A few years ago, AMA conducted its
most comprehensive member survey
ever. More than 8,100 responses were
tabulated. Members were asked to
rate the importance of AMA benefi ts
and issues facing aeromodelers.
Unquestionably, the number one issue
cited by members was “the availability of
suitable fl ying fi elds.”
Clearly, fi nding and keeping a place to
fl y is our greatest challenge, followed by
protecting those privileges
from undue government
restrictions. Without fl ying
sites, model aviation as we
know it would not exist.
Sites are where members
gather to enjoy fl ight and
spend time with fl ying
buddies. That is what it is
all about!
My job as AMA’s
Flying Site Assistance
Coordinator is to help
clubs deal with fl ying site
loss, new site acquisition,
and site support. Whenever there is
a signifi cant government issue, I rely
on the expertise of our Government
Relations and Regulatory Affairs
representative, Rich Hanson.
We are here to help clubs with a full
spectrum of issues, ranging from fl ying
site acquisition, design, construction,
community and government relations,
and a host of technical issues. For
community relations issues, I look for
help from AMA’s Chris Brooks, PR/
Development Director, and Ilona Maine,
Safety and Programs Director. We are
here to assist you.
There is a section on the AMA
website (www.modelaircraft.org/
membership/clubs/fsap.aspx) that deals
with fl ying site assistance. There you
will fi nd help in the form of documents,
videos, and success stories to assist you
in obtaining a new fl ying site, or inform
you of ways you can protect the fl ying
site you currently enjoy.
The biggest challenge and one with
the most potential to address the
primary concern in the aforementioned
survey is for clubs to really formalize a
community-relations plan. It has to be
an ongoing effort. A club’s relationship
with its neighbors and surrounding
community requires constant care and
attention.
How do
you create
such a plan?
Begin by
objectively
assessing the
depth and
breadth of
your current
community
relationships.
Identify and
prioritize
who your
most important public contacts might
be.
Don’t ever assume that what may
appear to be all cozy today will be so
tomorrow. Neighbors move, city offi cials
are replaced, park departments change
budget priorities, new ordinances
advance with encroaching suburbia, and
other changes can occur.
Your club offi cers—indeed, all club
members—need to be vigilant for signs
of any change in the landscape, whether
it is physical or political. At least one
offi cer should be a point person for
community relations.
I can’t say enough about the value
of working with your community’s
children or seniors. When you stand
before city offi cials—and you probably
will at some point—having a history of
community service and partnerships
with schools, retirement homes, and
other civic groups will bring you much
credibility.
Keeping your fl ying and site a secret—
unheard and unseen—may sound ideal
at fi rst, but consider the consequences of
that when it comes time to prove your
value to your community.
The fl ying site success stories, featured
in this month’s fi rst article, will illustrate
many of these strategies and tactics.
They are meant to inform and inspire
you and your club to fi nd and keep a
fl ying site that you can enjoy for many
years.
You will read about how working
positively and proactively with city
offi cials, schools, neighbors, and others
before you need crisis assistance is
always a good idea. Throughout these
stories, you will fi nd another common
thread: work! It takes hard work by
people who have a vision and are willing
to put out the effort to acquire a new
site as well as maintain possession of
your current one!
Please don’t hesitate to contact Rich,
Chris, Ilona, or me for help with any of
your issues. It doesn’t take a survey to
know what needs to be done or whom
to call. We’re here for you whenever
we’re needed.
—
Edition: Model Aviation - 2012/09
Page Numbers: 14
