Maybe one of the best programs AMA has come up with to help people get into the hobby. An open member can apply for rating of Intro. Pilot Instructor and once accepted by AMA that instructor can work with a trainee for up to 60 days with-out the trainee having to join AMA but is covered by AMA insurence as long as there is one on one instructions. Some paper work is requried and of course I have not given a complete coverage of the program. If you are interested in more information visit AMA home page.

OF 43 AMA CHARTERED CLUBS IN ALABAMA THERE ARE ONLY 6 WITH AMA REGISTERED INTRODUCTORY PILOT INSTRUCTORS. WE ARE PROUD TO BE ONE OF THOSE CLUBS AND THE ONLY ONE WITH-IN ABOUT 60 MILES OF MUSCLE SHOALS. WE HAVE (2) SUCH PILOTS.


colbertrcflyers.com

[color=#FF0099]BG35660,
Thanks for the info. I'll have to check it out. We may have to work something out with our new Broward County Park Badge Program to incorporate it.
Bev

Besides, it's FUN! Intro pilot since '97

Tom
AMA8026

A very large club in the Houston area that flys at a public site, does not allow people to fly on the intro program and sent dozens of people home after they got their new plane for Christmas.

Intro instructors wanting to help, the local rule enforcer sent them home.

Shame.

Which site is that. My parents live in Katy, TX and I was there for Christmas and flew my plane at a club/public feild in George Bush Park. A club member there told me that if I have my AMA card the club could not stop me from flying there because it was a public site. Only AMA insurence would be required. On that note if a intro pilot instructor is helping a new flyer they have the required insurence and the club can not chase them off just as I could not be turned away. Contact the county that controls the site, explain how the individual is covered the same as a registered member and I bet the restriction will be lifted.

Note that the designation of Introductory Pilot is made by the club. The application for IP comes with the Club recharter kits (which should be out soon!). The club sends in the application with the designated names and their AMA numbers. Soon thereafter, the IPs get their new AMA card.

Our club will be designating 3 people this year (more if I can find willing volunteers).

Brad

There is also a $5.00 processing fee due with application. Application may be made online in the Members Only section on the AMA website. Pay with a credit card.

bill

I like the program because I can teach a kid and have my/club's insurance cover him until he has joined.
Many times a kid will come out only with a plane and desire.
To tell him no because of the lack of AMA insurance, is a crock

It's also a crock that someone that is willing to take their time and what ever else to help AMA get more members has to pay to do it, sure it's only $5. but it's the idea that we do all the work and have to pay. Just doesn't set right with me. ENJOY !!! RED

Sorry red head, however you have a vision problem, very near sighted. The Introductory Pilot program provides the Chartered Club with both a method and an obligation to conduct a good training program. It also provides a method for the club to be aware of just who is training non-AMA persons on the Chartered Club name and facility.

My club pays the fee so therefore all the members contribute a few pennies. It is for the club, so all get to share. The status/name is only good for those individuals so designated by a Chartered Club and only on that club's home station.

'ell, I have to purchase a hunting license to hunt on my own land. I have to give way to a d__n bicycle rider on a highway that I am paying 46 cents federal tax per gallon of diesel (2.5 cents per mile) that I burn on the highway, and he is only contributing to an unsafe road condition. Each year I spend thousands of yankee dollars for school taxes in 2 states and 6 counties and I have not had a kid in public school since the late '70s.

Don't cry on my shoulder about a simple $5 for assisting some form of discipline within the ranks of organized modeling.[>:]

WHAT HE SAID

Guys : No contest please but I would like to make a couple comments: I traveled around the US for years teaching R/C and pushing AMA and would have loved to have the Intro program back me when I was out there but like you said it only covers at your home field and I didn't use mine very often as I was on the road. I think a little more VISION needed to come from AMA and expand the program somewhat to help us help them.

I know what you mean about the taxes etc. especially after 13 years on the road and I haven't had a kid in school since the 60's. By the way the $5 statement was just to make a point, I'd have paid more if the program could have worked for me at the time.

Good talking to you, hope we can do it again sometime and maybe get other folks thinking about what's going on.

ENJOY !!! RED AMA 95829

An instructor can be registered at more than one club but I think I read the $5.00 must be paid for each club.

If you have the endorsement on your AMA card and follow the guidelines, why can't us use it at other fields?
I haven't read the rules on this program so I may be asking an academic question.

http://www.modelaircraft.org/PDF-files/917.pdf

Selections from AMA web Documents section Doc. 917 Intro Pilot Program and Application follow:

Additional reference should also include 535-E Introductory Pilot Instructor Criteria. Are you good enough?

>>>"A non-AMA member may fly at a chartered club site and receive member liability insurance protection as long as he/she is flying under the direct supervision of a club-designated Introductory Pilot Instructor. The Introductory Pilot Instructor must hold a current AMA Open membership with the “Intro Pilot” classification. Supervised instruction must take place at an AMA chartered club’s site, and must be closely supervised. The non-AMA member will have the same liability insurance coverage that other AMA members receive, solely while under the direct, one-on-one supervision of the Intro Pilot
Instructor, for a period of 60 consecutive days starting from the first session. No other AMA benefits are provided to the
non-AMA member.<<<"

>>>>
"Clubs:
1. The Intro Pilot Instructor designees must be current Open members of AMA and should be experienced
instructors.
2. Fill out Form #1, the Intro Pilot Instructor Designation form. It must be signed by a club officer.
3. Submit the form to AMA with the appropriate fees: $5.00 for each Intro Pilot Instructor designated by your club.
4. When the Designation Form is processed, the Intro Pilot Instructor will receive a supply of Student Registration
Forms. Xerox copies are acceptable, you can request more copies from AMA HQ, or they are available for
download from the AMAWeb site at www.modelaircraft.org.
5. As your Intro Pilot Instructors sign up students, keep copies of their Student Registration Forms in the club’s
files.
6. Official Introductory Pilot Program rules and regulations should be kept on hand by each Club, and every Intro
Pilot Instructor should be familiar with the rules." <<<<

>>>>
"The restriction of the number of Intro Pilot Instructors per club has been removed. Chartered clubs are requested to have
a reasonable number of Open AMA members as Intro Pilot Instructors each year. AMA HQ will verify that all designees are
current Open members. There is a $5 per pilot administrative fee in addition to the Open member’s annual dues. A club
officer must complete the Introductory Pilot Instructor Designation form and submit it to AMA HQ, either online, by fax, or
through US Mail. A person may be designated as an Intro Pilot Instructor by more than one chartered club."<<<


There it all is: One club each $5 by that specific club and so designated.

You can do as many clubs as will designate you and send the $5.

Git 'er done! Don't forget Doc. 535-E.

I am sorry this may should be posted in its own thread but just how much does it cost for ama membership the only price I seen was for the introductry three month service
Also just what does the insurance cover? I understand it is a liability insurance but does it cover you in an accendent?
for example there is a thread in the crash section prop bitten If I understood currectly the guy that got hurt was a member but the guy that hit him was not
Does the AMA insurance cover you against things like this?

I can answer one of your questions. The open member dues for 2007 is $58.00, Senior members (65 and over) get a $10.00 discount. I am not sure just what is covered with the insurence. I do know that first you must file with your homeowener carrier then ama pays what homeowners does not pay.
There may be a lot of people that has not known this, if you want to disscuss the insurence I wish you would start another thread.
thanks
bill

Done in the RMA thread Thanks

Hoss,
This may be picking the fly s**t out of the pepper, but I am a club designated intro pilot, it doesn't say that I have to be an intro pilot for the club field that we are using. This is how I look at it.

If you will go to AMA's home page members only section, check list of pilots and you will find that you are sponcered by your club. Read the rules posted earlier.
bill

You can play the Philadelphia Lawyer as you wish. (Just not on MY Turff )
Your "look" could well be twisted to your interpretation. AMA staffers are not noted for their ability to write without leaving some holes. You know, kind of like a congressman when he is writing law for the Internal Revenue Code. He makes sure there are loop-holes for himself. Then you and I can find those loop-holes and save a few $$ each year. It's up to you just how far you wish to push it! [>:] I know what the AMA wants and I go with that. IRS, now that is a different ball-game! [:-]

Edit; misuse of verb form.

I didn't know.
I did that and I see that I am listed.
I was under the impression that we had 4 instructors.
Looks like we only had two.
No wonder I have 5 students

That is sometimes a problem, it the rules are followed you can not be registered without being ask. That is one of the question on the app.. After we registered our instructors and posted the fact on our website another local club not wanting to be out done posted on their website they were enrolled in the program and listed two members as AMA registered Intro Pilots. AMA shows that this club does not have Intro Pilots as of 8:00 this morning 2/3/07. I spoke to one of those listed and he said he was unaware untill he saw it on the clubs website.

I am the Secretary Treasurer of our club and the contact person for those intersted in joining. I'm also one of a handfull of instructors. None of our instructors is currently certified as a Introductory Pilot, but I'm looking into the pros and cons of the program. I'm curious how other clubs with Introductory Pilot Programs handle the subject of AMA membership requirements with prospective new members. Do you give them the option of joining the AMA up front, or suggest that they make use of the Introductory Pilot Program and deferr the cost for 60 days? Do you require club membership up front or do you give them a 60 day grace period also? What percentage of the new members elect to join the AMA after the 60 day period? I can see the program being usefull to a young person who just shows up at the field with their new plane and wants to learn to fly. My experiance has been the perspective member contacts me and I explain the club's training program, membership dues, and AMA membership requirements. The new member then joins the AMA, pays the club dues, and contacts one of the instructors to set up a training schedule.
I'm very interested in learning how other clubs use the Introductory Pilot Program and if they find it usefull.
Thanks for any feedback.
Mike

I'm club president, training coordinator, lead instructor, and currently the only Intro Pilot (although two other club members have expressed interest).

While we don't have any formal club rules regarding intro pilot, in the past we use it as a means of encouraging people to join the club. I will not generally give more than a few lessons to someone who has not yet joined the club. So far, everyone that I've spent any time with on the intro program has joined the club. The issue isn't the insurance during the training period, its simply an approach that non-club members shoudn't be entitled to the benefits of club membership without contributing.

Where it has come into play is when we have a club open house or fun-fly. We try to encourage members of the community to come out and try it. That includes other family members and neighbors. To do that, they have to buddy box with me. We do have a club trainer that is designated for youth training, so if a young person comes out and wants to learn to fly, I can use that plane and the intro pilot program.

From the club perspective, it is an inexpensive way to be able to gain new members.

Brad