AMA News Flying Site Assistance - 2009/05

AMA News
Announcements, news, and information from the
Academy of Model Aeronautics and the elected district representatives.
APPROXIMATELY a year ago, I wrote a
column concerning the potential economic
impact of a model airplane field on its
surrounding community. I mentioned the
potential impact on local restaurants, hotels
and motels, gas stations—the gamut of
commercial establishments that could
benefit from a well-used model air park.
Making a pitch for these potential
impacts is important when you meet with
local officials in your quest for a flying
site. A great way to bring these potential
benefits into clear focus in the minds of the
people you are trying to impress is to get
them to attend one of the larger RC events
in your area.
I have attended two major events in the
past month and, as I write this, I’m looking
forward to EFExpo in Glendale, Arizona,
later this week. Images I’ve captured at the
two past events, as well as those I’ll get at
EFExpo will help tell my story, whether
I’m talking to administrators about saving
an existing field or about planning a new
flying site.
The pictures will show crowds of
people, full parking lots, and flightlines
covered with aircraft. They will depict
potential economic impacts on the
community.
Although a picture might be worth 1,000
words, actually experiencing a major event
will bring the educational, recreational, and
economic potentials of model aviation into
sharp, indelible focus in the minds of the
key people you want to impress. Those
people include local elected officials,
executives in the local Chamber of
Commerce, parks and recreation officials,
and school administrators.
One strategy you might consider if you
have a field with an impending lease or
rental agreement renewal coming up, or if
you are going to meet with someone and
propose a new flying site, is to try to
schedule the meeting close to the time of a
flying event in your area.
Of course, the bigger the event the
better, because during the meeting you’ll
offer to host a visit to the event so local
officials can see firsthand what model
aviation is all about. If there are no events
of consequence in your area, fall back to
“Plan B” and come to the meeting armed
with photographs showing the large crowds
gathered at one of our major events, such
as an electric festival, a Scale qualifier, or a
jet rally.
Here are some pictures showing what we
want our landlords or potential landlords to
see when they visit a large RC event. (Don’t
forget to mention that smaller, more
frequent club events also generate an
impact.)
There is nothing like a full parking lot to
change pupils into dollar signs in the eyes of
the Chamber of Commerce folks.
A full flightline, as well, is great for the parks
and recreation people. It shows that the site
is well used.
A crowd in the stands. Everybody gets to
take credit for a venue that provides
recreation and education for its
participants, and entertainment for the
general population. “Mr./Ms. Mayor, what
great foresight you showed when you
approved this nifty model air park for the
city!”
Large crowds translate to dollars in the
local economy for the Chamber of
Commerce folks. For parks and recreation
department administrators, that’s more
person/day usage of local park facilities: a
key measurement of their success.
For school administrators, the potential
educational benefits should be apparent,
but feel free to remind them that young
model airplane pilots are introduced to the
same laws of physics, aerodynamics, and
meteorology that apply to full-scale
aircraft, and must apply them in their
modeling activities in order to have a
successful experience (or understand why
the experience wasn’t so successful)!
As always, I urge you to keep your
events, your charitable donations, mall
shows, or your Scouting or school activities
in the public eye through your local media.
Get a mention in the local newspaper, or try
for a spot on the local TV news,
particularly in the “what to do this
weekend” spots. A club public-relations
person, who likes to chat up the hobby,
would be a natural for this job and an asset
to any club.
Understand, and make sure other people
in your area understand the positive impact
your club and its field have on the
community. Don’t shy away from positive
publicity, seek it!
Flying Site Assistance Wes De Cou | [email protected]
Wes De Cou
Coordinator
Western Region
AMA Districts VIII - XI
202 W. Desert Flower Ln.
Phoenix AZ 85045
Voice: (480) 460-9466;
Cell: (480) 296-9515
Fax: (480) 460-9434
E-mail: [email protected]
Joe Beshar
Coordinator
Eastern Region
AMA Districts I - VII
198 Merritt Dr.
Oradell NJ 07649
Tel.: (201) 261-1281; E-mail:
[email protected]
Finding—Preserving—Maintaining
Want to Keep Your Site? Keep it in Sight!
May 2009 139
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