Just found this discussion. Pretty interesting. However I think a number of people have missed the point of the program:
THE AMA PARK PILOT PROGRAM - Just in case you have not actually read the details of the program
http://www.modelaircraft.org/parkflyer.aspx
At half the price of regular AMA membership, it seems to offer a nice package for pilots who are not interested in larger planes, glow planes, gas planes or jets. If you are primarily focused on small electrics, electric helies or small gliders, this is something you should consider.
In addition, the AMA is looking to help form Park Pilot clubs and help those clubs establish Park Pilot fields. These clubs would be focused on flying park flyers and would not be open to gas, glow, jets or large planes. As a result they can be located in smaller fields and potentially in places where regular AMA fields have been rejected or cast out.
Certianly sounds interesting.
Park Flyer Definition:
Key points:
Small - up to 2 pounds
Quiet - electric, glider or other quiet forms
Not too fast - to give potential landlords the confidence of what the upper limit is of the planes that would be flown on the site. So an F27 Stryker B would qualify. A C would not. this speed limit is based on top speed on a level run, not measured in a dive.
Flying Site Development:
http://www.modelaircraft.org/UserFil...iteBooklet.pdf
The AMA is encouraging the development of new, officially recognized AMA Park Pilot sites in metro areas throughout the US. As an aid in reaching this goal, AMA developed a special “How to Start a Park Flying Site” turnkey package so members who are trying to secure a field won’t have to start from scratch when they approach landowners or officials responsible for regulation of public facilities. The package includes a DVD to show landowners and park officials what park flying is all about––and how different it is from the engine-powered, radio-control flying with which they may already be familiar. There are tips on how to approach officials and landowners, plus instructions on how to set up a field. It even includes a guide for how to quickly and efficiently organize a club, its bylaws, and field rules. And best of all, members will be able to inform landowners and officials that they’d be covered by AMA site liability coverage in the amount of $2.5 million, which should serve as a great incentive. The goal is to make it easier for official AMA recognized flying sites to be developed quickly and in great numbers.
So the goal is NOT for people to be flying in parks, although those folks could join and be covered. The goal is create a new kind of club and a new kind of flying field so that park flyer pilots can have a safe secure place to fly their planes. A place that might be acceptible where the traditional AMA field might be rejected.
Clearly the plane manufacturers think this is a good idea. They are offering rebates to help cover the cost of membership.
http://www.modelaircraft.org/parkflyer/shops.aspx
When you join you will receive rebate coupons in your membership package worth upto $50.00 Partners include: Hobbico, Ready to Fly Fun, Hobby-Lobby, RC Micro World, and Rotory Modeler. Check out their web sites to see all the products they offer.
Finally, the program is intented to reach out to the pilots who have been turned away by AMA clubs or who have been turned off by traditional AMA clubs. Now the AMA can help you form your own clubs around the kind of flying that interests you, parkflyers.
So, what's so bad about that?