Focus on Competition
Technical Director
Steve Kaluf
HAPPY NEW YEAR! This column contains a number of tidbits — call it a year-end cleanup / beginning-of-the-year reminder issue.
1997 Competitions and Membership
About 2,400 sanctioned competitions were issued by the Competitions Department in 1997. That seems about the norm lately. While overall AMA membership has declined slightly in recent years, the number of flying competitions has remained steady. That suggests once a flier gets into competition, he or she often stays involved.
1997 Nationals — Survey Results
Participants at the 1997 Nationals reported high satisfaction with the arrangements, the flying site, AMA management, and Special Interest Group management. We received lots of useful information via the surveys; those results have been forwarded to the Special Interest Groups and Nats management. Surveys like these help us improve the Nats and the sites we use.
A small number of negative comments — roughly from two participants — stood out as being far more critical than the general feedback. Curiously, the negativity seemed directly proportional to their placing in the event (i.e., the lower the placing, the more negative the comment).
1998 Nationals — Dates and Entry Forms
- Outdoor Nationals start July 10, 1998, at the International Aeromodeling Center, Muncie.
- Indoor Nationals are planned at the ETSU Mini-Dome in Johnson City, Tennessee, starting approximately May 27, 1998. Dates will be finalized by the Nats Management Committee.
The next issue of Model Aviation will list all event dates. Entry forms are being mailed to current members who participated in one of the last three Nationals. If you do not receive an entry form by the first of the year, contact the Competitions Department to request one.
Rules Change Cycle
The Rules Change Cycle is now two-thirds complete.
Key deadlines:
- December 1, 1997 — Cross Proposal ballot deadline (already passed).
- February 28, 1998 — Contest Boards are sent the final vote ballot.
- April 1, 1998 — Ballots must be returned to AMA HQ.
Results of the final vote will be published in the August 1998 issue of Model Aviation. Note: interim vote results are not published. If you want your views considered, submit comments to the appropriate Contest Boards before the February 28 mailing. Read the 1997 issues of Model Aviation to review proposals and cross proposals, and make your comments known — the system only works if you participate.
AMA Information System
AMA's new information system is now online. We have begun processing sanctions and CD reports with the new system while continuing to run the old system in parallel. Early results look good.
Benefits:
- More flexibility in using and manipulating data
- Improved report generation and sorting
- Better service to members as we come up to speed
Please bear with us during the transition.
Narrowband Transmitters — Final Warning
Important deadline:
- March 1, 1998 — All non-narrowband transmitters become illegal to operate.
This change has been publicized for many years and marks the end of a phase-in that lasted about 16 years. The requirement is mandated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC); AMA supports the regulation.
Actions to take:
- Upgrade transmitters to narrowband specifications now.
- Ensure receivers at your flying site are narrowband-capable, particularly at sites using all 50 frequencies.
- Using non-narrowband equipment endangers yourself and others.
Interference: Detection and Common Causes
If you suspect interference at your flying field:
- Contact your District Frequency Coordinator (name found in the masthead of the District Vice President's column).
- The coordinator can lend a frequency scanner or channel analyzer to investigate the site.
- You may contact the Competitions Department or me for guidance on using the equipment.
Common causes:
- Pagers on 72 MHz are a common source of interference at some sites.
- Many new paging systems use 900 MHz and do not affect our frequencies.
Notes:
- Do not assume two unexplained crashes automatically mean interference, but it is worth checking.
- Coordinators vary in experience; ask for help if needed.
World Championships and 1999 F3A Event
Our teams had a busy year at World Championships; overall performances were solid — some teams exceeded expectations, others fell short. In 1999 the United States will host the F3A (RC Aerobatics) World Championships in Pensacola, Florida. AMA and NSRCA will collaborate closely to make this a top-tier event. If you haven't attended a World Championships, this is an excellent opportunity — great site and plenty of activities for families.
Closing
That's about it for this month. If you have questions, please feel free to contact us.
Till next time...
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
