ORIGINAL: Woody218-RCU
Well, the AMA helped see to it that we had frequencies to use back in the AM & FM days. Without that, radio controlled model aviation would have died long ago. Most of the advances in engines, radios and the like came about because of competition, which the AMA sanctions. The NATS were testing grounds for all kinds of hardware from various manufacturers. Aside from any of that, the AMA's insurance gives peace of mind to the field owners, absolving them of liability in the event of property damage or injury. If the landlord's happy, we have a place to fly!
That said, I wish there was a way to ''opt out'' of receiving the magazine...
Naaa, the walkie talkies for kids didn't have an org for them, the cordless phones didn't have an org for them, I could go on an on if need be.
The factorys that wanna sell their stuff sucks up with the gov to get their stuff approved an out on the market. That said, the model plane industry could have did the same thing without the ama. The ama is an insurance, magazine an big boys clubhouse in a nutshell.