Flying Site Assistance - 2003/07
Joe Beshar Coordinator, Eastern Region, Districts I–VI 198 Merritt Dr., Oradell, NJ 07649 Tel: (201) 261-1281 Fax: (201) 261-0223 E-mail: [email protected]
Wes De Cou Coordinator, Western Region, Districts VII–XI 202 W. Desert Flower Ln., Phoenix, AZ 85045 Voice: (480) 460-9466 Cell: (480) 540-3368 Fax: (480) 460-9434 E-mail: [email protected]
Finding—Preserving—Maintaining
The May 2003 issue of Model Aviation, “Finding and Keeping Fields,” detailed activity and programs during the National Parks and Recreation Congress in Florida. I participated and had the pleasure of meeting George Jenkins, president of the Sarasota Radio Control Squadron, during the three-day convention.
George gave me a tour and reviewed the successful administration of the Sarasota RC club. I was impressed by his comments about the club’s public relations (PR) efforts and how much they contributed to its success. I asked him to share his experience and recommendations. Below are his ideas for community involvement, PR, hosting events, and running events.
George’s observations on public perception:
- The public often thinks our aircraft are toys and do not realize the size of many RC airplanes or the space needed to fly them.
- Many expect RC aircraft can be flown safely in a backyard and are surprised by how far you can control an airplane.
- Prospective buyers (for example, grandparents) often underestimate the cost and training needed; it “looks easy” from the outside.
- For more than 30 years, modelers, AMA, and manufacturers have done a poor job educating the public. The answer is PR at the local level, done by your club. Put someone in your club in charge of nothing but PR.
Club suggestions
- Put a large “Visitors Welcome” sign at your field.
- Have someone at the field during flying hours to meet and greet visitors, explain activities, and thank them for coming.
- Explain the cost of getting into the hobby.
- Offer free flight training when people join your club.
- Provide an RC flight simulator so new students can practice before flying real controls.
- Have three instructors sign up as introductory pilots and let interested people fly with them.
- Invite Boy or Girl Scouts, Big Brother/Big Sister groups, and other youth organizations to visit and try flying.
- Educate club members about the importance of PR.
- Assign a PR officer for your club.
- Maintain a club website and link to as many relevant sites as possible; update it regularly.
- List your events on community websites and online event calendars at no cost.
- Get involved with local schools: offer classes or be an outside resource speaker on aerodynamics and RC modeling.
- Use AMA’s Education Program to engage local youth.
- Provide free back issues of aeromodeling magazines to local libraries and youth programs.
- Offer to start an aviation unit in the kids’ section of the library.
- Show AMA tapes as programs for service clubs (Kiwanis, Lions, etc.).
- Do mall shows and county fairs in your county and neighboring counties.
- Organize a food/can drive or collect teddy bears for children traumatized in auto accidents; donate to EMS, fire, or sheriff departments and ensure local papers cover the donation with photos.
Hosting an event
- Advertise your event and invite the public to attend.
- Print event flyers: one version for modelers you want to attend, and another for the general public describing facilities, flying times, accessibility, restrooms/concessions, and what to expect. Suggest visitors bring lawn chairs.
- Use bright or neon paper for flyers and distribute them in schools, popular restaurants, barber and beauty shops, veterans’ clubs, local airport pilot rooms, hobby shops, and high-traffic convenience stores within a 20-mile radius.
- For entrants, provide shirts with a silk-screened event logo and location so participants advertise the event for you; offer extra shirts for sale to attendees.
- Make a list of newspapers, penny papers, radio stations, and TV stations. Obtain contact names and mail or fax press releases two weeks before the event. Follow up by phone one week before to see if a news crew will attend.
- Offer to fly an airplane for the news crew the Friday before the event so they have footage for evening news. Always attach a color photo and a written caption to press releases, including names of local modelers pictured. Include the who, what, where, and when of your event—especially flying times.
- Be listed in weekend event guides; observe submission deadlines and call if your release doesn’t get in.
- Arrange to have a local TV personality try flying a trainer live or on tape for evening news coverage.
- Provide adequate parking and have club members direct cars to maximize space. If members won’t do parking, have Civil Air Patrol handle it (they may accept donations). Some clubs raise $800–$1,000 from parking.
- Provide eight to ten large, easy-to-read directional signs with arrows at critical intersections.
At the event
- Provide a good public address system so a club speaker can explain ongoing activities.
- Have two or three club members with the “gift of gab” ready to explain what’s happening and what to expect.
- Hold a raffle for an airplane and offer free flight training to the winner.
- Invite war veterans to warbird events and honor them while they are there.
- Open the pit area during a noon break so the public can get close, take pictures, and ask pilots questions.
- Provide unobstructed viewing areas for the public.
- Place ads for swap meets or flea markets in local want-ads sections.
- Invite airplane vendors and sellers of aviation T-shirts, toys, and books.
- Invite other attractions (antique or hotrod car clubs, aviation restoration groups, veterans’ organizations) to put up free tents at your event.
Register as an FSA Volunteer!
The Flying Site Assistance (FSA) Program is a network of volunteers who serve as the AMA’s eyes and ears. Volunteers monitor newspapers, radio, and TV for activities that could impact existing or potential flying sites. Duties include collecting information about flying sites, advising local modelers and AMA clubs, and passing information to one of the AMA Flying Site Assistance Coordinators.
Join this program as a service to your fellow modelers. Anyone interested should contact the coordinators listed above.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
