Flying Site Assistance - 2006/05

Flying Site Assistance Wesley De Cou | [email protected]
DURING A VISIT to Southern
California, I was reminded that we can
often win approval for a new flying site if
we can show that the site will provide a
direct benefit to far more people than just
the local modelers.
Such was the case with the new site
procured by the Conejo Valley Flyers in
Ventura County, California. I detailed the
seven-year effort of the Conejo Valley
people in a recent article.
While I was in Burbank, California, to
present a Certificate of Appreciation to the
site owner, the Southern California
Conference of the Seventh Day Adventist
Church (SDA), I was talking to the
church’s president, Larry Caviness, and
attorney Bob Peterson about the
development of the flying field on a large
portion of its land.
As it turns out, the SDA members have
secondary school academies in Southern
California and a college in Northern
California. The college has a strong
aviation-related curriculum, and
attendance there is the goal of many of the
academy students.
The existence of the new modelaviation
site will give those students an
opportunity to study and experience
aviation science “in miniature,” avoiding
the expense involved with learning and
experiencing the same principles at a fullscale
aviation facility.
Marvelous, isn’t it, how the
fundamental laws of aerodynamics that
apply to large aircraft—lift, weight, thrust,
drag, power-to-weight ratio, etc.—apply in
precisely the same manner to aircraft you
can hold in your hand?
Through the untiring efforts of Joe
Martin and the clear foresight of the SDA
leaders, there will soon be a great new
flying site in the Los Angeles area.
“Persistence pays” is a quote we’ve all
heard. The Conejo Valley Flyers’ sevenyear
effort is an excellent example of that
old adage.
In Alameda, California, we have a
somewhat similar situation. A few years
ago I was asked to visit the old Alameda
Naval Air Station, which had been closed
during the first round of military base
closures, in an effort to get permission to
use one of the then-unused runways as a
flying site.
After a few meetings with local
modelers and some of the new tenants, it
became clear that the plan wasn’t going to
“fly.” Additionally, the local modelers
were not overly enthusiastic about putting
much “sweat equity” into the effort.
I returned to Phoenix, Arizona, and the
Alameda Naval Air Station (NAS) effort
became quiet. Quiet—not dead!
Mayors change, city council members
Announcements, news, and information from the
Academy of Model Aeronautics and the elected district representatives.
AMA News
Wes De Cou, Coordinator
Western Region
Districts VII - XI
Voice: (480) 460-9466;
Cell: (480) 296-9515;
Fax: (480) 460-9434;
202 W. Desert Flower Ln.
Phoenix AZ 85045
E-mail: [email protected]
Every good ocean fisherman knows that luck can change with the tide.
Flying Site Assistance Coordinator Wes De Cou (L) presents the AMA Certificate of
Appreciation to Larry Caviness, president of the Southern California Conference, Seventh
Day Adventist Church, while attorney Bob Peterson and Conejo Valley Flyers president Rick
Essler look on. Photo by Joseph Martin.
150 MODEL AVIATION
Need help getting or keeping a flying site?
We’d be happy to help. Contact AMA’s
Flying Site Coordinators at the following
addresses.
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]
Finding—Preserving—Maintaining
change, commissioners change, park
managers change … keep that thought.
Recently a local modeler, Mike Simi,
decided (correctly) that NAS Alameda
would indeed be a great place to fly model
airplanes. He put the mags on and the
throttle to the wall, and hasn’t slowed
down since.
During the last few months Mike has
gotten the ear of the Supervising Planner
for the City of Alameda, and has clearly
demonstrated to him what he wants and
what model aviation is all about. He has
filled out and filed all of the necessary
forms and use-permit applications. He has
taken care of getting the Alameda Hornet
Squadron RC club chartered.
Mike has gotten the club Web site,
www.alamedahornetsquadron.com/,
started. Using his own talents and soliciting
support from other interested modelers and
clubs, Mike has gotten some serious
muscle behind his quest. While his
approach is somewhat different from the
one used a few years back, his goal is the
same.
Mike is talking to different planners,
different council members … essentially a
whole new cast of characters. That, plus
untiring effort, can make a difference.
Every good ocean fisherman knows that
luck can change with the tide.
I’ll keep you abreast of the progress
with this site.
Two pleas for help bring into sharp focus
the idea that there is more to Flying Site
Assistance than merely answering the
“where do we get our next field?” question.
While at the AMA Convention 2006 in
Ontario, California, Fred Hesse, secretary
of the Harbor Soaring Society (HSS) in
Costa Mesa, California, requested AMA’s
help in reviewing some rules and
regulations documents his club was going
to present to the city as part of its effort to
preserve its flying site.
Along with Carl Maroney and Jay Mealy
of the AMA staff, I attended meetings with
HSS representatives during and on the day
following the convention, in a successful
effort to “polish” the documents for
presentation to local officials.
In another case, the Eagle Butte soaring
site, one of the very best, was in jeopardy.
Interested modelers by the hundreds made it
clear that they wanted AMA to get involved
with the resolution of the problem.
A few E-mails later and after countless
hours of research and negotiation, Special
Services Director Carl Maroney worked
out a satisfactory solution to the dilemma.
There’s much we can do for you if you’re
having flying-site problems. As illustrated
in some of these reports, there’s much you
can do for you too!
What do Cops, Props, and Kids have in
common? Stay tuned!
May 2006 151
I AM SURE you have noticed that there are no financial statements
in this column. The report and comments have been presented and
there is nothing else to impart until the audit report for the year
ended December 31, 2005, is completed. When it is finished, we
will post it on the Web as well as include it here.
I want to take this opportunity to encourage any of you who are so
inclined to make contributions to AMA. A non-profit organization
depends on gifts and volunteers if it is to succeed. Many of you are
very generous and have given to specific programs or the general
fund of AMA. These donations are appreciated but more are needed.
Donations do not have to be in the form of cash. Appreciated
stocks provide a better deduction than cash. The museum,
scholarship programs, and administration receive the most money.
You can be assured that designated money is appropriated as you
request. All donations in any form are tax deductible.
I hope all who are able will plan to attend the Nats. Whether you are
a contestant or a visitor, there are many fun opportunities available.
You might even learn something new about your particular
discipline.
A trip to the museum is a stimulating and interesting part of any
visit to AMA Headquarters in Muncie, Indiana. When you go to
Muncie, be sure to take something to fly and work some flight time
into your schedule.
Have you noticed the changes in MA? Many improvements have
been made and I hope you will read and encourage your friends to
read the magazine. A good way to stay abreast of what is happening
at AMA Headquarters and to get answers to many of your questions
is to read the magazine.
Thought for the day: Bad times certainly aren’t good times until
something worse comes along.
A-B-C: Always Be Courteous. Until later …
Executive Vice President
Doug Holland
Register as an FSA Volunteer!
The Flying Site Assistance Program
consists of a network of volunteers who
serve as AMA’s eyes and ears.
These volunteers read newspapers and
listen to and watch news programs to be
aware of any activities that could impact an
existing or potential flying site.
It is a matter of collecting information
regarding flying sites, advising local
modelers and AMA clubs in the area, and
passing it on to one of the AMA Flying
Site Assistance Coordinators.
Join this ambitious program as a
service to your fellow modelers. Anyone
interested, contact your Flying Site
Coordinators for more information.
Continued from page 150
Build and Fly.com
The Academy of Model
Aeronautics Education Web site is
found at www.buildandfly.com. It is
the work of the Education Committee.
Our mission is to promote model
aviation as an educational tool, in
formal classroom and non-formal afterschool
settings.
We seek to assist classroom
teachers to integrate aerospace
education concepts into math, science,
social studies, language arts, and
technology education programs.
Curriculum support and materials
for science classroom programs may be
found in the Inventing Flight School
curriculum, written to celebrate the
centennial of flight of the Wright
brothers.
Support for non-formal after-school
programs such as Science Olympiad or
Technology Student Association
competitions may be found in program
search.
If you are seeking mentor assistance
with any of these initiatives, you may
find the details about how to locate one
in your area in the modeling educator
listing.
Visit the
International
Aeromodeling
Center in
Muncie, Indiana