AMA News

AMA News

Summary of Jan. 19 Executive Council Actions

The following were the principal items of Council business transacted at the Winter AMA Board of Directors meeting, held in Orlando, FL.

1. Addition to Safety Code

• A Safety Code item concerning model air shows and flying demonstrations was approved to clarify separation of spectators from flying activities. Details will be explained in a separate AMA News report next month after further Council review.

1. AMA Budget for 1980

• A preliminary budget was approved, subject to updating at the Spring Council meeting, based on an anticipated increase in membership to over 74,000. Note: at the time of the Council meeting, over 50,000 members were already signed up for 1980.

1. Model Aviation Museum

• An offer of free exhibit and storage space at the Wings and Wheels Museum (Orlando International Airport) was accepted. Initial funds were budgeted for display materials and equipment. Note: AMA’s Technical Director, Frank Ehling, has been named curator of the AMA museum.

1. 1980 National Championships

• A deadline of February 5 was set to resolve whether an Ohio Nats was possible; if not, the Council would decide by telephone conference call on February 9 whether to switch to San Antonio, TX (Brooks Air Force Base). Problems securing a commitment for Wilmington, OH were noted; the Texas site was a developing alternative.

1. Free Memberships for Contest Directors (CDs)

• New requirements were approved: one free membership for AA meets, two for AAA, five for AAAA. For Class A and B meets, one free membership for the CD if fifty contestants are registered; otherwise a CD who runs any two such meets in a year receives one free membership regardless of contestant numbers. For World Championships held in the USA, the same requirements as for the National Championships apply: free memberships to those (CD or not) who work four days or more.

1. Headquarters Relocation

• A committee was appointed (chaired by Mathews, District V VP) to study current and new proposals, including the possibility of relocating to the Washington suburbs. Brown (VP—III) and Foreman (VP—IV) were also appointed to the committee. A motion to pursue a contract regarding a previous offer from Springfield, OH was not approved at this time.

1. Nomination Procedures for 1980 Election

• The same procedures as 1979 were approved, with the addition that a written letter of acceptance from each nominee must be received by the nominating committee prior to the start of the meeting. Note: the meeting is normally scheduled for Wednesday night during the National Championships.

1. Nats Winners on FAI Teams

• It was approved that FAI team selection program participants should be given the opportunity to comment before the Council acts. A questionnaire will be circulated to all 1979–80 participants prior to the next (May 3) Council meeting.

1. RC Scale Standoff Team for 1980

• Approved that this team would be funded by AMA to the same extent as the 1980 RC Precision Scale Team for the World Championships in Canada. The Council noted this action should not be considered precedent-setting. Note: the Control Line portion of that championship was cancelled due to fewer than five teams being confirmed to Canada prior to mid-January.

1. Nats Trophies for 1980

• A new trophy design, available at approximately the same cost as 1979 trophies, was approved to avoid a major increase in cost.

1. Flying Site Committee Report

• Following submission of a written report by the chairman (Foreman, District IV VP), additional input from Council members will be solicited to develop a final recommendation. Smith (District X VP) was approved to replace Cain (District VI VP), who resigned from the committee.

1. Non-Continental Nats

• Mathews (District V VP) was appointed to chair a committee to study the feasibility of Nationals-type meets outside the continental U.S. (e.g., Alaska, Puerto Rico, Hawaii).

1. Sig Cub as No. 2 AMA Model

• A decision on this Junior Committee proposal was tabled pending a trial period during which Council members will build or otherwise become familiar with the model.

1. Indoor Committee Conference Call

• Approved that the Indoor Team Selection Committee may hold a conference call using AMA funds, following submission of an agenda and call-management details.

1. Life Insurance Mail Solicitation

• Authorized the Wohlers Co. (Chicago) to make a spring mailing provided stationery does not appear to be AMA’s and no AMA endorsement is implied. The program is not exclusive; other companies may be authorized to make similar mailings.

1. Safety Committee Proposal

• A proposal to establish a Safety Committee was not accepted due to lack of specifics. The Council asked for a more detailed proposal addressing purpose and authority.

1. Magazine Publication of Minutes

• It was approved to delete the names of Council member proposers and seconders in published summaries to minimize self-promotion; official minutes will continue to record those names.

1. Executive Insurance

• The Council agreed to obtain quotes for executive insurance to compensate AMA for extra costs involved in finding a replacement in the event of death or disablement of a top salaried officer.

1. First-Class Mailings for Overseas Members

• Annual renewal/ballot mailings to AMA members outside the continental USA will be sent first-class instead of bulk mail to avoid late delivery and voting problems.

1. Council Member Succession List

• Each Council member will submit a recommended successor name for consideration in the event of incapacitation. (AMA bylaws provide the Council authority to decide who fulfills an unexpired term.)

1. RC Frequency Coordinator

• Each VP was requested to name a district RC Frequency Coordinator to receive from Headquarters the names/locations of non-modeler 72 MHz licensees who might cause interference and to advise AMA members on potential local frequency problems. The VP may serve as coordinator or appoint someone else.

1. Time and Place of Next Meeting

• Washington, DC, May 3–4.

1. Additional Finance and Insurance Actions (selected highlights)

• Insurance escrow account: $10,000 was budgeted as an escrow to cover the deductible portion of AMA’s liability insurance if necessary.
• Associate membership/industry insurance: Headquarters will investigate insurance coverage feasibility for “professional” and “manufacturers” membership categories.
• Guest membership for charter clubs: A $5 temporary guest membership (30 days) was approved as an increased benefit to AMA charter clubs under specified conditions; guest status cannot be applied to sanctioned events.
• Film priorities: Council rescinded previous film priorities and set PR film(s) of ~15 minutes for flying-site acquisition as the top priority; subsequent films to feature CL and RC at the Nats.
• NMPRA safety recommendations: The Council directed that NMPRA safety recommendations for Formula I and Quarter Midget be adopted and included in the next Rule Book and published in Model Aviation for immediate effectivity, subject to RCCB ratification.

Note: This summary is not the official minutes and is subject to approval when the official minutes are published after Council review at the next meeting.

New York Accident

Model Air Show Crash Being Investigated

On December 9, during a halftime show at Shea Stadium, a radio-control model aircraft went out of control and entered the spectator seats, fatally injuring one spectator and temporarily hospitalizing a second. The performing group, called the Electronic Eagles, flew RC demonstrations when a model shaped like a lawn mower struck the stands. Two men were rushed to the hospital; one later died.

The lawn-mower-model pilot was an AMA member, as were other members of the group. However, the Electronic Eagles were not part of the AMA show-team program. The cause of the accident is under investigation; further information was not available at press time.

Notes and corrections to initial news reports:

• Initial media reports described the model as weighing 30–40 pounds; its weight was closer to 7 pounds.
• Contrary to some reports, the model was not all metal; construction was conventional balsa and plastic film covering.
• Reports that the model was looping or maneuvering above the crowd were incorrect; it was reported to be circling inside the playing-field area of the stadium.

The Electronic Eagles had performed stadium shows since early 1978 with a previously perfect safety record. They had flown at Shea Stadium many times and were planning to retire from performing after the 1979 football season. The accident generated widespread negative publicity for model aviation through wire services, newspapers, and television.

Museum

As noted in the March column of Model Aviation, a Model Aviation Museum ranked low on a member-priority survey (13th of 14). Nevertheless, the Council visited the Wings and Wheels Museum in Orlando and, after discussions with management, voted to accept free exhibition space there. The exhibition will be similar to the Model Aviation Exhibit at the Smithsonian but will also provide AMA advertising and membership handouts. Use of the museum space should eliminate, at least temporarily, the need to establish a separate AMA facility.

Nationals — 1980

There is no firm site or date yet for the 1980 Nationals. Negotiations for Wilmington, OH (including Flying Tigers Airline base issues) were ongoing and uncertain; consequently the Council delayed other site negotiations for a couple of weeks. Alternate proposals emerged, including a rapid proposal for Brooks Field, San Antonio, TX. Site visits indicated excellent possibilities for indoor, helicopter, free flight, and soaring events near Brooks, and local modelers expressed enthusiasm and willingness to assist.

Indoor RC

The first Indoor Radio Control event of the year was held as part of the International Modeler Show in Pasadena. Progress in the field has been dramatic since the first event last year—endurance records were nearly tripled, and the sport has developed to the point where classification of electric types is becoming necessary. The standard class includes planes powered by common NiCad batteries; participants are also experimenting with silver-cell and lithium batteries.

Tony Nacarato set a record flight of 1 hour, 28 minutes, and 30 seconds using a boost-glide system. Flying a figure-eight course between the tops of show booths and the bottom of a 30-foot truss network, he used an electric motor to climb, then turned off the motor to glide through crossover points.

Hall of Fame

At the Pasadena show, the Council of Past AMA Presidents’ Hall of Fame Award was presented to Bill Wisniewski. The presenter noted a long personal acquaintance with Wisniewski, dating to his start in modeling at age 14, and praised his contributions to model engine development and speed records. The presentation was attended by four other Hall of Famers: Johnnie Brodbeck, Carl Goldberg, Walt Schroder, and Ken Willard.

Executive Council Minutes — Selected Continued Actions

• Ohio Nats proposal: The WORKS Club was authorized to proceed in developing a 1980 Nats in Wilmington, Ohio; final commitment subject to Council approval after review by the Nats Executive Committee.
• 1980 Indoor World Championships: Approved for June 20–24 at Northwood Institute (West Baden, Indiana).
• 1982 Control Line World Championships: Chicago modelers’ proposal to be submitted to CIAM (FAI) as a tentative offer.
• 1980 Space Models (Rocketry) Championships: The Council sanctioned the Space World Championships sponsored by the National Association of Rocketry; AMA has no financial commitment and is protected from liability.
• 1980 AAAA Control Line Sanction: Awarded to the Winston-Salem (NC) meet.
• Reinstatement of Category I outdoor ornithopter records: Referred to the Free Flight Contest Board.
• “World” event sanction clarification: The Council went on record as not recognizing a California 2-meter soaring meet advertised as a “World Championship” and directed that future world-class event advertising be cleared through Headquarters.
• Clarification of allowable expenses for FAI team practice: Policy clarified to include round-trip travel to the practice city and two nights lodging at AMA’s maximum expense; exceptions subject to Executive Council review.
• NMPRA safety rules for pylon racing: The Council recommended adoption of NMPRA safety recommendations for Formula I and Quarter Midget and directed immediate publication and implementation pending RCCB ratification.
• AMA public relations poster: Consideration to incorporate a member-created poster for hobby-shop promotion; expenditures to remain within the current budget.
• Flying site aid: A committee was appointed to make recommendations regarding flying site aid proposals (Chairman: C. Foreman; members: C. Piper and H. Cain).

Minutes of the November 9–10, 1979 Executive Council meeting will be concluded next month.

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