Should you become a CD?
Have you ever considered becoming an official AMA contest director (CD)? After more than 10 years of being an RC pilot, AMA member, event organizer, writer for Model Aviation, and working full time in the RC industry, I am excited to announce that I took the plunge and now hold my CD card! Why would I want to do that? Here is the story.
I have attended small and large RC events for many years in my job running RCGroups.com. From the Southeast Electric Flight Festival (SEFF) to Joe Nall Week, I have stood on flightlines across the country and witnessed the efforts of all of the people who make events such as this possible.
For nearly 11 years, I have hosted an event with my original RC flight instructor, Bryce Custer, and his wife, Liz, here in Nashville, Tennessee. For years, we relied on the landowner and all of the pilots’ AMA cards for insurance.
This worked fine until last year, when the county decided that we could not hold the event unless we had insurance for everything. Luckily, at the last minute, we put it all together, but not before we all had to scrape together hundreds of dollars for the insurance.
Fellow Pro Bro and District VI Vice President (VP) Randy Cameron started a conversation with me at last year’s NashBro event and suggested that I might want to become a CD. Because I had so many events under my belt, and the fact that I have worked closely with the
AMA throughout the years, I decided it was something I should do. I had a few questions, though ...
What Does a CD Do?
The AMA CD network makes sure that all AMA sanctioned events are run in accordance with the AMA Competition Regulations and the National Model Aircraft Safety Code. A CD makes sure an event is safe, rules are adhered to, and fairness is maintained in contests. A CD is also protected by insurance and legal support.
How Do You Become a CD?
First, you have to be a member of the AMA. You can contact the Competitions department at the AMA Headquarters to get your CD application. I spoke with Jamie Corn, and she could not have been nicer.
Is There a Test?
You need to pass a test as part of your application. I wasn’t aware of it, but I am happy to say I scored an 85. Knowledge of the AMA Competition Regulations, Contest Directors Guide, the AMA Safety Code, and basic event procedures is something a CD needs to have.
The quiz is open book, but it shines a light on important things you need to know. Most of these things can be found on the AMA website.
A Little Help From Your Friends
You also need to have three signed endorsements from other AMA members. When you get all of that together, you can then return your application and test to AMA Headquarters. The information is then sent to your AMA district VP for approval.
Kris Dixon is my district VP. He and I shared a camping area on the 3-D line at the Joe Nall event a few years ago. I’m not sure if the fact that we both enjoy the Allman Brothers music made a difference, but I do know that everything went as planned!
You Are Now a Contest Director!
I was surprised at how excited I was when the packet arrived from AMA. My new AMA card had the title Contest Director on it and the certificate will hang in my shop. Exciting!
Note: New CDs are on probation until they successfully run an event. After your second successful event, you get a 50% membership credit.
Veterans Chime In
Because I’m new to the CD game, I thought it might be a good idea to get some thoughts on what being a CD really means from those who have some experience.
District VI VP Randy Cameron: Jim, you asked why become a CD? There are lots of reasons. Being a CD is a volunteer position for the AMA that carries a lot of responsibility with special protection and insurance. It can also be a lot of very gratifying work to have a successful event. Many become CDs to help support their clubs, Special Interest Groups, or even the Nats.
Besides the obvious [duties of] managing rule book contests, fly-ins, or demonstrations, CDs can also be tasked to assist fellow modelers by performing Large Model Aircraft inspections, and certifying national records. The FAA now requires an AMA CD [to oversee] flying models as part of full-scale air shows. Sanctioning events provides insurance for property owners, and also ensures a protected drawing area—meaning no similar events [will be held] for at least a 100-mile radius.
Good luck, Jim. I know you will do fine as an AMA CD.
AMA Flying Site Assistance Coordinator Tony Stillman: A good potential CD is someone who has been around contests and understands them. The AMA was created on the premise of creating standardized rules for model aviation competitions. Having a CD in your club is an asset and allows your club to hold contests and events. A CD is required in order for your event to be sanctioned and gives you access to advertising via the AMA website and radius protection from other events. More than 50% of sanctioned events out there are noncompetitive. Joe Nall is not technically a competition, but if you think of it, just flying on the main line is a high level of competition in a way. Having someone there who understands the CD aspect of things is a great asset. As a CD, you are able ensure a certain amount of safety.
The CD is really a significant external authority for the AMA. A CD has the ability to take an RC pilot who is not an AMA member and sign [him or her] up on the spot. So a CD is really an in-the-field representative for AMA.
A CD should be able to make sure an event is safe and resolve problems on the fly. From an idea of competition, a CD is a stabilizing standard. It all comes back to understanding that safety protocol and situational awareness are important.
I have met so many great people by being a CD. My best lifelong friends came from the hobby and competition of model aviation. I have learned so much by competing and hosting contests as a CD.
Some of the rewards of being a CD are all of the opportunities it has afforded me, like being AMA’s flying site assistance coordinator. As an AMA CD, I have run local contests, team selection contests for RC Aerobatics and helicopters, the AMA Nats, and two world championships.
I have been able to compete and served as the National Society of Radio Control Aerobatics (NSRCA) president for four years. All of that led to being a team manager and winning a gold medal. It took me to Japan, Poland, Austria, and Germany. It all started in 1974 when I became a CD.
Conclusion
Although I’m excited to have the official CD title for my own event and the enhanced support of the AMA, I know there is more to learn! I hope, after reading some of the information in this column, you will know if being a CD makes sense for you. I also hope I have shed some light on the process and the rewards that await you for your efforts. It’s good for your hobby, but more importantly, it’s good for the entire hobby!
To learn more about how to become a CD, contact the Competitions department at AMA Headquarters.
SOURCES:
AMA Competitions department
(800) 435-9262, ext. 232
www.modelaircraft.org
CD Application
www.modelaircraft.org/files/303.pdf
AMA Contest Directors Guide
www.modelaircraft.org/files/AMA_Contest_Director_Guide_3-20-15.pdf
NSRCA
www.nsrca.us
