After 36 years of being an AMA member(academy of model aeronautics) I will not renew this year. Between all the bad politics, letting us down with the drone invasion and more…I’m done. This hobby has been regulated to death. It now requires a basic knowledge of aviation test before you can buy an RC airplane from the local hobby shop. You have to join the FAA and place numbers on your planes.
Our airplanes have been classified as drones. That’s a big mistake. They are airplanes.We have altitude restrictions. No more sanctioned fields will be created after this year. And the list goes on. Oh and I fogot about our being required soon to have transponders in our model planes, report to the local tower through a phone app and get permission to fly from them.
For about 80 bucks a year I get insurance that only covers me at AMA sanctioned fields and events. Even then in an accident they only cover about a third of the costs. You need homeowners insurance for the rest. What if you don’t own a home?
You get a cheap paper card. An Ok magazine and a pat on the back for being a member.
Our beloved scale model airplanes are now drones and we are considered a nuisance by ever “Karen” out there. The AMA didn’t do much to protect us from that.
I fly at local parks, deserts, cliffs on the coast and other natural locations with my silent RC gliders. They don’t pollute or cause any harm to the environment. Same with the airplanes. They are electrically driven props planes. Rc jets? Also electric. so they are very quiet. No annoying gas engine noise that could be heard for miles anymore.
Their insurance doesn’t cover me in these locations. You just fly safe. If there’s a lot of public traffic at any of these locations I just don’t fly thinking only of their safety.
So why do I need the AMA? I don’t. Not anymore.
I’m joining the SCCA instead. The Sports Car Club of America. I’m saving for a bucket list old sports car. A Triumph Spitefire to be exact. An enjoy friendly vintage car races at the local tracks in CA. Like Luguna Sacca.
For my 85 bucks a year I can do this! It’s been on my bucket list for a very long time!
The Art of Steve Neill 