Modeling Spoken Here - 2004/06

IN THIS ISSUE’S “Letters to the Editor”
section is a submission from AMA member
Ralph Cooke. In that letter Ralph raises a few
interesting questions about flying sites, their
loss, and what could and should be done to
prevent such losses.
His letter references a recent column by
D.B. Mathews (“Flying for Fun,” April 2004)
in which D.B. lamented the loss of flying
fields also and gave some personal thoughts
on the subject. (Might I suggest that if you
have not yet read that column by D.B.
Mathews that you do so now, and also read
Mr. Cooke’s letter in this month’s “Letters to
the Editor” before proceeding.)
It turns out that much of what D.B.
Mathews, Ralph Cooke, and many others
have perceived is just not what is really
happening concerning flying-site acquisition
and retention. AMA’s director of
publications, Rob Kurek, passed Mr. Cooke’s
letter by Programs Director Jay Mealy, who
is responsible in large part for AMA’s flyingsite
program.
I must admit that I had similar feelings to
Mr. Cooke’s and D.B. Mathews’ until I read
the following that Jay wrote. We should
never assume that we know something until
we have all the facts. Take it away, Jay!
“In response to your E-mail dated March
2, 2004, addressed to Rob Kurek, I have been
asked to share with you the flying site
situation as it exists nationally.
“Before we begin I must point out that in
the April 2004 column you reference, there
were two statements that were not exactly
correct. First, Mr. D.B. Mathews states, ‘In
spite of AMA’s considerable efforts in
helping local groups retain and/or find flying
sites, the total number and the convenience
continues to decline.’
“Now, I can’t address his reference to
convenience declining because I am not sure
what he means by ‘convenience.’ However,
stating that the number of flying sites is
declining is not accurate. In the previous 18
months the AMA has increased the number
of chartered clubs by almost 100, from 2,505
to 2,600. This is not just a sudden increase.
We have been steadily increasing that number
over the past several years.
“Second, the phrase ‘flying-site dilemma’
is not an accurate description of the current
flying-site status based again upon the abovementioned
numbers. So let’s address your
concerns, Mr. Cooke.
“Working in the area of flying-site
acquisition and maintenance on a daily basis,
I am seldom, if ever, questioned by
landowners—whether national, state, local, or
private—about the liability exposure created
by Control Line models. In fact, from a
frequency standpoint, Control Line flying
generates fewer insurance claims than any
other aspect of our sport except for Indoor.
“On the other hand, I am always fielding
questions concerning Radio Control activities
and liability from landowners who
unknowingly perceive RC as ‘dangerous.’ I
truly have seen no evidence of liability issues
being a deterrent to acquiring or keeping
Control Line flying sites.
“We currently list 75 clubs that are
exclusively Control Line (CL) clubs, with
flying sites, with many more Control Line
facilities being available at the 296 multiple
use (MU) flying sites we list. A great number
of these sites date back many years and are
well established in their communities.
“As for the number of Control Line and
Free Flight participants decreasing, I must
admit that the only gauge I have would be
what I see at the annual AMA Nats and,
according to those records, FF and CL
participation has been on the increase since
the Nats has been held yearly at the
International Aeromodeling Center.
“Granted, the years that the CL World
Championships is held there is a decrease in
CL participation, but that has always been a
factor due to the close proximity of the dates
of both events. Of course, 2004 will find the
CL World Championships in Muncie, and I
can tell you we are expecting the largest
turnout of contestants ever with the United
States being well represented.
“Please understand, I have answered your
concerns from an overall perspective, or, as I
stated earlier, a national level. I do fully
sympathize with everyone at a local level
when they lose a flying site. It is a dilemma
and can be very devastating for the club and
its members.
Bob Hunt Aeromodeling Editor
“If a club wants to find
a new flying site, it will.”
Modeling Spoken Here
Continued on page 152
June 2004 7
1815 South Research Loop
06sig1.QXD 3/25/04 9:29 am Page 7
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flying sites is not decreasing our membership
or level of participation, but it can have some
temporary effects locally. This is the reason
the Academy provides the resources to assist
with getting and keeping flying sites, from
personal and experienced assistance from Joe
Beshar and Wes DeCou, AMA’s flying site
assistance coordinators, to videos and
literature that can be used during club
presentations and functions, and everything in
between.
“Our members simply have to contact us
and ask for help. We will work with you to
solve the problem, and our track record is
quite good. We usually fail if we aren’t
involved, and we can’t be involved if we
aren’t asked to be.
“I must tell you, the single biggest factor
in determining the success or failure of a club,
its flying site, and/or its existence is its
members. Anything the members want to
happen will happen and vice versa.
“Never have I experienced more
appropriate use of the old saying ‘where there
is a will, there is a way’ than when dealing
with clubs and their flying site concerns. If a
club wants to find a new flying site, it will. If
it wants to interest young people in its sport, it
will. If it wants to survive, it will.
“To better understand what successful
clubs are doing to maintain their flying sites
and entrench themselves in their
communities, please review the ‘Flying Site
Assistance’ columns in the January issue of
Model Aviation, page 164, and the March
issue, page 163.
“I hope this note has provided you with
more useful information, and should you have
further questions, please contact us directly.”
We decided to print Jay’s response in this
column to underscore just how seriously we
take the subject of finding and keeping flying
sites, and to show that perception is usually
not reality.
Mr. Cooke’s letter was just one of many
that we receive that show us that the average
member may not be aware of what services
AMA performs, what the actual
circumstances are in relation to flying-site
status, and what he or she can do to help the
already substantial growth of AMA and help
gain new sites.
As I mentioned earlier, I had similar
feelings to those that D.B. Mathews
expressed in his April “Flying for Fun”
column and to those conveyed by Ralph
Cooke. Jay’s response reminded me to ask
and become informed before going off in any
direction in any way with the wrong
information. That’s probably a good idea for
all of us to think about. I’d like to personally
thank Jay for taking the time to explain the
preceding.
Our “From the Ground Up” series will be
taking a two-month sabbatical but will return
in the August issue. There were a few things
in the “Engines 101” installment of that series
that required some correction and some
explanation, and Frank Granelli is hard at
work accomplishing that now. We know how
popular this series has become, and we want
to get it back on track as soon as possible.
I can be reached by snail mail at Box 68,
Stockertown PA 18083. My phone number is
(610) 614-1747, and my E-mail address is
[email protected]. MA
Continued from page 7
Aeromodeling Editor
Did You Know …
That any donation you make
to AMA is tax-deductible?
AMA is a 501(c)(3), not-forprofit
association. This means
that any funds you donate
beyond your regular
membership dues can be
deducted from your taxes.
Please consider donating to
AMA. Your gift will help us
continue our efforts to
improve your organization.
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