Flying Site Assistance - 2012/02

160 MODEL AVIATION
IT IS DECEMBER as I am writing this, but it will be January when
you receive this issue. I hope everyone had a great holiday with
friends and family.
This is the last month that I will push you to sign up as a Flying
Site Assistance Volunteer. I am happy to report that we have signed
up quite a few people, but we do need more. My goal is to have five
in each state, so I have a way to go yet!
If you are considering it, but have not jumped in yet, please do
so! The assistance you can give might make the difference for a
club!
In mid-November, I attended the National League of Cities
Convention and Expo in Phoenix. My wife, Genie, attended with me
and Rich Hansen helped as well. Rich lives in the Phoenix area, so it
was a perfect opportunity for us to get together and discuss
strategies.
Rich is our AMA Governmental Relations representative who
has been working tirelessly for the past several years with the FAA
concerning an upcoming ruling that will affect model aviation and
small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) in the National Air Space.
This show in Phoenix was the last major show of the year that
was designed to meet city officials and discuss the use of city land
for model airplane fields. We presented the AMA story and
discussed how AMA clubs can partner with cities to create a great
relationship and a new flying site can be the result.
In a recent issue of MA, there was a great article about a new
flying site in North Mankato, Minnesota. This was a story that I
shared with many city officials at the show. It helped to show them
what can happen when the city gets involved and partners with an
AMA club.
The club is growing and the city has a new jewel in its crown.
We have similar stories that we publish from time to time.
Another success story that I shared was of the Sonoran Desert
Fliers club, which is right there in Arizona!
The club provided me with a video to show the new site and how
it was used by the members. The video shows several different
models in use at the site, including electric-powered models, jets,
and helicopters. This was good work by the club and quite useful to
me at the show.
We met and spoke with many city officials and are now in the
process of following up with them to hopefully create new flying
sites.
As I write this, I am working with staff at AMA Headquarters to
modify the Flying Site Assistance portion of the website to make it
easier to find support material. I hope this will be completed by the
time you read this article.
Have fun!
Tony Stillman
Flying Site Assistance
Coordinator
102 Cherrywood Ct., Brunswick GA 31525; (912) 242-2407;
[email protected]
Flying Site Assistance
Tony Stillman | www.modelaircraft.org/membership/clubs/fsap.aspx
“The club is growing and the city has a new jewel in its crown.”
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