMA membership.
> Is this true? If this is indeed the facts, how can the AMA think that is
> has the power to control what an individual does away from AMA fields on
his
> own time? Please clarify or defend this mentality, as this has me greatly
> concerned about the AMA's influence over its members.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Jeff Haywood AMA#189187

RESPONSE FROM DAVE BROWN:

As is typical, your information is way oversimplified.

First, Terry, as a member of the Safety committee/Turbine advisory
committee, has a different waiver than the average joe, which allows him to
fly turbine engines, during the test phase, before the engines are
"certified". This waiver allows him to be covered by our insurance, while
flying the test programs, in spite of the fact that the turbines are not on
the approved list.

The problem with him flying a model, which violates the safety code, such as
the Concorde, you mention, is that, this special waiver COULD be used as a
way to force AMA to cover the liability of any such flights he would be
making.

The only way to ensure this does not occur is to, either not have him fly
the out of limits model, OR, revoke that waiver.

If AMA doesn't seek to protect itself from such legal loopholes, it will
become impossible for it to provide insurance to it members, for "normal"
aeromodeling. I don't think you want that, .....Do you?

Another way of putting it is to ask what you would think if you had to stop
flying R/C, as a result of such a flight wiping out your insurance, and
nothing else was available?

Another thing to think about, .....What do you think the chances are of the
sport of R/C surviving, (politically), if a person who is on the
Safety/Turbine Advisory Committee of the national organization, creates a
catastrophic accident, while flying a model which violates the very safety
stds of that association? I'd say you would be as likely to re-institute
the legality of cock fighting!

Dave Brown