Legal Stuff...Do you need the AMA?

[joeflyer]

I've always wondered...

I'm not an AMA card holder...I've been flying my SC and few other more toyish planes since last September...I know I can't fly at most RC Club events, but other than that am I flying illegally?

If I crash and do some damage to a person or someone's property and I'm not AMA...is there more trouble for me besides paying for the damages?

Thanks!

[surjer]

AMA will cover you even if if you are not flying at an AMA field... I purchased the AMA license to support a good cause. They fight to keep our frequencies dedicated and also for the ability to fly our park flyers at parks and stuff... (At least thats the way I understand it). You do not need AMA coverage to fly this type of plane. You only need the owners permission to fly at your site.

[joeflyer]

Thanks, for the reply...that really helps!

[spar]

What are the rules about flying electric planes over public and private property? Has anyone ever gotten permission to fly in the park? (Don't ask don't tell?) Have any SC flyers gotten confronted by on-lookers. What is the best way to handle those situations?

[duck9191]

i would think that as long as there is no per existing rules against it and your not bothering anyone you shouldn't have a problem at a public park. not 100% sure but i don't think there is much a person could do if you fly over there property, as long as your not on it, but if you damage anything or need to get your plain out of a tree you would wish you asked first. i know some countries are differnt on what you own, if you own the air space above you or just the ground.

so far all my encounters with people have been good, most of the time they sit in there lawn chairs and watch.

[sam77]

Actually, the AMA covers you regardless where you fly. If not, I've not been able to find the blurb in their Membership Guidelines. From their web site:

"AMA Liability Protection applies to bodily injury or property damage caused by an AMA member. Any AMA member who causes an accident resulting in an injury must report that accident immediately to AMA HQ."

www.modelaircraft.org/PDF-files/memanual.pdf

[surjer]

I've been looking through that as well and cant find where it says you have to fly at an AMA site. I emailed them and asked for confirmation but have not heard back yet. If I dont hear by tonight I will call and ask... There is a HUGE discussion on RCU about this very topic that I am about to go through.

[surjer]

Just in from the Insurance department at AMA..

Dear Mr. Allen,

Thank you for your inquiry.
"AMA coverage applies anytime, anywhere - it is not limited to model flying at contests or on the club field. It even applies to flying at public demonstrations and air shows. Failure to comply with the safety code may endanger insurance coverage."

You can find this statement on the Card Carrier your membership card is attached to each year.

I hope this will be helpful. If you need any additional information or have any other concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Sincerely,

I took out the AMA contact info incase bots or scanners go looking to SPAM people..

[joeflyer]

Thanks, surjer...That really helps. I'm glad I've joined then

[60buick]

I recomend everyone join the AMA. I never joined up until recently. They protect our right to fly our toy planes in a time when some polititians have argued that they could be used as a weapon of mass destruction if filled with exsplosives. I would hate it if some power hungry criminal in a suit passed a law banning or restricting the use of flying models. The AMA is all we have behind us.

[joeflyer]

surjer said:

Just in from the Insurance department at AMA..

Dear Mr. Allen,

Thank you for your inquiry.
"AMA coverage applies anytime, anywhere - it is not limited to model flying at contests or on the club field. It even applies to flying at public demonstrations and air shows...

Here's some extra info on that coverage. I got this in my "welcome to the AMA" email...when they sent me my ID #.

SPECIAL NOTES ABOUT LIABILITY PROTECTION - AMA's liability insurance is in excess of any other insurance available to the member, including a member's homeowner policy or from another modeling organization. This means the AMA insurance applies only if there is no other insurance available to you, or if the other insurance is insufficient to pay the full amount of a claim against you. This feature helps AMA control the cost of insurance for AMA members.
In the case of property damage claims (not personal injury), there is a deductible amount of $250 which will not be paid by the AMA's insurance.

So, the AMA covers you wherever you are...but, if another insurance policy is in effect along with the AMA's, then everyone else pays out first and then the AMA kicks in. That said, it's still a good thing to have.

I just flew in my first AMA club event at the Oregon Miniature Aircraft Squadron's www.omas-rc.org/ yearly airshow. It was a kick to fly with and talk with the regulars...lots of good flying tips eagerly handed out for free. Me and this guy flying his GWS Beaver got together and flew some formations together...that was cool.

Happy Flying!

JoeFlyer