I have been following this thread as well, and I must say, what a buncha horse crap. The AMA insurance program, as I know it, is about as useless as **** on a boar hog. If the AMA "leadership" expects to introduce a new, more expensive, insurance premium structure, it had best be ready with statistics to back it up. I would like to see how a blanket increase on aircraft weighing more than 25 pounds would be justified. I would expect to see numbers on claims paid out, total claims, paid or not paid out on, and what the alleged increase in risk liability boils down to on the bottom line. I think the numbers will more likely result in larger aircraft having a LOWER claims rate, and Lower cash payout than typical, sport flying planes under 15 pounds.

First, Large scale planes are not a numerous. The exposure to liability from a small group of operators obviously would not justify a premium increase. Second, large scale aircraft are normally equipped with redundant control and power systems. Loss of control incidents are expectedly lower than sport fliers under 15 pounds. Third, large aircraft generally use gasoline powered engines. While this does generate an increased fire hazard liability, I think it's offset by their reliability. This results in fewer dead stick landings, which can result in off-airfield landings resulting in damage to neighboring properties. Finally, large scale aircraft are expensive. Most people embarking on such a project police themselves on taking more diligent practices in building, setting up, and operating these aircraft, simply to protect their own investment.

Sport flying under 15 pounds. How many times per year are claims paid out for prop cuts, destroyed car windshields, etc, from this segment of the hobby? Two fatalities last year, both were members of this segment.

I'm not trying to say that sport fliers under 15 pounds need to pay more for their insurance. My point is that NO ONE needs to pay more for insurance. You take the total risk and divide by the number of members. Period. Adding to the bureaucracy of all this only adds expense, reduces membership (in itself raising insurance premiums per member), and resulting in some people altogether operating without any protection at all. AMA thinks it's got the corner on regulation here, which it does not. It's insurance is SECONDARY. Therefore, its requirements become secondary. If anything were to happen as a result of my operating a model, my own home insurance would pay the claim anyways, NOT the AMA. I wouldn't even make a claim to the AMA insurance, just to avoid it's hassles. As the current catch-all rules exist these days, it's hard to imagine any claim that would be paid by the AMA insurance.

Well, so anyways...I guess liberals will be liberals, and screw things up anywhere. Whether it's in the government, or in our own modeling associations. Some people have to make rules for rule making sake, just to justify and maintain their control over the masses trying to live their lives and have a little fun in the process. How are things in your home owner's association these days?

Erich