Flying Site Assistance Joe Beshar | [email protected]
One of the most important functions of AMA is to acquire
and maintain flying sites.
LAST YEAR Tonya Howell, Remedial
Project Manager for Region 7 of the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
in Kansas City, Kansas, contacted me and
expressed interest in having an
aeromodeling orientation and buddy-box
experience for her staff. I was elated and
called Jim Cianciolo, a District VI
associate vice president, in Kansas City
and asked if he would be willing to host
the meeting.
Jim did not hesitate one moment to
accept the responsibility and organized and
led the gathering with other members of
his club, the Kansas City RC Association
(KCRC).
I compliment Jim for his positive
attitude and dedication which resulted in
an outstanding, successful, and eventful
meeting. Jim wrote about the event and I
want to share his article with you.
“Project managers from the
Environmental Protection Agency paid a
visit to KCRC’s Charlie Reed Memorial
RC Field at Lake Jacomo. On November 8,
approximately a dozen EPA employees
came to Fleming Park to check out our
flying field.
“Contrary to early speculation, the EPA
did not come to declare our beloved
outhouses a toxic waste dump. Rather, the
EPA managers were there to see a typical
RC field and to observe model activities in
person. They wanted to learn just what
makes a good flying site and how much
area is required.
“Why is the EPA interested in this and
how did KCRC get involved? After the
EPA has cleaned up a polluted area, the
agency is mandated to return the property
to useful service. One of the most
important functions of AMA is to acquire
and maintain flying sites.
“In February, AMA and the EPA signed
a memorandum of understanding
concerning creating flying fields on former
Super Fund Clean Up Sites. A flying field
has already been created in Florida and
several more are being considered.
“In late October, at the EPA Directors
Conference in Boston, AMA Flying Site
Coordinator Joe Beshar made a
presentation detailing the possibilities of
this win-win situation. Afterward, the EPA
managers were taken to a local RC field
and given a tour and a buddy-box lesson.
“Tonya Howell from the Regional EPA
office in Kansas City, Kansas, was among
the participants. She was so impressed and
enthused that she contacted Joe and asked
how she could get the same experience for
her managers in Kansas City. Joe
immediately contacted Charlie Bauer,
District VI vice president, and me. As an
associate vice president in District VI, I
was asked if we could also make a
presentation to the EPA office and make
arrangements to show them our flying site.
“With fall weather bearing down on us,
we knew we would have to act fast. Well,
it doesn’t take much prodding to get
modelers excited about showing off their
airplanes and field. With just a few Emails
and telephone calls, the troops were
mobilized. Within a week of our initial
contact with Ms. Howell, we accomplished
our task.
“First, I made arrangements with our
club instructors. We needed six trainer
airplanes with buddy boxes on the ready. I
invited all modelers, regardless of skill
level or club affiliation, to be at the field to
greet and visit with the EPA guests. We
stressed that this was not a KCRC event,
but an AMA event. Our goal was to
demonstrate just how enjoyable, safe, and
beneficial model aviation can be.
“I appointed a couple of experienced
leaders to have everything organized at the
field when our guests arrived. Meanwhile
Jerry Singer, the KCRC vice president, and
I went to the EPA headquarters where
Tonya Howell had reserved a large
conference hall.
“With several aircraft for show, Jerry
and I made an hour-long presentation
about AMA and the memorandum of
understanding.
“At first, the EPA managers seemed a
little skeptical. However, as we explained
the program and then showed them how a
model worked, they really warmed up. The
questions and answers lasted longer than
anticipated, so finally I said, ‘Heck with
this. Let’s go to the field and fly!’
“When we arrived at the field, the guys
were ready. There were so many modelers
there that I thought that we were having a
fun-fly. We gave our guests a tour and
demonstrated several types of aircraft.
Although it was very windy, many EPA
managers tried their hands at operating the
buddy box. It turned out so well that Tonya
Howell jokingly threatened to leave one of
the managers at the field because he didn’t
want to quit flying.
“The managers left with a keen
understanding of how a model site
functions and that it can be a great use for
clean-up sites. Hopefully, this is only the
first step in a long and beneficial
relationship with the EPA.
“We have been invited to do a repeat
performance in the spring and hope that
eventually we will develop more places to
fly.”
Joe Beshar, Coordinator
Eastern Region
Districts I - VI
198 Merritt Dr.
Oradell NJ 07649
Tel.: (201) 261-1281;
Fax: (201) 261-0223
E-mail: [email protected]
Wes De Cou, Coordinator
Western Region
Districts VII - XI
Voice: (480) 460-9466;
Cell: (480) 296-9515;
Fax: (480) 460-9434;
202 W. Desert Flower Ln.
Phoenix AZ 85045
E-mail: [email protected]
Finding—Preserving—Maintaining
April 2006 157
“Heck with this. Let’s
go to the field and fly!”
Register as an FSA Volunteer!
The Flying Site Assistance Program
consists of a network of volunteers who
serve as AMA’s eyes and ears.
These volunteers read newspapers and
listen to and watch news programs to be
aware of any activities that could impact
an existing or potential flying site.
It is just a matter of collecting
information regarding flying sites,
advising local modelers and AMA clubs in
the area, and passing it on to one of the
AMA Flying Site Assistance Coordinators.
Join this ambitious program as a
service to your fellow modelers. Anyone
interested, contact me at the address
above.
Our goal was to
demonstrate just how
enjoyable, safe, and
beneficial model
aviation can be.
Edition: Model Aviation - 2006/04
Page Numbers: 157