ORIGINAL: faras

I agree. I have been an AMA member since 1984. I am an advanced flier but I have seen these AMA clubs taking the hobby a little too seriously. Instead of making it fun it has become a place for people with nothing else to do to scare intimidate and eventually turm off prospective members. I joined a club that is shrinking but they cotinue to insist that to join you must be sponsered and attend atleast one meeting during the weekday. I travel all week am i to stop work for a week so I can become a member. I think not.

Also the liability insurance issue is harming the AMA. Ever seen the ''progressive'' insurance ad where this girl says i can get you a customized policy. The reason for that is that every flier does not need the same coverage. Some may need all some none and some in the middle.

We are going to have to look at this as a sport and invest in big areas like golf clubs and Shooting ranges where people pay and get a great experience. The hobby has continued to grow at the small plane and large plane level and actually no growth in the .40 to .60 size aircraft. So we have a large number of new comers and growing number of baby boomers moving into larger planes.

The new comers in the small plane area are mostly electric. Let me ask the question why not let clubs provide blanket coverage through regular insurance for these members as they pose very little risk with there small aircraft. Let the dues cover the cost of this insurance and let everybody have fun.

We should also be scrutinizing the dues paid to AMA. Has anyone ever questioned where the money goes and who controls it. Why can we not have a member owned AMA where the organization would answer to all. This way there would be accountability and these old outdated ideas would be jettisoned.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.