Most of you are
probably aware
that AMA is
actively involved in
working to protect
our members
from onerous
government
regulations. Our
members also keep us informed of
news events and what the media has to
say about model aviation.
On March 27, the Los Angeles
Times printed an article written by
John Villasenor, a nonresident senior
fellow at the Brookings Institution and
a professor of electrical engineering
at UCLA, about the drone threat in
the US. In that article, the author
questioned the wisdom of Congress
to include a model aircraft exclusion
in the enacted and signed FAA
Reauthorization Bill.
The article didn’t paint a glowing
picture of model aviation, and called
for a requirement of all US operators
of drones capable of carrying a
significant payload to obtain a license
to fly.
AMA’s officers felt a response to
correct the inaccuracies of the article
were in order. President Bob Brown
crafted a carefully worded letter and
sent it to the newspaper and to Mr.
Villasenor. A number of our members
also sent Mr. Villasenor emails
objecting to the article.
Given the position that Mr.
Villasenor has within the educational
community, we felt that we should
reach out to him. Our Government
Affairs and Regulatory Representative,
Rich Hanson, made the contact and
arranged a time to meet with Mr.
Villasenor.
Rich invited John to attend the
Toledo Weak Signals Show, which
was to be held a week later, and he
accepted the opportunity to come,
at his own expense, and met with
Rich. They walked the floor of the
convention center together and John
learned about our hobby.
The Executive Council met at the
show and John addressed the council.
He told us that he didn’t mean to cast
model aviation in bad light and that he
has a new understanding about model
ea, have safety rules by which we
abide, and have a 76-year history.
John Villasenor has become an
advocate of model aviation. This is a
testament to the open-mindedness of
John Villasenor and the outstanding
efforts of Rich Hanson.
John, thank you for joining us,
talking with us, and becoming a model
aviation supporter!
I have been asked on several occasions
why AMA doesn’t tell clubs that
they have to allow new members, or
to make a club change their rules.
My answer is that AMA provides
charters for clubs, and also provides
primary liability insurance to their
landowners. Clubs are independent
legal entities and it isn’t AMA’s place
to tell a club how to structure or run
its organization.
The exception to this is when
infractions of the AMA Safety Code
threaten the club and AMA. A club
makes its own rules, being mindful of
the AMA Safety Code.
It is amazing to me that some of
our members, many of them retired,
don’t remember how they got started
in this lifelong hobby. Typically a
parent or a friend helped them when
they were the newbies. Without that
support, would they still be involved
today
I don’t understand why these same
people often refuse to support and
even prevent their club’s involvement
with our youth or other communitybased
outreach events (such as
supporting the Wounded Warrior
program). Events such as this would
allow the public to learn about and
watch model aviation firsthand.
I can understand that they just
want to go to the field and fly or
socialize with their friends, but
why stand in the way of other club
members who want to do so and help
their club with positive community
involvement, and help grow the club?
AMA’s success, and ultimately that
of our members and chartered clubs,
is based upon an annual influx of new
youth and open members. We hope
that club officers realize, especially
after all we have been through
together of late with government
intervention, that our futures are
joined.
We will be developing educational
information concerning all of the
programs and benefits that AMA
provides for our clubs and members
and we will be making this available
to your club representatives and other
interested members.
AMA is your organization, and it
needs your help and support now
more than ever. Thanks for listening.
Help secure our future by taking a
youngster flying, today
