View from HQ-2011/08

176 MODEL AVIATION
forum similar to what we did at the AMA
Expo in Ontario in January.
The question and answer session that
took place was very informative and
answered many of the common questions
that our members have been asking in the
last several months. A video of that forum
can be found on AMA’s website at
www.modelaircraft.org/amatv.aspx.
As I wrote in my last column, the Notice
of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), that will
detail the proposed new regulations that
will affect sUAS, has been pushed back
until later in 2011. It’s important that our
members, and all model aviation
enthusiasts, continue to monitor the
NPRM’s progress and be prepared to react
once the NPRM is released.
Providing input in response to an NPRM
is a right afforded to all Americans and it’s
important that we take the opportunity to
make sure that our thoughts are known. The
best place to get the most current
information on the process is to visit the
AMA Government Relations page on our
website at www.modelaircraft.org/about
ama/gov.aspx.
The information is updated frequently so
it’s important that you visit regularly.
You may have noticed that there is a new
feature in MA. AMA expends many
resources and much effort in advocating for
our members. We have represented our
membership before a number of federal
government agencies including the FCC,
the FAA, the Department of Homeland
Security (DHS), and the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA), as well as a
number of state and local government
agencies.
This new feature is intended to
document our work in this area. Member
advocacy is an important part of what we
do and one of the most important benefits
of membership that we provide.
Many of you have noticed and commented
on how nice the road resurfacing at the IAC
came out. The runways at the L-Pad and at
Stage Center were also sealed and remarked
in advance of this summer’s Nats
View From HQ
odel aviation and AMA lost an
icon and legend on June 7, 2011,
with the passing of Maynard Hill.
Articles about Maynard, highlighting
the significant accomplishments he accrued
throughout his career, appeared in many of
the major newspapers across the country
including The Wall Street Journal, The
Washington Post, The Boston Globe, and
The New York Times. Clearly this is a
testament to what he meant not only to the
aeromodeling community, but to the entire
aviation world.
His accomplishments and success in
setting world records placed AMA and
model aviation in the United States on the
international map. Maynard’s achievements
at this level are virtually unmatched.
It would take several columns to detail
everything that Maynard did throughout his
career, but his feats will no doubt be
documented in almost every model aviationoriented
publication, including MA.
On behalf of AMA’s 140,000 members,
I’d like to extend our heartfelt sympathies
to Maynard’s wife, Gay, and his children.
On the surface it may appear that the
FAA’s effort to regulate small unmanned
aircraft systems (sUAS) has hit a lull. I can
assure you that although it may appear that
way, this is not the case. Behind the scenes
work continues as AMA’s Model Aviation
Workgroup meets via conference call for
several hours weekly as we continue to
develop a set of model aviation standards
that, once adopted by the FAA, will allow
model aviation to continue in the future
much as it has in the past.
Representatives of the FAA’s
Unmanned Aircraft Program Office
(UAPO), James Sizemore and Lynn
Spencer, attended the AMA’s general
membership meeting held at the Joe Nall
Fly-In in May. They participated in an open
Executive Director Dave Mathewson
Maynard’s achievements at this level
are virtually unmatched
M
and the 2013 FAI F3A World
Championship for Aerobatic Model
Aircraft.
The roads were put in in the early 1990s
and have received very little maintenance
since that time. The funding for projects
such as this comes from member donations
and all of the costs for this project were
covered by donations from members that
were earmarked specifically for site
maintenance.
Thank you to everyone who has
contributed to keep the IAC the premier
flying facility in the world.
Beginning July 24 and running through
August 2, AMA will be hosting the FAI
World Championship for Aerobatic Model
Aircraft. Thirty-four countries from around
the world will be sending teams to compete.
This is a great opportunity to visit the
IAC and witness the best pilots in the world
compete for the title of World Champion.
During this same timeframe, the Ninth Jet
World Masters (JWM) will be held a short
trip down Interstate 70 at the National
Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton,
Ohio. This is another event that will attract
pilots from around the world and feature
some of the best jet flying you will find
anywhere.
The JWM runs from July 24 through
August 6. If you attend, plan on spending
some time visiting the museum. The
museum houses more than 400 aircraft in
excess of a million square feet of exhibit
space and every era of aviation history is
displayed. MA
See you next time.
Dave Mathewson
AMA Executive Director
[email protected]
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