Flying Site Assistance
Tony Stillman | [email protected]
As I write this in early August, I hope everyone is enjoying all the warm (hot!) weather and is able to get out and fly!
This month, I want to go over some ideas about the direction the AMA is taking with Flying Site Assistance.
During the past several years, the AMA Executive Council has been working on a Strategic Long Range Plan (SLRP). This is a five-year plan to position the AMA where we want to be at the end of this time frame. The document identifies areas that the EC sees as vital to the Academy and lists specific goals to be attained in those areas.
Earlier this year, the EC finalized and approved the SLRP. Now, the task of fulfilling the plan falls on the AMA staff members. We have a great staff at AMA Headquarters, and every one of them will have some part in this task.
The SLRP directly addresses the task of Flying Site Assistance. This helps give me direction on what the EC sees as specific areas that I should attend to in my daily work. The main strategies for this work are:
- Club programs for flying site acquisition.
- Provide professional expertise, guidance, and legal support.
- Enhance local government awareness of model aviation.
- Enhance federal government acceptance of model aviation.
From the first day I started, I knew that one of the biggest tasks would be to get our currently used documents for flying site assistance up to date.
Currently the AMA maintains more than 100 documents that provide direction and assistance to clubs and members. Many of these documents are 30 years old or more and are in dire need of a makeover.
Document review and updates
The main thrust of my work so far has been to review these documents and retain, update, or discard them. Many of these documents are statements from prominent individuals about how their involvement in model aviation at an early age paved the way for their career paths and helped them achieve their goals. These testimonials are great to show the nonmodeler how model aviation can play a vital part in developing young people and helping them define their interests and create a path to a career in aviation.
Other documents we have from agencies and the military showing support for modeling are still extremely valid, but I want to make new contacts with these agencies.
Over the years, additional documents were added covering many facets of flying site acquisition and development. Some are related to sound; some are the products of legal issues regarding flying site location and/or usage. In each case, the Academy learned from the situation and created written documentation and aids so that other clubs could benefit. These documents are in the process of being updated now and will soon be completed.
Documentation packages
When these documents have been updated, they will be available in print form from AMA Headquarters and eventually online as well. They will be put into packages to target specific situations, for example:
- Electric flying sites
- Flying sites in national parks
- Flying sites on other community-owned lands
You can contact AMA Headquarters for these packages. We can also tailor documentation for specific situations. These packages will be a vital part of the Club Program for Flying Site Acquisition (strategy one). As all of the pieces come together, the program will be complete and ready for kick-off. It will be presented to clubs as a tool to help teach club members how to look for a new flying site, how to keep the site you currently have, and how to plan for the future.
Support for clubs
Strategy two concerns support. Most of this is directed toward clubs that have issues with their flying site or have lost their flying site. From the moment I began, I have received calls and e-mails from clubs and members who need this assistance. I have been providing help with support from AMA Headquarters. These newly updated documents will improve the level of assistance that AMA can provide, and I will continue to advance this effort.
Government outreach and partnerships
Strategies three and four will begin this fall. I will be attending national conventions where I can meet with government officials and companies that may be able to assist the AMA in partnerships similar to what we currently enjoy with the Environmental Protection Agency. I also have plans to meet with other government agencies as well as businesses that look promising.
I have a lot of work ahead of me, but I am excited about helping clubs find, retain, and improve their flying sites so that they can enjoy model aviation for many years to come!
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
