Clubs on public land charging club fees to fly

[serpentracer]

I know of at least 2 local flying clubs who are utilizing public land and charging club fees. One of these fields is in a state park. The other is in a city park. Neither park charges admission to get it and use the park facilities like the baseball fields or the skate park and playgrounds picnic areas.

So does anyone else think it's absurd these 2 clubs charge tax payers to use a tax payer funded flying site a membership and to be able to rope off its parking lot?

[Elbee]

I know of at least 2 local flying clubs who are utilizing public land and charging club fees. One of these fields is in a state park. The other is in a city park. Neither park charges admission to get it and use the park facilities like the baseball fields or the skate park and playgrounds picnic areas.

So does anyone else think it's absurd these 2 clubs charge tax payers to use a tax payer funded flying site a membership and to be able to rope off its parking lot?

ST, too many variables to give an opinion, although if the club(s) have other real expenses to cover, i.e., mowing, asphalt maintenance, restrooms/porta-poddies, some kind of fee structure would be needed, Id think. Don't know. Best, LB

[RRHandy]

I agree with LB on that our club is on state land and we pay for electricity, port a pee, trash pickup, grass cutting and Insurance, thou we carry insurance with AMA there is still other factors to what people today will try to get from an organization thru insurance fraud.

RR.

[Evan D]

Ours is a dedicated county park. The agreement we made with the county to use it as such had a number of things like who would do the grass cutting, provide the porta potty, maintain a covered structure, fences, etc. (they do that). It's our cost to lay and upkeep the control line circles, paved runway and a solar charging station/ conex storage. We charge a $40/ year park pass fee.

There are also two clubs that call the park home. One control line and one RC. The clubs maintain their individual things like the frequency/ bulletin board, flight stations and work tables. The RC club costs $20 a year to join.

Both the park pass and club have AMA registration, the park pass group as a chapter and the club as a club.

I think it is way more than fair what we pay. Bottom line is if some one doesn't they don't need to fly there. We occasionally get people that say their taxes go to the park and they can walk their dogs down the runway while we fly, fly kites, picnic on the approach, etc. It's a dedicated park just like the soccer fields, baseball fields or other dedicated areas, you should see how bent out of shape they can get if we ask them to move while we fly.

[kallend]

I think it is way more than fair what we pay. Bottom line is if some one doesn't they don't need to fly there. We occasionally get people that say their taxes go to the park and they can walk their dogs down the runway while we fly, fly kites, picnic on the approach, etc. It's a dedicated park just like the soccer fields, baseball fields or other dedicated areas, you should see how bent out of shape they can get if we ask them to move while we fly.

Would these same people expect to picnic on 1st base during a baseball game on a public park?

[serpentracer]

Now what about clubs that chain off the entrance? Because the AMA says the fields are supposed to let visitors/non members fly at their fields as guests. I found one place in Kentucky that had its parking lot and field wide open for visitors. But of the ones by my house all chain off the entrance. Isnt that against the AMA guidelines? Even the fields with gates say visitors welcome but seem to purposely keep visitors out😢

[Evan D]

Pretty sure the AMA doesn’t say that… The AMA doesn’t really have control of club fields, just the one in Muncie.

[Evan D]

I don’t know but obviously I should be able to fly there during the ball game, right? I pay taxes too.

Would these same people expect to picnic on 1st base during a baseball game on a public park?

[Grossman56]

Ours is on BLM land. Our club charges $20 a year (?!) and we have a couple of fly In's per year to raise funds. We have a club house and permanent bathrooms as well as work benches, picnic tables, charging station and sun covers for the work benches. Every year the tarps that cover the tables must be replaced and the runway maintained (minimally) It all costs $$$ and though we don't stop people from flying at the field, which I guess legally we can't, we pay for the use of the land and are expected to remove the buildings and runway in the event that the club folds. Then where would all those who fly for free be ?? It would be so nice to have acreage to fence off and charge for admission, anyone want to come up with a few hundred thousand bucks??
Clubs need money to function, plain and simple.


Grossman56

[kallend]

Paying taxes does not entitle anyone to unlimited access to taxpayer funded facilities.

I can't, for example, demand unlimited access to all USAF or USN bases just because my taxes go to pay for national defense. Or have a picnic in the White House Rose Garden.

The entire argument is silly and simply showwcases the entitlement attitude of many Americans.

[Evan D]

Good post. So about public forums and being able to post anything you darn want to...

[RRHandy]

Good post. So about public forums and being able to post anything you darn want to...

Yep, no matter what others think TOO.

[Grossman56]

Paying taxes does not entitle anyone to unlimited access to taxpayer funded facilities.

I can't, for example, demand unlimited access to all USAF or USN bases just because my taxes go to pay for national defense. Or have a picnic in the White House Rose Garden.

The entire argument is silly and simply showwcases the entitlement attitude of many Americans.

Yep, I agree, I for instance, have to comply to FAA rules now and yet I can't fly from our local airport. I have to stay within the 400 foot ceiling and yet many is the time we've had our field 'buzzed' by full size aircraft in which case we either land if possible or get the hell out of his way.
I don't care if someone comes and flies at our field who is not a member, maybe it'll encourage them to join up, it's the ones that like to shoot up our buildings and let their dogs crap all over that get me P.O'd

Grossman56

[serpentracer]

Paying taxes does not entitle anyone to unlimited access to taxpayer funded facilities.

I can't, for example, demand unlimited access to all USAF or USN bases just because my taxes go to pay for national defense. Or have a picnic in the White House Rose Garden.

The entire argument is silly and simply showwcases the entitlement attitude of many Americans.

we are talking about public parks. PUBLIC is the magic word. these guys are flying at a public park that has a flying field. he says in the video anyone can pull up there and fly. this is how they should be on tax payer funded parks in my opinion. there's no entitlement going on here since my paycheck funds the park.

also, keep in mind your AMA membership dues help support the flying fields with things such as disaster relief, grants as well as helping keep the cost of the club's insurance down. so technically i'm paying the club 2 ways to fly there as a guest and 3 times as a member...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRe385lgf_I&t

here's a rc track close to me. funded by tax payers and open to everyone. the way it should be.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2evZo3pQWYg

[serpentracer]

Pretty sure the AMA doesn’t say that… The AMA doesn’t really have control of club fields, just the one in Muncie.

I believe I read in the AMA bylaws it says to be a AMA flying site the club has to allow guests and non members that's why it's listed under their field information. I'm not looking to fly for free at a club to bypass their yearly dues. I'd just like access to come in when no one else is there instead of a chained off entrance. I'm also a member of a Boat club and the park ranger showed up yesterday because I forgot to call them. not sure why they take this stuff so serious.

[Evan D]

Do you think said public flying field can require AMA membership? Not to mention TRUST and FAA registration. Will said park apply to be a FRIA or if not require a beacon?

You think in the AMA bylaws??? Sounds like you’re just making things up… still.

We take it serious because the FAA, our county people and others do. Plus people do donuts on our field, trash the place and steal stuff. If your not going there to fly, and no one is there why are you going?

[serpentracer]

Do you think said public flying field can require AMA membership? Not to mention TRUST and FAA registration. Will said park apply to be a FRIA or if not require a beacon?

You think in the AMA bylaws??? Sounds like you’re just making things up… still.

We take it serious because the FAA, our county people and others do. Plus people do donuts on our field, trash the place and steal stuff. If your not going there to fly, and no one is there why are you going?

because no one else had a free saturday? I went to the boat lake and to hawks flying field yesterday and no one was at either site. I'm a member of the boat lake but I wanted to fly a plane at this new (to me) site but it has a chain so you can't even park in the entrance if you wanted to. it's such a nice weekend. oh well. I sent my membership order in but it's going to be a while to get a key.

https://www.hawksrc.org/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZsW7BVqvj0

[Evan D]

Ok so you went to fly and you weren’t a member. Got it. Dude there are rules in life that you’ll need to abide by, get used to it.

[serpentracer]

Ok so you went to fly and you weren’t a member. Got it. Dude there are rules in life that you’ll need to abide by, get used to it.

it just strikes me as ironic they get to put a club on land I pay for and charge me to come there. I can literally stand outside their field and fly in the park field behind them for free.

[Evan D]

I understand.