FROM THE COPILOT'S SEAT
by Gary Fitch, Executive Vice President
We need our members to remain engaged
This is my first opportunity to weigh in about the FAA’s interpretation of the Special Rule for Model Aircraft, established by Congress as part of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012.
The AMA obtained a 60-day extension for the comment period, making September 23 the final day to voice concerns. Many of our members submitted opinions, so I won’t go into the arguments we are making concerning the FAA’s interpretation, but it’s this type of solidarity that allows us to be most effective when working with government agencies.
My take on the FAA is that it is a huge bureaucracy with many silos. It appears to lack communication between departments. This disconnect makes it difficult for AMA to make progress in developing substantive relationships with the agency. The sheer size of the FAA, and many other government organizations, promotes a certain degree of arrogance when dealing with the American public.
It appears that bureaucrats go through the motions of communicating with us, but the decisions that affect us come through the FAA’s legal department and upper management, which have little to do with our weekly communications with the sUAS office. I don’t believe the FAA is purposely trying to hurt our hobby/sport, but there is more a feeling that they think they know what is best for the National Airspace System. That may be true of full-scale aviation, but not aeromodeling.
We need to be involved with government agencies in order to protect model aviation—at the national and state level—and it is the same for our clubs at the local level. We need you, our members, to remain engaged and we will keep you informed. It is heartening to see the alliance we have developed with our commercial and association partners; their efforts help provide a united front.
I attended the 22nd annual Warbirds Over Delaware in July, held at Lums Pond State Park in Kirkwood, Delaware. The event was well organized and great-looking aircraft were in the air. The quality of the warbirds was outstanding and the pilots were approachable and willing to answer questions.
I was impressed by several clubs that came, showed their club banners, pitched large tents, and had warbird squadrons in the air and on display. Popular with spectators, the host club, the Delaware R/C Club, bused visitors from an off-site parking lot.
Aircraft from vintage to modern jet fighters flew all four days. For scale lovers, this is a bucket-list event!
A solemn flight occurred the weekend of the Executive Council meeting in July. District VII Associate Vice President Lloyd Swanson and his wife came to Muncie, Indiana, to see the brick located in AMA’s Walk of Fame, in memory of Lloyd’s grandson, Johnathan Lloyd Ramsey, who tragically died at a young age.
Lloyd never had the opportunity to fly with his grandson, but brought his grandson’s remains with him. Lloyd placed Johnathan’s remains in his Extra 300 and gave him a first and final flight. It was emotional and a fitting tribute of love for Johnathan.
I met Charlie Caulkins and his wife of Richmond, Texas, at the Bayou City Flyers fun-fly and learned what this 82-year-old is doing for model aviation. He visits weekly with a group of home-schooled preschoolers and together they read The Glorious Flight: Across the Channel with Louis Blériot and discuss that famous flight, including the broken propeller that happened at landing.
The lessons didn’t stop there. Charlie brought his 1/4-scale Cub and flew for the youngsters, with each having an opportunity to try flying. When landing, the Cub went nose up, breaking the propeller, just like Louis Blériot, and the kids laughed. The kids helped push the aircraft back to the pit area.
Thanks, Charlie, for a positive introduction to model aviation for these kids. I know we have many like Charlie throughout the country and they make our organization great!
This is the time for all Open Members to exercise their right to vote in the national AMA officer elections. Please take the time to do so!
Thanks for reading. Until next time, please help our hobby grow and take a youngster flying, just like Charlie Caulkins did!
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
