Newcomers

Newcomers

Bob Underwood Box 40, St. Peters MO 63376

LAST MONTH'S column was prompted after I wandered through a model catalog and encountered not only an alphabet soup of acronyms, but interesting vocabulary relating to products.

At the end of the column, I promised that this month I would shed light on more of the mysterious mumbling used to describe our hobby.

With no further ado, let's go!

SIGs (Special Interest Groups)

As you read through articles in various magazines, as well as event descriptions on flyers, you will find various organizations identified; many of these are SIGs. (Do you remember this from last month—Special Interest Groups?)

The Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) recognizes SIGs in the various categories that exist in our hobby. Not all are represented. The SIGs are formed independently of AMA, but are tied to AMA through the requirements of AMA membership. AMA will only recognize one SIG per category.

1. IMAA: International Miniature Aircraft Association. Dedicated to the promotion of large Radio Control (RC) aircraft. It is a non-competition-oriented group.
2. IMAC: International Miniature Aerobatic Club. Dedicated to the flying of aerobatic aircraft, often in a competitive setting. There are events in the Competition Regulations for IMAC activities.
3. IRCHA: International Radio Control Helicopter Association. These RC models have rotating wings. Competition is generally involved.
4. JPO: Jet Pilot's Organization. Dedicated to the flying of RC ducted-fan or turbine-powered models. It is one of the newer SIGs.
5. LSF: League of Silent Flight. No engines involved! The LSF is dedicated to the promotion of flying sailplanes. It also maintains a well-developed program of skill levels that form a great incentive for improving personal performance.
6. MACA: Miniature Aircraft Combat Association. This is a Control Line (CL) organization. Various highly competitive events can be found in the Competition Regulations. The models are fast, maneuverable, and generally short-lived.
7. NASA: National Association of Scale Aeromodelers. Dedicated to the promotion of building and flying miniature Free Flight (FF), CL, and RC reproductions of full-scale aircraft. Interesting blend of non-competitive and competition-oriented members.
8. NCFPA: National Competition Fun Fly Association. Dedicated to a more formalized set of competition rules for what happens at informal club fun-flys, where maneuvers such as spot landings, loops, rolls, etc. occur. It's far better to read and digest that material than it is to rely on someone else's perception.
9. NCLRA: National Control Line Racing Association. A title that tells it all!
10. NEAC: National Electric Aircraft Council. Another relatively new SIG, dedicated to the use of electric motors as a power source in models.
11. NFFS: National Free Flight Society. Dedicated to the promotion of FF in all forms. Its publication (Free Flight) and technical seminars do an excellent job of revealing the intricacies of FF.
12. NMPRA: National Miniature Pylon Racing Association. These are the RC modelers who spend their time going fast (very fast) and going left. Competition is a primary interest.
13. NSRCA: National Society of Radio Controlled Aerobatics. When you hear the term "Pattern" used to describe an RC model, it fits into this SIG's interest. It has a well-developed series of levels, or classes, in the competition arena.
14. Navy Carrier Society: No initials! This is a CL group dedicated to a highly specialized competition category. Its newsletter, Hi-Low Landings, tells the tale of the competition. (See the Competition Regulations.)
15. NASS: North American Speed Society. This is a CL group dedicated to doing the same thing the NMPRA does—going fast. They just do it with the models on lines.
16. PAMPA: Precision Aerobatics Model Pilots Association. This is the CL equivalent of NSRCA. Most people, including the participants, call these events "Stunt." Actually, they perform a beautifully choreographed blend of aerobatic maneuvers.
17. RCCA: RC Combat Association. Dedicated to the highly competitive procedure of cutting a streamer off any or all RC models flying in the same air space. Often it isn't the streamer that gets cut!
18. SWRA: Scale Warbird Racing Association. Dedicated to an interesting blend of Scale and Pylon modeling. The word "warbird" is the key here.
19. SAM: Society of Antique Modelers. The title would imply that only white-haired, AARP members are allowed. In reality, SAM seeks to perpetuate the models representing the earlier period of modeling. It is an interesting blend of old designs and new technology and techniques.
20. USRA: Unlimited Scale Racing Association. Connected with the term "Giant Scale Racing." These are large RC models racing on a pylon course, emulating Reno-style flying and other earlier forms of full-scale air-racer racing.

If you want to contact any of these organizations, if you're interested in learning more or joining, check the booklet that was mailed to you after you became an AMA member. Actually, it's two booklets in one. One part is titled Membership Services and Product Guide, and contains descriptions of services and booklets you can buy. The other half of the booklet is titled Academy of Model Aeronautics Membership Manual. The last page of that portion lists the SIGs, along with contact persons. Related organizations dealing with cars and boats are provided as well.

The Academy is connected to these organizations in a very positive fashion.

NAA, FAI, and international connections

NAA stands for the National Aeronautic Association. Headquartered in the Washington DC area, this is the recognized agent for all sport aviation in the United States to the international body. This includes not only aeromodelling, but parachuting, soaring, aerobatics, etc.

One of the NAA's tasks is to process performance records (speed, duration, altitude, etc.). The NAA also represents the United States through the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI).

The FAI is the international association formerly headquartered in Paris, but now in Lausanne, Switzerland. It also deals with all sport aviation. All of the World Championships and other activities are promoted through the FAI.

The largest single group within the FAI is the CIAM, which in non-French terms stands for the Committee for International Aero Modeling. (That's a rough Americanized translation!)

Beyond putting on WAC (World Championships) and WAG (World Air Games), the FAI and CIAM homologate world aeromodeling records and generate the Sporting Code, which is the rulebook for FAI competitions.

AMA structure and volunteers

The AMA is democratically constructed. Forming the policy-making branch, or Board of Directors, is the EC (Executive Council). This group is comprised of an elected VP (Vice President) from each of the 11 districts in the United States.

The VPs generally meet four times a year to form policies for the organization. They also travel throughout their districts and seek the pulse of the modelers. Each month, reports from these individuals are published in the "AMA News" section of Model Aviation. Their pictures are also provided.

There are three other voting members on the EC. The President and Executive Vice President (EVP) are elected by the membership. The President is the head of the organization. The EVP dedicates energy to overseeing the financial aspects of the organization. The third person is a representative from the NAA. This person is not voted on by the AMA membership.

In all, there are 14 directors for the organization.

Each VP may appoint AVPs (Associate Vice Presidents) to represent various geographical areas within his district. Depending upon the size of the district, geographically and population-wise, the number of AVPs varies widely. The number of members per district also varies.

The EC communicates the policies developed for the AMA to the ED (Executive Director). The ED is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), or paid staff member responsible for implementing the policies and programs mandated by the EC.

The ED and approximately 50 staff members work at the Headquarters, located in Muncie IN. This is also where the museum and national flying site are located. After six years of operating in a combined museum/administration building, ground was recently broken for construction of a facility devoted purely to administration. This will allow expansion of the museum.

The EC are volunteers, and are not compensated for their many hours of work. AMA also relies heavily upon volunteers in other areas. Some volunteers are formally titled, and others are not.

For example, competition rules are maintained by specialized Contest Boards that serve the various FF, CL, and RC events. Contest Coordinators work at scheduling the approximately 2,500 events held each year.

Myriad committees, such as Frequency, Safety, Education, Scholarship, Site, and many more, work to advise the EC in individual matters. Contest Directors (CDs) become certified to manage large and small events. Team Selection Committees oversee the programs designed to select the teams for international (FAI) competitions.

Frequency Coordinators help solve frequency-related problems in each district, and maintain the equipment AMA makes available for monitoring interference problems.

Many more volunteers are utilized to assure the success of various events, such as the Nats (National Championships), trade shows, and educational events. The personnel who man the majority of these tasks are listed monthly in Model Aviation, either in the "AMA News" district columns, or in a comprehensive listing in the "Focus on Competition" section.

As a newcomer, many of these committees are beyond your immediate interest level as far as participation is concerned. However, there is one very important part that you can play in the whole process.

Every three years, you have the opportunity to vote for your district VP. The President and EVP also serve four-year terms. These individuals are your district connection to the center of the organization. If you feel that certain elements of the organization need rethinking, or new ideas should be explored, these individuals should be contacted. The representatives you elect control the policies of AMA; Headquarters staff only carries out those policies.

Membership Manual terms and alphabet soup

In the Safety Code, you'll see the AST Advisory Committee. This refers to the Air Show Team program.

The same sentence contains JATO, which stands for Jet-Assisted Takeoff and is something that came from outside the modeling world.

In the "Organized RC Racing Event" section, helmets that are OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)-ANSI (American National Standards Institute)-NOCSAE (National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment), or Snell Memorial Foundation-approved are mentioned. If you want to get into racing and you look for a helmet, those terms will be on the label.

The Communications Commission wasn't shortened to FCC though, and FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) doesn't show up.

In the Membership Manual, the greatest amount of alphabet soup is in the "AMA Radio Control Utilization Plan." Most of the items are explained, although the initials may be used later throughout the text.

Acronyms not used in the text include CFR, which stands for the Code of Federal Regulations, and kHz (kilohertz), which is the spacing between channels (or frequencies).

In "Part 5—AMA Radio Guidelines," there are some beauties, but knowing them is not an issue for a newcomer. The majority of longtime members will probably read that section and have only one question at the end: Huh?

In general, the Membership Manual is a very valuable tool in your effort to learn more about the organization and the hobby. While there seems to be little reason for the newcomer to digest this material, it is surprising how often something he or she has read elsewhere prompts a question. It's far better to read and digest that material than it is to rely on someone else's perception.

As you look through the various AMA documents, you will frequently see an item listed as a recommendation. Do not confuse this with an AMA rule. Historically, clubs or individuals have misinterpreted information supplied to them, and steadfastly maintain that the guidance provided by AMA in the form of a recommendation is a hard-and-fast rule. Not so!

One illustration of that is, "you are only covered by AMA insurance if you fly at an AMA 'sanctioned' (approved) flying site." That is not true. AMA does not sanction flying sites. Your insurance coverage is predicated on flying by the provisions of the AMA Safety Code—not whether the site looks like the example shown in the Membership Manual.

The phrase often used is "It's not where you fly, but what and how." When in doubt, check with AMA Headquarters.

EFN (Enough For Now)! I'll visit you again next month. MA

Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.