When I started flying 19 years we had to "find" a place to fly because there were no local flying fields.

From that time until I joined MMRCA (AMA charter 812) I had to change flying locations at least 5 times for various reasons and was always wondering when I would have to find a new place to fly. The MMRCA field is by far about the best place I have regulary flow at.

I feel the biggest challenges to keeping fields is money and complaints. Land costs money and lease agreements cost money. Urban sprawl results in many changes to avaialbe land.

Complaints. This has to be the number one reason I lost places to fly. They range from being too loud, too bother livestock, too I just don't like listenig to them, too we feel they are a risk, too....

Beyond field retention I think the biggest issue is lack of respect or understanding.
Case in point that I overheard about two months ago.

I was at a LHS looking for something and I hear "Mom and Dad" talking about a gift for Billy. Hmm this electric ARF trainer looks good let's get him that what do you think. Well he is only 12 do you think it is too much for him. No it is just a plane he should be okay. Where will he fly it? At the park is what I was thinking. Okay let's get it."

Oh that made me cringe.

This is just not parents and kids, the same applies for persons of all ages with funding and the urge when they walk by the hobby shop.

It used to be you had to know how to build and you had to know how to start the motors and you had a ton of time and money into the plane and one would want to learn but also not damage the plane or car or helicopter or... Today all you need is cash or credit some general knowlege of how to glue and put in a bolt and have a wall outlet with power. We have all read the ads, in the air in less than X amount of hours and X amount of dollars.

Instant gratification with no skills. Not a good mix.

Now I am not slamming ARFs or Electrics I am just using them to make a point. A hobby level R/C vehicle requries respect and understanding. A plane or a car or a truck or a boat or a helicopter all are moving vehicles that can produce some serious personnel and material damage even in the hands of an experienced operator. Put that in the hands of an ignorant novice with out oversight. All I am going to say is I do not want to be any where close.

I know the same applies for driving cars and purchasing guns and.... all I am saying is that when some one gets hurt or the plane crashes thru a window or the helicopter tries to scalp some one... it all generates bad press which gives the sport of R/C a black eye. The bigger the black eye the bigger the issue.

Oh and lastly, I walked up to mom and dad and asked them who they were purchasing the plane for. They left with a different plane and the appropriate contacts for their son to get in touch with a local club, not to fly until he has an instructor, and an understanding of why one joins the AMA.