District VI—Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri
Randy Cameron
Vice President
flyrcam@gmail.com
2134 S. Hillcrest Ave., Springfield MO 65807
Tel.: (417) 830-9211
www.amadistrict-vi.org
www.facebook.com/AMADistrictVI
A new program for the Academy of Model Aeronautics is the Youth Leadership Award. Spreading the love and fun of aeromodeling is vital to the AMA’s survival. That is why the AMA would like to recognize Youth members who do this.
The new Youth Leadership Award will be given to one Youth member each year who shares the joy of the hobby with his or her community through volunteering at club fly-ins, encouraging his or her peers to get involved in aeromodeling, or helping other club members improve their piloting skills.
District VI had two nominations. Andrew Sites was nominated by his father, Bob, and Brandon Derr was nominated by Alex Ace of Red Wing RC.
I’m proud to announce that Andrew Sites won in District VI. At nearly 16 years old, he is well accomplished. I got to meet and fly with Andrew in April and am very impressed. He is a fine young man.
Besides flying RC fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters, he is involved in many aspects of aviation. Andrew is a member of the Civil Air Patrol where, as a Cadet Master Sergeant, he is a peer leader. He was named 2014 Cadet of the Year, and I understand has been promoted again since then. He has completed ground school and is looking forward to earning his full-scale pilot’s license.
As a member of the Mid-Missouri Modelers, Andrew works at club events and assists others with flying. Additionally, he’s a member of the National Honor Society, and aspires to attend the Air Force Academy to become an Air Force pilot.
It is my pleasure to provide his tuition to Camp AMA this year, which I am sure he will enjoy and make good use of any new skills acquired while there.
Another AMA program is the Flying Site Improvement grants. Annually, the AMA awards $30,000 in grant money to improve flying sites throughout the districts. This year, 37 grants were requested. The requests are ranked, and 33 of the clubs will receive funds.
District VI had two grant requests submitted and I’m happy to mention that they both ranked high enough to receive grant money. Congratulations to Henderson Radio Control Model Airplane Club in Robards, Kentucky. Club members received $432 to assist with the installation of a geotextile runway.
The Millersburg RC Modelers in Middlebury, Indiana, received $1,355.60 to assist in relocating its flying site.
The FAA’s sUAS Notice of Proposed Rulemaking comment period closed April 24, 2015, despite several organizations asking for extensions to the comment period. In excess of 33,000 comments were sent to the FAA. Thanks to those who took the time to make comments; there were some very good ones.
Happy flying and be safe.
