The Acronyms of Aeromodeling
Travis McGinnis
ACRONYMS, acronyms, acronyms... What do they stand for? What do they have to do with model airplane builders and fliers? Here's everything (and more than you ever wanted to know) about the organizations that affect you as a model airplane enthusiast.
Organizations and their roles
AMA stands for Academy of Model Aeronautics. It is the organization that can be of the most help to the average sport flier—and to most competition fliers—throughout the United States. Don't overlook your local hobby shops and area clubs for assistance and information.
The AMA is a division of the National Aeronautic Association (NAA). The NAA, in turn, is the official U.S. representative to the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), the world governing body for sport aviation.
- Global hierarchy:
- FAI — worldwide governing body
- NAA — U.S. representative to FAI
- AMA — NAA branch dealing with model activities
Unless your interest is in full‑scale aviation, you can generally skip direct contact with the NAA and consult the FAI for international modeling information. The NAA has delegated supervision of FAI‑related modeling activities—such as record attempts, competition sanctions, and selection of U.S. teams for aeromodeling World Championships—to the AMA.
FAI — brief history and purpose
The FAI was founded in 1905—shortly after the first powered flights—and its basic aim is to further worldwide aeronautical and astronautical activities. Over the decades it has grown from three founding members (Belgium, France, and Germany) to more than 70 member countries.
FAI activities include:
- Establishing regulations to evaluate and compare the performance of aircraft and space vehicles.
- Controlling and certifying world aeronautical and astronautical records.
- Establishing and applying regulations for aeronautical events.
- Promoting skill, proficiency, and safety and conferring medals, diplomas, and other awards.
To carry out these activities, the FAI brings together representatives of aviation sporting activities from member countries. For each activity there is an international committee that member countries may send delegates to.
CIAM and CASI
CIAM — Committee on International Aeromodelling — is the FAI committee focused on aeromodelling. CIAM meets once a year, usually at FAI headquarters in Paris, for a formal Plenary (planning) session. CIAM’s work is passed for approval and technical clearance to the International Aeronautic Sporting Committee (CASI), then on to the FAI Council before ratification at the General Conference (the annual meeting of delegates from FAI member countries).
The FAI Council consists of FAI officers and the president of CASI. It meets annually to consider matters referred by the General Conference and is the body through which FAI policy is implemented.
CASI includes representatives from all member nations. Its responsibilities include:
- Keeping the Sporting Code up to date
- Making recommendations for changes
- Arbitrating disputes
- Establishing guidelines for selection of international judges
- Reporting to the General Conference
Each FAI member (the AMA for the U.S.) may annually appoint a delegate to CIAM. That delegate votes on proposals submitted to the annual CIAM meeting. By AMA bylaws, the AMA president appoints the CIAM voting delegate for the United States; that delegate is responsible for voting on technical meeting material.
CIAM subcommittees, specialists, and procedures
CIAM uses specialists as consultants during its technical meetings. These specialists serve on subcommittees and are consultants, not official national representatives. Subcommittee chairmen preside over the technical meetings in their specialty during the first day of the annual CIAM subcommittee meetings.
- Chairmen lead the meeting through its agenda and conduct straw votes to gauge support.
- Items with sufficient support are presented by the chairman, with comments and recommendations, to the Plenary assembly.
- Each chairman prepares a detailed written report of the subcommittee’s work to be shared with CIAM Plenary attendees.
- Between meetings, chairmen direct continuing business via mail and working groups.
The CIAM voting delegate must assimilate substantial technical input, prioritize interests, and exercise negotiation and public‑relations skills. AMA has several consultants who serve on subcommittees, giving the organization firsthand insight into international aeromodelling work.
FAI day-to-day operations and events
Day‑to‑day operations of the FAI are handled by a headquarters staff in Paris, headed by a Director General appointed by the FAI Council.
Recent FAI activities have included multiple Aeromodelling World Championships, several Continental Championships, and numerous Open International events—representing a large portfolio of world‑class aviation competitions.
If you want detailed model type and category definitions recognized by the FAI, consult the FAI Sporting Code (a 200+ page book). The Sporting Code is available from the AMA.
Definition: ac·ro·nym
ac'·ro·nym n. a word formed from the initial letters of a name, as AMA for Academy of Model Aeronautics, or NAA for National Aeronautic Association.
Model categories and competition events
With the organizational background covered, here are brief outlines of several internationally recognized model categories and events to help you understand how acronyms affect rules of safety, sport, and competition.
Category C3: Radio‑controlled flight
Radio‑controlled flight is defined as flight during which the model is aerodynamically maneuvered by control surface(s) in attitude, direction, and altitude by the pilot on the ground using radio control.
F3A: Aerobatic (RC power)
Aerobatic power models fly before a panel of judges through a prescribed series of maneuvers controlled by the competitor/pilot using a hand‑held radio. An extensive judge’s guide describes the maneuvers in detail, including downgrades for mistakes or flaws in presentation. Judges and pilots must be well versed in the intricate and subtle execution of the maneuvers.
F3B: Thermal Soaring (multitask RC glider)
Thermal Soaring is a multitask timed event for RC gliders (sailplanes) that includes duration, distance, and speed. Models are launched by hand‑towing, powered winch, or hand‑operated pulleys.
F3C: Helicopter
Helicopters are flown through a series of judged maneuvers similar in concept to fixed‑wing aerobatics, with specialized judging criteria for rotary‑wing flight.
F3D: Pylon Racing
Pylon Racing models are replicas of full‑scale racing planes that race up to four at a time around a triangular course for 10 laps. Judges watch for pylon cuts (turning inside the pylon instead of outside) and assist with lap counting. All‑out speed and precision flying are essential to win.
F3E: RC Electric‑powered models
RC electric events include:
- Motor gliders (sailplanes) with tasks in distance, duration, and landing
- Aerobatics with a flight schedule similar to F3A
- Pylon racing, similar to F3D
- Stand‑off scale events
All use electric motors powered by rechargeable batteries.
Category F4: Scale models
Scale models are replicas (miniature copies) of heavier‑than‑air, man‑carrying aircraft. Subcategories include:
- F4A — Free flight scale
- F4B — Control line scale
- F4C — Radio control scale
Each category has guidelines on documentation for proof of scale, scale accuracy, craftsmanship, scale detail, static judging, and flight judging. Scale models often draw large crowds at competitions and provide realistic flights of the aircraft being modeled.
With these brief outlines, you should have a clearer idea of how the acronyms of aeromodelling relate to rules, safety, sport, and competition in the modeling activities you enjoy.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
