View From HQ - 2010/04
Revamped Online Contest Calendar
In an effort to help members locate flying events in their area quickly or check on events across the nation, the Academy has revamped the online contest calendar. Now members can go to www.modelaircraft.org/events/calendar.aspx to search for their favorite annual fly-ins or discover an event that is being offered for the first time.
This searchable database allows you to filter by:
- Type of event (flying or nonflying)
- City (optional)
- Class of event (A, AA, Team Trials, etc.)
- Category (e.g., RC Combat, CL Scale, Indoor FF, or All)
- Start and end dates to narrow a particular timeframe
Check “All” if you wish to see everything available or have the program filter only the types or categories of events you wish to see.
This is exciting because the current calendar printed in MA shows events only three months in advance. If you are reading the January issue and looking for May’s Joe Nall fly-in in South Carolina or the December King Orange event in Florida, it would not show up. The new contest calendar can offer you information as soon as the CD (contest director) sends the paperwork to AMA Headquarters—up to 12 months in advance!
New Sanction/Approval Process
This programming is tied to the new AMA online contest/sanction process that eliminates the need for five individual mailings between district contest coordinators, AMA Headquarters, and others who must sign off on the application before the event is approved. Events will be entered into the system once, reducing the possibility of mistakes as they go through the process and appear in the online calendar.
The new service will begin on February 15 and will replace MA’s printed calendar starting with the July issue. Being able to provide a real-time calendar that is updated daily and saving more than $80,000 in annual printing costs have made this move from print to electronic distribution timely.
Access for Those Without Internet
Those who do not have access to the Internet are encouraged to seek another avenue by interfacing with fellow members or obtaining Internet access at the local library or other community center.
Some clubs post upcoming events at their flying sites or in their newsletters. A special-request program for printing and mailing a calendar is being developed with a minimal cost to the member to cover postage and handling.
Anecdote: Using Cartoons in Presentations
I used to collect cartoons that allowed me to make a point during presentations to soften the sometimes-hard message that needed to be delivered. I would incorporate the cartoon into a PowerPoint presentation and the audience would see it on the screen.
After approximately five seconds of stone-cold silence, a humorous laugh would come from the group and I could get into the discussion item. Starting from a funny, positive point allowed me to expand upon it in detail.
If I had a cartoon of this pending change, it would picture a 15th-century German named Johannes Gutenberg, who is credited with inventing the mechanical printing press with movable type. Before his invention, all documents were handwritten manuscripts.
My cartoon would have Gutenberg standing over his new printing machine with another man, obviously seeing it for the first time, commenting, “It will never catch on.”
I ask everyone to work with us as we sift through this new process.
AMA 2010 Expo Recap
January’s AMA 2010 Expo is now one for the record books. A best-ever attendance, new programming with great speakers, and a 1/3-scale model of an F-117A Nighthawk that kids could sit in and have their pictures taken made the show a success.
The Expo offers a great opportunity for AMA staffers and me to meet and talk to members.
Turbine Safety and Waivers
One conversation with Ron Werner, “The Rocketman,” centered on turbines and safety regarding how some clubs and flying sites relate to visiting turbine pilots. After the show, Ron shared his thoughts and concerns by e-mail:
“Putting to rest some misconceptions and myths about turbine safety: It seems many clubs nowadays are choosing to not allow turbine operation even though the AMA has repeatedly assured properly waivered modelers that as long as document 510-A regulations are being followed, the insurance provided by AMA is there to cover any incident arising from the operation of RC turbine-powered aircraft.
“AMA and the mission statement make it clear that it supports the advancement of technology in this hobby, and jets are a part of the cutting edge. There are approximately 1,000 waivered pilots, less than 1% of AMA membership, and that’s quite a minority. Probably mostly because of the work that must be done to obtain a waiver. It’s not easy and, let me assure you, once you get the waiver AMA is convinced that you, the waiver holder, know what you need to know after taking their examinations and passing the check flights.
“In conclusion, to all modelers, all clubs that continue to allow model jet turbine action at their fields, and anyone who has questioned turbine operation safety, once a turbine waiver has been presented to you to prove the pilot in question has passed all of AMA’s examinations, there is no reason to further question their qualifications. The fixed-wing turbine waiver says, without it being printed on it, that the holder knows how to fly fast, safe, and responsible.
“Fly safe.”
Closing
In the spirit of flight,
Jim Cherry Executive Director [email protected]
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
