RC flying club rules / flying field etiquette

[MikeT]

Okay, I see now on the AMA site that youth membership is free, (didn't see that last night) that's encouraging. I will have to do more research I guess. Thanks for the input.

Start here. Your looking for help from the county or city to build a field you can get a bunch of info from the AMA site. Your "site owner" will want some form of insurance to protect themselves. That's probably the biggest reason for chartering a club with the AMA.

http://www.modelaircraft.org/membership/clubs.aspx

Mike

[Westsider]

Holy smokes, didn't know all this stuff existed. Been checking out the AMA site in between plays of the Rose Bowl game, and see there is an amazing amount of information available. Thanks for the link, starting to realize this will be quite a daunting task for someone as new as myself to the hobby. Way more research to do now... I guess if there is only one choice out there, that is that.

[RCjetdude]

It is good that you are looking into it and realizing that it is involved and that the AMA has a lot to offer. If there are enough of you eager to start a club then I would encourage you to work together to make it happen. By yourself it might be overwhelming. Bring to your friends a proposal based on your findings and then prepare to take it before your local officials. New clubs are created all the time by people like yourself. You can do it.

[MikeT]

Holy smokes, didn't know all this stuff existed. Been checking out the AMA site in between plays of the Rose Bowl game, and see there is an amazing amount of information available. Thanks for the link, starting to realize this will be quite a daunting task for someone as new as myself to the hobby. Way more research to do now... I guess if there is only one choice out there, that is that.

It's by no means perfect but it's all we have.

Mike

[Westsider]

Have to study up more, definitely, and thanks for the guidance and encouragement. Not a real political animal, and just don't like having one choice in anything. Dont feel anywhere qualified as staff in any "school" setting, so I shall engage local HS for support when/if we get that far. I need to discuss the idea with some old contacts in local government before they retire.

[Twowingtj]

Westsider, Just take things one step at a time. You've just found out that there are a lot of resources available. There is also a lot of experience here in your fellow Squawkers. The first thing I recommend is to find out who is interested and what they can bring to the table to give you a hand.

It doesn't have to be political. Just approach it like any other project. Set a goal, then find out what is available there to help make it happen. No need to reinvent the wheel. Good Luck!

By the way, You were right, OV-10 is in my area. We've already made contact. Thanks.

[Grossman56]

Good news Twowing!! Warbird Charlie is a great guy to get together with and can definitely give you some good pointers as he's high up in his club, not to mention one of the greatest guys you'll ever meet. Soooo, that means you can get to Nefi as well. Then you can see what AMA is all about, like going to R/C Heaven! My planes were actually excited when we got there!
As for AMA, the guys have pretty well said it all. I don't know a field out here where you don't have to be in the AMA to fly and they are going to bat for us with the FAA as well. You know that you have to register with the FAA to fly anything that we are talking about here. The 'Drone Registration' thing and yes, we are classified as drones in the Gov't's eyes.
Between the magazine and the insurance and the team fighting for us, it's well worth the price.

Grossman56

[OV10]

Good news Twowing!! Warbird Charlie is a great guy to get together with and can definitely give you some good pointers as he's high up in his club, not to mention one of the greatest guys you'll ever meet. Soooo, that means you can get to Nefi as well. Then you can see what AMA is all about, like going to R/C Heaven! My planes were actually excited when we got there!
As for AMA, the guys have pretty well said it all. I don't know a field out here where you don't have to be in the AMA to fly and they are going to bat for us with the FAA as well. You know that you have to register with the FAA to fly anything that we are talking about here. The 'Drone Registration' thing and yes, we are classified as drones in the Gov't's eyes.
Between the magazine and the insurance and the team fighting for us, it's well worth the price.

Grossman56

Haaaaaa........thanx for you support Dan. In the past 10 days we've(TJ n I) had more than the casual meet via PM and he is at the top of the food chain at his club and is not a newcomer to the sport. His club is a local neighbor to the one I'm with and as a matter of fact some of his warbirds make me want to drool so there is gonna be a closer in person connection I expect developing this summer.;)

[Westsider]

Fair warning to both of you, I plan to visit Chenango V. SP this summer. Been way too long, and have personal business there this year. Might have to fly an unsanctioned or two off the 2nd fairway late in the day ;) :p Just kidding, should have my AMA tattoo by then LOL

[T-CAT]

should have my AMA tattoo by then LOL

LOL! Now THAT'S dedication right there. Hahahaha

[Westsider]

These stripes don't change color that fast I'm afraid. Y'all might have to settle for just a membership card by then

[OV10]

Fair warning to both of you, I plan to visit Chenango V. SP this summer. Been way too long, and have personal business there this year. Might have to fly an unsanctioned or two off the 2nd fairway late in the day ;) :p Just kidding, should have my AMA tattoo by then LOL

Westy,
When the time gets closer to your arrival in this area give me a PM and I'll give ya my number. Our club is only about 23 miles away from Twowings club. I'd be glad to have ya come on over as a guest and check out the twin intersecting runways at our RC airport as I am sure TJ would too at his RC facility at the full scale shindigs.
Just don't come the 3rd week in June cause I'll be in Muncie @ NEFI :D

[Twowingtj]

Fair warning to both of you, I plan to visit Chenango V. SP this summer. Been way too long, and have personal business there this year. Might have to fly an unsanctioned or two off the 2nd fairway late in the day ;) :p Just kidding, should have my AMA tattoo by then LOL

Ditto with what Warbird said. Let us know when you'll be in the area and we'll get together for some flyin' and fun with some of your fellow squawkers. My busy time will be Aug 9th-13th as that's when we host our big annual Festival of Giants. Looking forward to meeting you.

[Oxotnik]

Personally, I'm a big fan of hobby clubs. I've been a leader (president for many years and continuing as a senior advisor) in our local high-power model rocket club and when I got into RC planes, I found a local club to join (luckily, we had two to choose from in my area). There is extra cost in joining a club and a set of rules to follow. Rules and structure are good, to a point. The one problem that I've seen in many clubs is that club leaders often try to create dictatorships, and you can get a lot of letter-of-the-law weenies, that will drive people out of the club. Managing strong personalities is the hardest part of running a club. Club leaders have to keep in mind that hobbyists do hobbies because they're fun. So, club leaders need to make sure that the club continues to promote the 'funness' of the hobby, while still being safe. For example, if someone flies behind the the zero line, a private comment to the person, after the flight, is all that's needed to remind them of the expectations of the club, and it doesn't berate or embarrass them. Anyway, I love clubs because I enjoy the interactions and learning from being around like-minded people, as long as the club and club members continue to promote my enjoyment of being in the club.