What is the purpose of having a AMA card? Does it give you discounts at hobby stores ?

I wish...I would use it more often.

It just gives someone proof you are a member of AMA. If you visit a club or flying site that requires AMA membership before you can fly, you will have to provide the card. Or they might not let you fly.

An AMA card is a very important piece of plastic to have in your wallet. Not only will you be able to fly at any AMA sanctioned field, but you will also be protected from liability in case you have an accident with your bird! AMA provides protection of up to a million dollars per incident.

God forbid anything should happen while you are having fun with your bird, but accidents DO happen, sometimes avoidable, sometimes not. But that AMA card is your umbrella in case something does happen!

Fly Safe, Flt Smart, Fly AMA!!

Our LHS gives AMA members a 10% discount on must purchases so in addition to the insurance factor it is another reason to belong in this area. The shop I used in MI also gave a discount to members of the local flying clubs (all of which required AMA membership). I have never flown without AMA with the exception of a few rubber powered non competitive scale models.

It's not a matter of "What's in it for ME". Besides what the others
have stated, but the annual fee helps pay expenses of the Ind.
headquarters where the staff coordinates all the Districts across
the country. They offer information, help solve conflicts and support our local clubs with guidelines to keep improving the
hobby. Their (our) magazine gives schedule of events, hints on
building problems, new products etc. This is similar to my T-Bird
club dues or any other club, they offer a helpfull service. You
should plan a trip to Muncie, In. and see what the dues go for.
You'll be amazed with the flying site and museum.

Randy

I think the most important part of becoming a member is the insurance. I have seen some really strange things happen in the last two or three years I've been involved in this hobby. I've seen people with YEARS of experience have something go wrong with their plane and it either crashed or they had to ditch it in some manner or another. If a .40 size plane flies into the side of a car at half to three-quarter throttle, it WILL do some damage. A giant scale multiplies that damage. I know one thing, I would hate to have to replace the door of a Jaguar because of an accident. I won't even mention possible bodily injuries if it were a person you hit.
Get one - You need it.

Although, I am a firm believer in AMA membership, I really dont think the insurance is a big selling point I suspect, if you have home owners insurance, that comes off first, then the fields insurance or landowner, then AMA. I may be wrong, but will be surprised if I am. But if you dont have any homeowners policy, then maybe its a biggie for you. AMA is a good organization which represents our hobby well. The puplication itself is worth the price. Join up and support our hobby. It's well worth it.

actually, i'd say insurance is the biggest selling point. if you fly at a chartered club without AMA, the chartered club could be held liable for damages as well as the landowner. that's why all chartered clubs require you to have AMA insurance. homeowner's policies don't generally pay out too much ($100,000 in the case discussed by Dave Brown). In a million dollar case, that would leave someone liable for the remaining $900,000.
my reasons are as folows: 99.9% because of insurance/clubs require it.
.1% magazine subscription.

I agree with you as far as H.O.Policy not paying too much in drastic personal injury. My only point is, I doubt AMA pays out many $ due to the other insurances being the first in line and the lack of actual personal injury claims. It would be interesting to find out how many accidents and how much $ AMA actually pays out in a year. I dont forget, you still must follow all the guidelines of range checking, name and address(or AMA #) inside your planes etc.... But I suppose to some it gives you the peace of mind.

I just joined AMA. I just have to mail the form.

Actually, I currently live in an apartment so homeowners wouldn't figure in. Also, a Clubs insurance will suppliment what is paid out by AMA, not the other way around. AMA pays out mucho $s every year to "accidents". I will agree with others here as well, insurance is not the only reason to join AMA.

Do you know where I can find the figures for AMA payouts? My curiosity has been sparked. We dont have any "club insurance" other than the AMA field insurance. Is this a separate policy you buy from an insurance agent?

AMA's main purpose is to provide you with insurance.

If covers any area relating to your RC aircraft such as personal and liability coverage. I am not sure what all of the liability coverage cost are but I had to pay a $50 copay/liability when I put my hand through the prop last year in which saved me $25 from my employment ins coverage of $75.

If and when you migate to the larger birds and want to start participating at sanctioned events it is also a requirement.

Randy

The National association in any country does a lot more than just supply insurance,and I dont agree its the main reason for existance.
For Canadians reading this thread ,be aware the situation in the US is much different than in Canada,since medicine is nationalized here and personal injury claims rare as a result.
The claims experience in Canada is very low on the MAAC policy and have been of the "model lost control on takeoff and hit a car" variety in the last couple of years.It is arguable whether good safety practices or dumb luck has kept us out of serious trouble so far.One high loss permanent disabilty or God forbid death claim can easily run into $millions these days in a hurry.
Initial indications for future costs of liability insurance for anything involving the word "aircraft" are shocking currently,thanks to 9-11 and U.B.L.

One other important thing the AMA does for ALL flyers is a lot of legal work and lobbying with the FCC for our frequencies. It was a pretty good battle they fought to secure the channels we now pretty well take for granted. The magazine is worth while and I hope I never need the insurance!

What is U.B.L?

U.B.L. is the guy who orchestrated the bombing of those two buildings in New York... You know, the ones you've been gushing about for the last 8 weeks and make you get all teary eyed when ever you talk to girls.

Usama Bin Laden

Actually, it also can be spelled Osama bin Laden. He's the one who crashed jetliners and destroyed the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center.

Ptarmigan,

You sent me a private message and asked me about my time in New York City, a city I have roamed and enjoyed for many years, and nearly made home. I just spent 25 minutes writing you a detailed and pretty thoughtful reply only to discover that you have blocked replies from me.

That my friend, is pretty crummy...

And by the way, "Usama" is the preferred spelling in many languages, and probably the more phonetically correct one, so you might want to check your know-it-all attitude.

Well I think that his question has been more then answered here and on another site, time to shut it down.

Some things never change

Just out of curiosity, Ptarmigan, what r/c hobby have you been into since 2002?

As an apartment dweller you should invest in "renter's insurance." You'd be at surprised all the thing you an be liable for just as if you owned a home.. I initially joined AMA because the club I joined required it. It was worth it; club instructors taught me to fly, other members advised me in setting up my trainer, etc. Then there's the fellowship and making friends with some as pigheaded as me.

As I understand it the club's site insurance protects the site owner as well as the club; not you. Anyway I've never regretted joining AMA.

Charley Robinson
AMA 6903, CD, LM

You can do it on line if you have a credit or debit card.

CR

first off,....it shows that you are willing to pay $75 a year to fly your planes. ...secondly,....if you look closely into your homeowners policy and read all the small print,... i'll bet you'll find that if your land owners' policy is insuring a parcel used as a flying field, it most likely has a requirement that anyone flying on it has an AMA membership. insurance companies love to spread the burden.