In the Air 2013/07
Membership news and updates from AMA Headquarters
Raymond Beach Smith
Raymond Beach Smith, founder of Hobbies Aloft, passed away at the age of 67. Born August 23, 1945, Ray came from a family of pilots. His grandfather was one of the first flight surgeons in World War I and his father was a B-17 pilot who flew more than 100 missions.
Ray started building and flying RC airplanes in his youth. He earned a degree in aeronautical engineering from California Polytechnic State University. He was a Vietnam-era veteran and worked in flight testing at Edwards Air Force Base, Point Mugu, and Fallbrook Naval Station before becoming a teacher.
In 1993, Raymond launched Hobbies Aloft in Marina, California. Through this business he taught hundreds of people to fly, led local youth classes, and served as a consultant on several scientific projects.
Ray valued designing and flying RC airplanes and had recently obtained his pilot's license. In addition to his passion for flying, Ray enjoyed surfing and was an avid animal lover who rescued more than 50 cats, dogs, and a wide variety of other animals.
AMA Thanks Its Lifetime Supporters!
The Academy recently welcomed Life Members:
- Joseph F. Nemec, Algonquin, IL
- Treven C. Baker, Santa Cruz, CA
- Harry E. Deboer, York, PA
- Brigg G. Lewis, Saint George, UT
- Anthony Brewer, Shakopee, MN
- Sean Reigle, Laguna Hills, CA
- Robert J. Defalco, Wyckoff, NJ
- Joseph R. Burrill, Herkimer, NY
- Andrew L. Prestridge, Ojai, CA
- Edward G. Bookwalter, Putney, VT
For information about becoming a Life Member, contact AMA Headquarters at (800) 435-9262.
— AMA Membership Department
Frequently Asked Questions — AMA’s Safety & Member Benefits Department
The Safety & Member Benefits department handles a variety of programs. Contact us when you are looking for information about:
- General insurance questions, reporting an accident/filing an insurance claim
- Chartering an AMA club/chapter
- Obtaining insurance for a flying site
- AMA’s Turbine Program
- AMA’s Large Model Airplane Program for models exceeding 55 pounds
- Safety Code clarification
- Introductory Pilot Program
Insurance-Related Questions
Q: What insurance benefits are included with my membership? A: Three separate insurance policies (for modeling-related incidents) are a benefit of your AMA membership (excludes Park Pilot Program membership). The Liability policy has a $2.5 million limit and covers incidents involving property damage and bodily injury. The Medical policy has a $25,000 limit and covers self-inflicted modeling-related incidents. The Fire, Theft, and Vandalism (FT&V) policy, which has a $1,000 limit, is the only one that covers model airplanes and accessories when damaged by those means. The Park Pilot Program includes only liability coverage for up to $500,000; it does not include the Medical or FT&V policy. You can find an insurance summary for individual members at www.modelaircraft.org/files/500-a.pdf.
Q: Somebody told me that my AMA insurance is effective only when I’m flying at a chartered club’s field. Is this true? A: No. AMA coverage is not limited to flying at a chartered club field. It also applies to model operation on private or public property. You can find this information on the welcome letter attached to your AMA card.
Q: I just read that AMA’s insurance policies are in excess to my homeowner’s policy. Is this true? If so, why? A: All of AMA’s policies are in addition to any other applicable insurance you may have. There are several reasons why the policies are excess. It is required by the insurance company to keep the overall cost down. Most states consider homeowner’s policies primary and it saves AMA and its members more than $100,000 per year in insurance costs.
If your homeowner’s policy denies a claim, the claim exceeds your policy limits, or you don’t have any other applicable coverage, your AMA insurance would come into effect.
Q: How do I file a claim with AMA? A: Please contact AMA’s Safety & Member Benefits department as soon as possible to report the claim. You can call (765) 287-1256 or email [email protected] to provide an initial report. AMA staff will forward the appropriate claim forms with specific instructions to you or other involved parties. You can find more information at www.modelaircraft.org/files/howtoreportaclaim.pdf.
Q: Will filing a claim with AMA have any negative impact on my membership dues? A: No. Insurance coverage is a benefit you receive for being a member. Your membership dues are not based on any insurance claims you may have filed.
Q: How does AMA insurance work for a member residing outside the US? A: For AMA members who are US residents living abroad, the AMA’s liability coverage applies to model operations on US military installations and specific FAI events. For model operations at different locations, we recommend that you contact the location’s national modeling organization.
For non-US residents participating in model operations in the US, AMA offers an Affiliate membership.
Club- and Flying Site-Related Questions
Q: What is the procedure for chartering a club? A: There are some minimum requirements you must meet. Your group must consist of five or more current AMA members and the majority of your activity must relate to building and flying model aircraft. Other requirements and the forms that need to be submitted are on AMA’s website at www.modelaircraft.org/files/915.pdf.
If you are looking for information about chartering a school aeromodelling club, you can find the minimum requirements for the Model Aviation Student Club program at www.modelaircraft.org/files/requirements.pdf.
Q: I am a club officer. How do I gain access to our club’s online roster? A: To access the club roster in the “Members Only” section, make sure you are logged in to the AMA website and that your account is linked to your AMA membership. This allows the system to recognize your officer status. You can find detailed “how to” information at www.modelaircraft.org/membership/membership/gettingstarted.aspx.
Changes in officers’ positions must be submitted in writing by an officer we have listed. A newly elected officer cannot make the change. This can be submitted via email, fax, or postal mail.
Q: Can Park Pilot Program members join our club and how will the lower liability coverage for the program affect our insurance? A: The Park Pilot Program membership does not affect the club or property owner’s liability coverage. The only difference is that the Park Pilot Program member has a limited amount of coverage.
Q: How do I find an AMA club in my area? A: You can locate clubs in your area through the “Find a Club” search tool on AMA’s website at www.modelaircraft.org/clubsearch.aspx.
Q: Does AMA sanction club fields? A: No. The AMA does not sanction, approve, or validate club fields. The Academy charters clubs. The safe operation of a flying site is the club’s responsibility. All flying activities should be governed by the AMA Safety Code. You can find recommendations for flying site layouts in the AMA Membership Manual.
Q: My friend owns a piece of land and is willing to let me fly there if I provide an insurance certificate naming him as an additional insured. How do I apply for this? Are any fees involved? A: Certificates of Insurance (COI) cannot be issued on behalf of an individual member; they are issued only on behalf of an AMA chartered club or AMA sanctioned event. There are fees involved when providing a COI for a site owner. They range from $20 to $60, depending on the type of certificate needed.
Q: Why can’t AMA issue a COI to an individual member? A: The insurance company will not allow the Academy to issue a COI to an individual member because of the increased risk it poses. Allowing individuals to purchase the certificates could lead to more than 150,000 certificates being issued, which would be a great liability to the insurance company. Chartered clubs and sanctioned events are much more controlled environments than a member flying on a friend’s piece of property.
Turbine- and Large Model Airplane-Related Questions
Q: Do I need a waiver to operate a turbine-powered model? A: Yes, according to the current AMA Safety Code and the turbine regulations.
Q: How can I get a turbine waiver? A: You can find the necessary paperwork on the AMA website. Go to the AMA "Documents" tab and select "Turbines" from the content list. This will take you to the section of the page containing the pertinent turbine information.
Both fixed-wing and rotary-wing waivers are issued, and each has a separate application process. Please contact us if you want to receive a printed copy.
Q: Is there a fee to obtain a turbine waiver? A: No. You merely need to submit the completed documentation.
Q: I am building a model (ARF) that will weigh more than the 55-pound limit the Safety Code allows. Can I fly this model and still be covered by AMA insurance? A: Possibly. The AMA's Large Model Airplane Program allows models that weigh 55–125 pounds and meet certain criteria to be flown after a Permit to Fly has been issued. For further details, visit the "AMA Documents" section online and review document 520-A. It contains the necessary information.
Introductory Pilot Program-Related Questions
Q: How do I participate in the Introductory Pilot Program as an instructor? A: This program is offered through AMA's chartered clubs. An officer of your club must complete and submit the application.
Q: After I have been designated as an AMA Introductory Pilot, how do I get the forms I need to carry out this function? A: The AMA will mail an initial packet to you. You can make copies of the forms or contact the AMA Club Secretary and request more.
Q: Does my Introductory Pilot status have to be renewed every year? A: No. You will have the Introductory Pilot status for your club until you or the club notifies AMA Headquarters of a change.
Contact Information
AMA Headquarters: (765) 287-1256 or (800) 435-9262.
Contacts:
- Ilona Maine, ext. 251 — [email protected]
- Lisa Johnson, ext. 253 — [email protected]
- Lois Mock, ext. 291 — [email protected]
Additional email addresses:
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
