From the Copilot’s Seat
GRANT OPPORTUNITIES
ARE AVAILABLE
NOW!
By Randy Cameron, AMA Executive Vice President |
As I write this, it’s October, and the weather has been great for flying. By the time you receive this issue, we will be coming into the holiday and building season in many parts of the country.
It’s also grant season. Change to: Completed submissions for Flying Site Improvement Grants and Take off And Grow Grants are due no later than February 1, 2026. Scholarships are due February 2, 2026. I recommend getting them in early (especially for Flying Site Improvement Grants) so that they can be reviewed and changes made if they are needed. Other grants include the Al Kanser AED Save A Life Grant, the Disaster Relief Grant, and the Club Recognition and Reward Grants.
Visit modelaircraft.grantplatform.com to apply for grants and scholarships.
It’s no secret that our hobby is in decline. There are many reasons for this. Some of the most significant reasons are because of increased regulations, rising costs, the aging demographic of participants, and strong competition from other hobbies. Many of these factors are interconnected and have made it more difficult for new people—especially youth—to enter and remain in the hobby.
The hobby has seen a significant increase in regulations. Requirements for registration and flight authorization make flying more complex than in the past, pushing some hobbyists away.
Some regulations are a result of a negative public association of all unmanned aircraft, including RC airplanes, with surveillance or military drones. This can create public hesitance and lead to bans on flying in certain areas, even when model aviation has a strong safety record.
Urbanization and complaints from neighbors have reduced the availability of dedicated flying fields for model aircraft. This forces hobbyists to travel farther to fly or to quit the hobby altogether.
The average age of model aviation enthusiasts is increasing, and the hobby has struggled to attract younger people.
The decline of local brick-and-mortar hobby shops, which once served as community hubs, has moved activity online to platforms such as Facebook and forums. While this creates new communities, it can lead to the decline of local clubs.
Some RC clubs struggle with retaining new members. A common complaint is that established members can be intimidating or focus too much on complex technical details and expensive equipment rather than the fun of flying, which can scare away beginners.
Some traditional clubs have failed to adapt to the evolution of the hobby. For instance, focusing too much on classic airplanes while shunning newer technologies or flying styles can make clubs seem out of touch and less appealing to newcomers.
This is simply some food for thought. I’m not pointing fingers at anyone or anything. As always, I am open to suggestions on how to turn these trends around; send them to
I hope everyone has a great holiday season. Fly safe.
