AMA News - 2012/03

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www.ModelAviation.com MARCH 2012 Model Aviation 145
After months of
surveying our
members, meeting
with consultants,
and many long
weeks of hard work
by our Publications
staff, the newly
redesigned Model
Aviation magazine
launches with this issue. Many of the
changes and new features you will find
in this issue, as well as those to come,
are a direct result of your suggestions.
The slightly larger font (type) size, the
use of more pictures and additional
graphics, and the change to an all-color
publication are because of your input.
We are pleased with the result and
think you will be as well.
As with any change, I suspect
there will be a few who prefer the
magazine’s former style. That’s
understandable, but I believe that once
those who fall within that category
have a chance to review the changes,
most all will agree that the magazine
has taken a step forward.
Magazine Content
While I’m on the subject of the
magazine, I want to briefly discuss
content and where AMA gets
articles to print in its publications.
Nearly everything you read in
Model Aviation—including feature
articles, construction projects, and
product reviews—is submitted by our
membership. Like AMA, many other
publishers rely on their readers for
good content.
Model aviation is a diverse activity
with dozens of different modeling
disciplines. Some have more
participants than others. It’s common
for AMA to receive several submissions
focusing on one discipline, while
receiving fewer submissions from
those with fewer participants. This has
always been a challenge for AMA’s
editors, but they try their best to
accommodate all of our members.
AMA is always looking for good
content to publish. As you would
expect, there are standards that must
be met for an article to be published,
but it doesn’t take an English literature
major to meet them. Articles with
good, relevant subject matter make
the best submissions and, if needed,
AMA’s editors can help with grammar,
style, and format.
If you have an idea that you think
would make a good article in any of
AMA’s publications, contact MA
Editor Jay Smith at jays@modelaircraft.
org and discuss it with him. Who
knows? The next article you read
might have your byline attached to it.
FAA Notice
As you probably know by now,
the release of the small, unmanned
aircraft systems Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking (NPRM) has again been
delayed. This proposed release date
has become a moving target. The best
guess we now have from the FAA is it
will probably be sometime in late April
or May.
In the meantime, AMA’s
Standards Workgroup, led by AMA’s
Government and Regulatory Affairs
Representative Rich Hanson, continues
to build the AMA standards that we
will eventually submit for adoption
by the FAA. These guidelines should
provide modelers some latitude from
the restrictions we believe will be in
the FAA’s rule.
At AMA Expo in Ontario,
California, this past January,
representatives from the FAA’s
Unmanned Aircraft Program Office
(UAPO), Rich Hanson, and AMA
President Bob Brown participated in
an open forum. Little new information
was provided during the forum.
Although UAPO representatives still
could not speak directly about what
will be in the impending NPRM, those
attending got a better grasp of how the
regulatory process works. They also
were able to ask FAA representatives
questions.
AMA Expo
AMA Expo went well this year.
Although the final numbers aren’t in
yet, it looks as though the show had
another year of record attendance.
The only complaint I heard was about
the length of the lines to get in the
doors on Friday and Saturday. We’ll be
working with the Ontario Convention
Center staff to make improvements for
2013.
I want to thank all of our West Coast
members who took the time to stop by
the AMA Village to let us know that
you appreciate our efforts, especially
in dealing with the FAA, and that you
value your membership. It’s always
nice to get a pat on the back and I’ve
passed your comments along to our
staff.
Council Meeting
The AMA Executive Council held
its January meeting during Expo. This
meeting was led by our new president,
Bob Brown, and included four new
EC members representing Districts
II, III, VII, and XI. The Council has
some new energy onboard that I
think will move the organization in a
positive direction in the coming year.
Those of you in districts with new
vice presidents should know that your
interests are well represented.
See you next time.
VIEW FROM HQ By Dave Mathewson, AMA Executive Director
Model Aviation—A New Look Needs
New Content
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