Contest Directors and Event Managers
View From HQ by Dave Mathewson, AMA Executive Director
Most of you are likely familiar with AMA’s Contest Director (CD) program. Licensed AMA CDs become an agent of AMA while serving in their CD capacity through overseeing AMA sanctioned events.
This system has worked well for AMA and our CDs for several decades. However, throughout the last decade or so, AMA has seen a large shift in the number of events being sanctioned as AMA rulebook events to more events being sanctioned as fun-flys, demonstrations, and non-AMA competition rulebook events. In fact, AMA sanctions nearly 2,500 events each year. Approximately two-thirds of these events are fly-ins or noncompetition events.
To address the change, AMA has created a new category titled Event Manager (EM). So what’s the difference between an EM and a CD?
With each category there is a requirement that each applicant passes a short test. The CD test mostly revolves around AMA competition rules—information not relevant to noncompetition events. The EM test is more oriented toward safety issues and eliminates the need for an EM to have knowledge of the more detailed AMA competition rules. In other words, the test is more relevant to those who want to host sanctioned, but non-rulebook, events.
The one caveat here is that although CDs can run all types of events—AMA competition events and noncompetition events—EMs can only run noncompetition rulebook events.
The other new feature implemented with this change is that the test for either a CD applicant or an EM applicant can now be taken online. The process is streamlined, meaning a quicker turnaround time after one passes the test. There still is the requirement that the applicant provide three references in support of his or her application.
For more information, please visit www.modelaircraft.org/credentials.aspx or contact Tony Stillman at (765) 287-1256, extension 230.
The outdoor flying season, for those of us in colder climates, is about to begin. Because we’ve been talking about AMA sanctioned events, have you given any thought to attending an event in 2017?
It is a great opportunity to visit other clubs, make new friends, and generally experience what is taking place in model aviation outside of your home and club environment. Model aviation is as much about camaraderie and creating new friendships as it is about the flying. I can almost guarantee that if you take the plunge, you’ll enjoy yourself.
There’s a new twist in the AMA Nats this year involving RC Precision Aerobatics. The National Society of Radio Control Aerobatics (NSRCA), an AMA Special Interest Group, has petitioned AMA to host the 2017 RC Precision Aerobatics Nationals somewhere other than the International Aeromodeling Center in Muncie, Indiana.
This year’s event will be held at the Arkansas Aeroplex in Blytheville, Arkansas on July 25 through July 29. The rationale is that moving the competition to another part of the country, and possibly rotating it every other year or so, will increase event exposure as well as give those in other parts of the country an opportunity to attend without what can sometimes be a long trip to Muncie. If you’re in the Arkansas area, I hope you’ll take this opportunity to see what RC Aerobatics is all about.
See you next time …
Contest Director (CD)Event Manager (EM)Event ClassesAuthorized to administer all event classesAuthorized to only administer class C, C-Restricted, and D eventsResponsibilities/AuthorityActs as a representative of AMA and has full authority over the eventActs as a representative of AMA and has full authority over the eventLiability/CoveragePrimary, vicarious liability coverage while performing CD duties during the eventPrimary, vicarious liability coverage while performing EM duties during the eventRequirements/PrerequisiteSuccessful completion of written/online test specific to CD duties/responsibilitiesThree consecutive years of AMA membershipSuccessful completion of written/online test specific to EM duties/responsibilities
One year of AMA membership
