Anyone know whatever happened to Professional Modelers of America?

Another broken coo coo clock that occasionally comes back from the dead only with something derogatory.

Not just derogatory it's childish: "Don't like XYX go start your own country". It's schoolyard talk.

Do you really think they are doing a great job?

Astro

Yeah , whenever he posts it makes me miss the sound of the crickets . I pretty much ignore him now , I figure since the moderation staff have obviously totally given up here and his trolling behavior is allowed to continue , the best course is to not even bother responding to his childish taunts . Starve a troll of the attention it desires and it'll seek it elsewhere .

I wonder if you're starving him to the point that he started calling me "Dumplin"? If he really wants to eat me that bad, maybe we should send him a feral dog to nibble on instead. Any thoughts?

No thoughts from propworn until he runs it by the guys at work. Can you imagine anyone not knowing about of the innerworkings of RC flying laws caring even
a little about any of this? My guess is the guys at work must dread having to hear about propworn's latest online RC adventures. How many fifteen minute breaks
have been ruined by propworn is the real question?

It won't be many more since he claims he's done working in a few more months. Maybe he'll lose his access to the internet as well. We can only hope, right?

May the Lord bless his coworkers and us as well

Beats me I was following this also but information was hard to get from them.

Mike

Let me answer by saying there are things they could be doing much better. I’ve been on record saying so.

My point is simply that:

A) The hobby itself is under fire, regardless of the AMA. And although it might not make a lick of difference, some unity across the board certainly couldn’t hurt. Let’s save fixing the AMA for another day, because without a hobby to represent, really what’s the point?

B) Much of the failings being attributed to the AMA are beyond the ability of any CBO to fight, especially when one is dealing with agencies and an administration that only listen to who they want to listen to. It could be AMA, SFA, PMA, etc. Does anyone REALLY think other groups would have any more success with FAA/DHS/DOJ/etc?

R_Strowe

I absolutely, positively, emphatically disagree!! What do yo think we have been saying all along? The whole point of these threads is because we believe the AMA COULD (probably too late now) have made a huge difference, but they dropped the ball.

As far as other groups, possibly, we'll have to see.

I can't believe that you can't see the progression of this from the beginning, and the degradation of not only the relationship between the AMA and FAA, but how the FAA and the Feds CLEARLY lost respect for the AMA as an organization. The whole, "within the programing" thing played a large part in that, and may have been the single biggest faux pas by the AMA in their entire history.

I ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY, EMPHATICALLY believe that if the AMA had not romanced the drones and created clear separation of them from traditional modeling, that things would have played out in our favor and vastly different than what we are facing now.

If you didn't already know that, you clearly haven't been paying attention to these threads, or are just being obtuse.

Astro

Wonder why we're under fire?
Wonder why we didn't condemn the problem and protect what we had?
Wonder if things would have been handled differently how thing would have worked out?
Wonder why the calls from the membership ( along with some in the industry ) not to do it were ignored?

Mike

It no longer matters.

The Flight Test guys have a YouTube series on regulation and Remote ID. Two of them are about their visits to the FAA UAS Integration Office in
Washington, DC, the agency in charge of writing RC regulations. They were blown away that the people there at the UASIO had no idea that anyone
flew RC model aircraft outside of a dedicated flying field, which is probably half of the hobby and nearly all of Fligh Test's target market.

For those who want to discount AMA's part in this regulatory mess, where did those people at the UASIO get the idea that RC planes are only flown at
dedicated (AMA) fields? From AMA. AMA is the de facto voice of ALL RC flying. It's AMA and only AMA who has been negotiating on behalf of the RC
flying community with the FAA on RC rules since 2008, and dictated that entire time by ONE person, Rich Hanson. Hanson started as AMA Director
for Government Affairs and was on the initial UAS task force with the FAA in 2008.

And the only thing to show for is the CBO scheme (the forced membership scam) that AMA was never fully able close the deal on. Well, now AMA
has their monopoly, FRIAs, and it's the end of the line for the hobby.

Without cheap RTF planes that anyone can buy and fly in their backyard or a vacant lot without involving the AMA or FAA. The small fraction of those
who might get inspired about RC flying from that type informal backyard flying are the only people to replace the typical aging RC flyer. That's over now.

I'm fully aware....

I just can't believe that those who belittle the few of us who live and speak in the real world, don't know any better.

I guess if all one does is drink the AMA Kool-Aid, they only know that the world is flat, much like the FAA thought that there was no RC activity outside of AMA fields. It actually shows how much the FAA USED to trust and respect the AMA...

Astro

No way to have a meeting of the minds on the damage forced membership has caused when some are actually on board with it.
That's what has allowed Hanson and AMA to go on so long with what would be an outrageous scam in any other hobby or sport.

You want to save the hobby? As someone has already said, take the AMA out of the equation. We have an election in just over 90 days. For those in Congress that are not up for re-election, contact them now. For those that are up for re-election, let them fight it out with their challengers and, when that's over, contact the winner. Let them know that their are more people out here than the AMA legal team that need to be heard and that WE are not the problem. Contact your local FAA offices and let them know that we are here and see how they react. The problem, as I see it and as Echo put in a previous post, is that the AMA(aka Rich Hanson) misrepresented the hobby to the FAA and now we are paying for his deception. We also need to be contacting our local governments to change the way they see the hobby. it may be as simple as getting the city to allow us to fly in a local park with park flyers. I know, in my town, there is a sport field area that is outside of the main residential area that would be perfect for flying aircraft as there are only a few houses in the vicinity. If you can get the local government to allow that, let the local FAA office know and give the location and see what they say. The results may surprise you

How is it deflection it’s a simple observation from outside? The same dozen or so dissatisfied people some who are members some who are not complaining but failing to do anything that might have any actual value in solving the problems of the AMA. Sending a tersely worded email or letter isn’t of particular value as it’s easily ignored.

It doesn’t mater if “I” think they are doing a good job it’s the membership’s opinion. Of course if you’re not a member your opinion doesn’t mean squat. If you are a member and you really believe there is a better way the only way to make change is from within. You will have to convince a majority of those who have the power of the vote to support your changes.

As it stands the AMA is the only CBO representing its membership. You have two choices one to change it from the inside or failing that start a new CBO.

My CBO is doing just fine we are able to fly as we always have with an exemption from the regulations. All others have to follow the stricter rules including licensing. I can even fly anywhere in the USA as negotiated under the reciprocal agreement.



I had a private access internet gateway and my own private computer at work at no time did anyone but I post using that gateway. It was read by others strictly for its entertainment value no input by others. Many many times the computer was logged on to RCC among others but I was busy doing other things. Lots of entertainment on the web you guys were a minor distraction believe me. Have been on vacation for some time retirement officially starts Sept 1. Getting the truck, camper and trailer ready to head out so even now I may be logged on but not actively participating. You guys are just not that interesting.



This is not a criticism of Franklin but read his profile it states:

“Tireless advocate for ALL recreational sUAS operators regardless of CBO membership status, disciplined operations, and compliance with law and regulation.”
​​​​​​​Perhaps the AMA should have concentrated on the needs of members only and let the others fend for themselves not attempt to be all things to everyone.



MAAC membership only 12,000 strong didn’t fight with, threaten or attempt to force any government agency to bend to its will. Instead they urged us to wait until the rules were in place then we would apply for an exemption for the members. Citing our 70 year safety record and cooperation with Transport Canada MAAC was granted an exemption and we continue to fly as we always have. None members have height restrictions 400 ft same as you, even licensing over a few lbs and restrictions on airspace. Our members enjoy fields on active airport property, jet and other events held on airports with NOTAMS for the length of the event. Several clubs operate on or near military airports or bases.

From the beginning the MAAC directors and membership wanted nothing to do with regulating/taking respocibility for anyone flying outside the organization. It was obvious to all that it would be an impossible task and resisted by most.

We have our drone/multirotor members fully integrated into MAAC culture following the same rules and safety guidelines as all other members and there are no problems so far. One club I belong to has a sanctioned race course permanently set up on the property with 20 ft high safety netting where needed. The bigger multirotors fly the same as helicopters with no problems.

If the AMA would have adopted the us and them rather than trying to be all inclusive things may have turned out much different for the membership.

I hope they are able to work things out and this virus gets lost so next year I will have the opportunity to continue my flying in the US.

The AMA is the only CBO and organization representing its members I feel it needs to dump the none members and concentrate on securing the best for its membership and let the rest fend for itself. What have the other countries that have secured flying rights for their members done?

The AMA doesn't need to dump it's non-members as it's only looking out for itself to begin with. Why do you think the FRIA concept was initiated? To fly at a FRIA site, you have to be a member of the AMA AND be a member/guest of the club that flies at that site. Sounds to me like anyone that's not a member won't be able to fly anywhere, legally, unless they are a member of the AMA

[QUOTE=Propworn;12627674

The AMA is the only CBO and organization representing its members I feel it needs to dump the none members and concentrate on securing the best for its membership and let the rest fend for itself. What have the other countries that have secured flying rights for their members done?[/QUOTE]

Presumably Propworn means "non-members".

A few thoughtful words from Propworn - after nothing but, in his words, "entertainment" from his self-congradulatorty putdowns here. He has contributed nothing here but
his clever-only-to-him snarkiness and deragetory comments. But enough of that. Save the moderators rather than turn into the buzzing hive of nothingness like RCGroups
advocacy forums.

Getting down to business, Propworn is on board with AMA dumping 4 out of 5 RC flying hobbyists in the US. A swell guy propworn is indeed. "Propworn", "propworm", whatever.

I don't know what you are in real life but here you are utterly worthless.

Absolutely why should the members carry those who have no intention of joining, who refuse to use common sense and have no intention of following any rules of the AMA. What kind of leach expects a free ride on the backs of paid members? Talk about the era of entitlement. Next the leaches are going to expect to be welcomed at the field the members have worked on, premium parking and one of the members to clean his planes when he’s done flying. These freeloaders are one of the causes the AMA is in the position it’s in today. Look no further than on this forum Sir Bitxh A Lot what concrete action has he initiated for the betterment of the AMA? Thank goodness there is no time for freeloaders in Canada or MAAC.

You missed the part that AMA represents all RC flyers in the US, 4 out of 5 whom AMA dumped to the curb.
Like I said, you really are a swell guy.

And not only dumped those 4 out of 5, destroyed the hobby. One mark of intelligence is seeing future consequnses.
Good luck in Canada without the US RC market with products. Hope you know how to build. Talk about a leach.

I stand by what I said freeloaders who expect the same as paid members are cockroaches who are not worth the price of admission.

So says the dancing cockroach.