AMA is becoming a significant aviation-related entity
During the last two months of 2014, I was involved in several meetings with various organizations and individuals. The meetings and discussions were beneficial to the AMA.
A meeting with the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) could lead to an alliance with an influential aviation association. I am hopeful that the organization will be of assistance to us with the upcoming federal government legislation. You might be amazed as to how similar our political activities are.
Our involvement with the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International and the Small UAV Coalition and has been productive in generating a program entitled Know Before You Fly. This group, in partnership with the FAA, has produced an education campaign focused on providing the necessary information to fly safely and responsibly. The program has already allowed a large portion of the population a constructive view of the AMA. Please review the information at http://knowbeforeyoufly.org.
In creating this effort, we have enlisted the services of an outstanding firm named CLS Strategies. We have long desired national media exposure. The initial success of the Know Before You Fly program can be attributed to CLS Strategies. Andrew Koneschusky, Jennifer Hall, and their crew are professional and extremely dedicated.
The initial media release involved dialogue with media with a national press release shortly before Christmas and additional efforts at the Computer Electronics Show and the AMA Expo. Numerous organizations have stepped forth to advocate their allegiance to the activity, including the EAA, the Computer Electronics Association, and others.
I think you will agree that these types of efforts will help illustrate the positive aspects of model aviation. If you and your club members offer assistance to the neophytes in your area, it would be a constructive activity for all of modeling.
The AMA Foundation’s board of directors is now solidified. Members include Dr. Laird Jackson, Dan Bott, Ron Pitcock, Dr. John Langford, and AMA President Bob Brown. Mandee Mikulski is providing the coordination to establish continuing progress.
To celebrate the foundation’s first successful year, Dr. Kendall Wagner provided a ride in his full-scale P-51 in conjunction with the AMA Expo. Thank you to Gordon Truax and Dan Bott for their efforts at coordinating the “fun” in the P-51.
On a recent trip to Washington, D.C., I peered out a window in the office of AIA. In my thoughts, I was attempting to reconcile the fact that political involvement was imperative to allow us to continue enjoying flying model aircraft in the skies of the US.
AMA’s efforts and focus are considerably different than in our 1936 beginning. We are now in a political arena that is allowing us to become a significant entity within the aviation associations in Washington, D.C.
By continuing these efforts, we will ensure the enjoyment of model aviation into the future through cooperative political connections.[
