Author: Tim Jesky
Edition: Model Aviation - 2015/04
Page Numbers: 146

District VII — Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin

Vice President

If you recall, in last month’s column we featured tips for the making of an entertaining air show. This month we’re going to hear about the event sanctioning process from our Michigan Contest Coordinator, Wayne Yeager. Before I turn it over to Wayne, I want to share the final results from the 2014 National Model Aviation Day.

At the AMA Expo this past January, AMA President Bob Brown presented Wounded Warrior representative Norbie Lara a check for $100,000. Of that amount, District VII clubs and members were responsible for $13,383.75. Thank you all for the outstanding work! Let’s see if we can top that this year. Now, here are Wayne’s tips on event sanctioning.

Sanctioning an open contest

Sanctioning an open contest — whether RC, Control Line, Free Flight, or all three — provides several benefits for a Contest Director (CD).

  • Area protection: a sanctioned event protects the surrounding area from another similar contest being held on the same date. An “A” contest classification grants area protection within a 100-mile radius.
  • First-come, first-served: AMA processes sanction applications in the order received. If your application arrives before another organizer’s for the same variables, your date is approved and the later promoter must choose a different date.
  • Traditional dates: contests that have hosted the same type of meet on the same date for at least three consecutive years can apply for “traditional dates,” though applications for those must be sent to AMA Headquarters within a restricted timeframe.

Contest classifications

  • A: Area protection of 100 miles (standard open contest classification).
  • AA: Requires at least four sets of awards (through two or more places) and a minimum of two events. Two or more class contests with awards for each qualify. AA increases area protection to 300 miles. Common for RC Aerobatics, helicopter, sailplane, RC Pylon, RC Combat, etc.
  • AAA / AAAA: These range from state or regional championships up to national championships. National championships are prohibited from competing at the same time as the AMA Nats.

Additional benefits of sanctioning

  • AMA endorsement and supervision by an AMA-accredited Contest Director (a person tested on the process and its rules).
  • Restriction to AMA (or Model Aeronautics Association of Canada) members only.
  • Contestants are covered by AMA’s $2.5 million insurance, providing protection for organizers.
  • Sanctioned events are listed in Model Aviation and on the AMA website, which can boost attendance.
  • The sanction number helps qualify your organization for donations from major sponsors; a strong prize cache can improve meet success and attract contestants.

How to apply

  1. Create an AMA account (access code and password required).
  2. Visit: www.modelaircraft.org/MembersOnly/Portal/Sanctions/cd.aspx and select “Create Sanction.”
  3. Fill out the sanction application form — you will be asked to provide a credit card number for payment and your flying site’s GPS location to determine proximity to other meets.
  4. When submitted, the form goes to the AMA Competition Department for recording and review, then to the district contest coordinator for approval. The entire process can be completed in a matter of days.

Take a kid flying. ✈

Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.