Competition regulations
Flying Site Assistance by Tony Stillman, Flying Site Coordinator
Welcome to summer! It is really hot in many locations, but so is the flying! Many great events are being hosted by active AMA clubs. I hope you take the time to attend several get-togethers this flying season. You will have a wonderful time and you’re sure to make some new friends.
This month, I want to switch hats and discuss some AMA competition items. As AMA’s acting technical director, I am also responsible for maintaining the Competition Regulations that govern the many official AMA competition events.
We are currently in the middle of our biennial rules proposal and voting process as outlined in the “General” section of the Competition Regulations, which can be found on the AMA website at www.modelaircraft.org/files/2015-2016general.pdf. This process has a 15-month timeframe to allow any Adult AMA member to submit changes to any of the regulations, starting on January 1 of odd years.
The process includes a rules proposal form that you fill out and submit online. The deadline to submit proposals for the 2017-2018 Competition Regulations was March 15, 2016. The voting process started on March 16, and will continue throughout three votes, finishing on October 15. When this is complete, I will compile all of the approved rules changes and insert them into the associated Competition Regulations. These are then published on the AMA website by December 31 and will be in effect January 1, 2017. At that time, the process begins again.
The RC Aerobatics rules operate on an even-year schedule, beginning its rules process on January 1 of even years.
You can follow the rules process on the AMA website at: www.modelaircraft.org/events/ruleproposals.aspx. This webpage includes the forms (both online and paper forms) that are used to submit rules proposals.
There is also a link to the AMA Contest Board Procedures manual that details the rulesmaking process. This is also where you can review current rules proposals and contact your district’s Contest Board representative and let that person know how you feel about current proposals.
Contest Board members are eager to hear from you so they have a better idea of how they should vote on these proposals. After all, the idea is to improve events, and they need your opinions to do so! You can find a list of the individual Contest Boards and their members at www.modelaircraft.org/events/cbmembers.aspx.
As of this writing (June 15), all proposals that have passed the individual Contest Boards’ initial vote are listed on the website and cross-proposals are being accepted from May 31 through July 30.
On August 1, the Contest Boards will vote on any cross-proposals that have been received. Those that pass will join the basic proposals in a final vote on August 30. Those proposals that pass the final vote will become an official part of the rules and will be included in the specific Competition Regulations section and be in effect on January 1, 2017.
This is an ongoing process, and I hope this information will help you to better understand the process and how you can interface with your representatives and have your voice heard.
If you are interested in serving on one of the Contest Boards, please contact me or your AMA district vice president. Contest Board members are appointed by the AMA district vice presidents, and we have several openings that need to be filled.
I also wanted to make you aware that the AMA Executive Council has approved a new position called an Event Manager. This position is similar to a Contest Director (CD), but with emphasis on noncompetition events. Event Managers will have the same authority as a CD, but he or she will be limited to running AMA Class C, C-Restricted, and D events. These are typical events such as fly-ins and club fun-flys, as well as demonstrations.
Look for more information soon. Event Managers will also enjoy a 25% reduction in their yearly AMA membership costs, as long as he or she sanctions at least one event each year!
You can check the Competition and Events page on the AMA website, or contact me for more information.
Be safe and have fun!
