Here is an outstanding series of articles published by the AMA that will be really useful to new pilots. It is called, "From the Ground Up" by Bob Aberle. I highly recommend it.
http://www.modelaircraft.org/mag/FTGU/Part1/index.html


The AMA, the Academy of Model Aeronautics, is an outstanding resource to the new and experienced flyer. I encourage you to become a member.
http://www.modelaircraft.org/aboutus.asp

I am in it only because of the contests, Our District 8 VP rarely if ever has anything remotely related to RC in New Mexico. AMA wants to play "deaf" to it all for many years. Dave Brown only cares about is nice building and airfield. Then we have our local asst VP who I have never seen at any major event here in 10 years!!!. As far as insurance goes, AMA told me once a while back that my Homeowners will pay it's limit first then AMA will cover anything over that. I encourage you all to think twice about it. What is the AMA doing about the freqs of Park flyers???

And there you have it folks...both sides of a coin. Personally I am a member for one reason only...I have to be to fly. Now if I had a nice little airfield to fly at, with NO chance of injury to anyone except possibly myself, I wouldn't bother with the AMA. I don't compete, so the only reason I have it is for access to a place to fly. I don't expect anything from the AMA, however I do feel that as a member, every effort should be made to stay on top of issues and policies that affect our ever changing hobby. Frequency control issues should be a top concern. Not picking on park flyer's either...there's other things on the horizon to be concerned about with respect to interference from new communication technologies. Insurance is ALWAYS going to be an issue too. Especially as the number of people participating grows. I suppose that's why it's important to know what the AMA is up to and to be involved on some level. In todays litigious society, I would hate to think where we would be if we didn't have the AMA. I doubt we could fly at all, unless we each had that nice little airfield to fly at, with NO chance of injury to anyone except possibly ourselves...


Jim C

What does this mean?

I agree with you completely.

An then there are the great resources to help new pilots. The link above is only one example.

Hey I used to be a member of AMA- I guess I still would be if the field required it... But it doesn't.....